Often times when starting your link building process, you may not want to consider web directory listing as a part of your link building method. This might be because you had read somewhere online that online directories are bad. This post will disappoint you. I can remember vividly getting a call after one prospect had looked up our listing in one of our local directory vconnect. To me, this is a great example of what successful directory listing can do for your business.
So when done correctly, web directories can be a source business referral and also a source of one-way backlinks to your website. While links from directories may not hold much weight as you don’t want all your links from directory alone to avoid being penalized by the Google, they can still be used to increase your link profile.
Before answering the question about the relevancy of directory as a link building strategy, let is discuss the primary aim of having links pointing back to your website. Links that should be sought are links that can get you increased ranking on Search Engine Result Pages, get you more web traffic and ultimately give you more brand exposure. Can online directory fulfill this primary purpose of seeking links? Yes, web directories play their role in this mission to enhance the popularity of website. While the mad rush for web directories resulted in its current day low value, that doesn’t mean that they cannot be a part of your link building game plan. If Yahoo Directory and DMOZ are still being touted as a must have relevant online directory, then there will be much more other “trusted” sources available. The secret then is to learn where to find then and how to use them successfully.
What are web directories?
Web directories are the platforms in which the websites are compiled according to their respective category such as arts, business, humanities, parenting, sports and travel to name just a few.
Is there a major difference between a web directory, classified ads and search engines? Yes. Primarily, web directories are categorized listing of website on the internet, classified ads are brief advertisement and search engines are programs that organize documents based on specified keywords .So they differ in their functions and how they operates.
Major mistake made when using web directories as a link building tactics
- Most people focused only on directories as the main link building strategy :
Except you want to be hit by Penguin or any future Google algorithm change, getting link from only one source even if it is the much glorified guest blogging can damage your link profile and get you a manual penalty from the Big-G. When building links, you want links from as many sources as possible. - Using the same Title and description tag:
When submitting your websites to directories, you want to avoid using the same title and description tag all through. Most directories have their own structure. Some are structured to use brand name as Title tag while other allows you to use your keyword, you should seek a balance between the two. That is why it is good to have a pre-defined list before you start using them. - Submitting to 1000+ directory:
When directories were the reigning trend, everyone wanted to submit their website to as many directories as possible. This is the main mistake people made with directory listing. When using directories, you need to focus on niche directory. While you might need some general purpose directory, the emphasis should be on niche and local directory.
It is very easy to find a niche directory. Say for example, I want to find directory for my seo company to submit to, I can run a combination of any of search operators using the basic example below:
“seo” directory where seo is my industry keyword and directory is what I am looking for.
If you are low on budget and you need to build some more links to add to your link profile without abusing it, getting links from directories is one of the few options you have when used wisely.
How to Kick-Start your Directory Listing:
Listed below is a full list of some directories that you can use to kick-start your link building process. Some of them are free while others have paid listing. Before submitting your website to directory, you need to make sure that
1. The directory is being updated regularly.
2. It is a human-edited directory
3. Does not have too many adverts
4. Your gut feeling tells you it is okay to “seek” links from it
5. It is appropriate to your industry
As you use the directories below, make sure to submit your website to the appropriate category while following each instruction carefully. Link building via directory listing is a time-consuming -process so you want to make sure you have a clear cut-out plan to avoid wasting your effort.
Directory Submission List:
http://www.littlewebdirectory.com/
http://www.aoldir.com
http://www.umoz.org
http://www.bestlinkz.net
http://www.yoofindit.com
http://www.hitwebdirectory.com
http://www.pedsters-planet.co.uk/
http://www.allstatesusadirectory.com
http://www.theukwebdirectory.com
http://www.elitesitesdirectory.com
http://www.qualityinternetdirectory.com [4]
http://www.onemilliondirectory.com
http://www.snapcc.org
http://www.az-links.info
http://www.wordnewsonline.com
http://www.sitelistings.net
http://www.betterseodirectory.com
http://www.linkresell.com
http://www.submitlinkdirectory.org
http://www.agrieducation.org
http://www.linkeurope.info
http://www.placeyourlinks.com
http://www.galyeannursery.com
http://www.addnewlink.net
http://gainesvillesbest.com
http://www.priordirectory.com
http://www.contenteurope.com
http://www.xeytin-web.com
http://www.dynn.org
http://www.7si.org
http://www.the-web-directory.co.uk
http://bestaddurldirectory.com
http://www.kiwidir.com
http://www.lifetimelinks.com
http://www.linkpedia.net
http://plkv.com
http://www.website-services.biz
http://www.vizem.net
http://www.tremblemag.com
http://www.progressivedirectory.com
http://www.zdirectory.net
http://www.munoa.org
http://easylinklist.com
http://www.trappeze.com
http://www.dwaar.net
http://www.zssfw.com
http://www.seogenielinks.com
http://www.mdwerks.com
http://bodep.com
http://www.backlink101.com
http://www.peakeys.com
http://www.joinloft.com
http://www.submityoursite.us
http://www.directorytap.com
http://www.trinadvertising.com
http://www.2daydir.com
http://www.1seodir.info
http://www.free-site-submit.com
http://www.directorywebsitesubmit.com
http://www.onyoville.com
http://webdirectory11.com
http://www.directorio-digital.com
http://www.mccregion6.net
http://www.linkdevils.com
http://www.kent65.com
http://www.tbhl.org
http://directorycave.com
http://www.cherasite.com
http://directpr.org
http://sosdirectplus.com
http://links.kozolec.net
http://summityoursites.com
http://www.bestlinkadddirectory.com
http://www.extreme-directory.net
http://searchwebdirectory.net
http://websites-list.com
http://silverpointdirectory.com
http://www.dojodir.com
http://statusbarplus.com
http://www.opensitedirectory.com
http://www.searchnsearch.com
http://bestsubmitdirectory.com
http://www.addlinkzfree.com
http://www.ekobu.com
http://m-directory.com
http://www.ezsubmitdirectorystore.com
http://iaddurl.com
http://field-by.com
http://www.sf-tech.com
http://www.submitlinkhere.net
http://www.linkrabbit.info
http://www.sunnykfir.com
http://www.seolinkcloud.org
http://glitterdirectory.com
http://www.wkool.com
http://www.dotmyspot.com
http://www.pmcmed.org
http://www.addurltolinkdirectory.com
http://www.freesubmissiondirectoryy.com
http://www.gx-seo.net
http://www.freesubmitwebdirectory.com
http://www.uia.biz
http://bizbizdirectory.com
http://crystallinks.info
http://webzveno.com
http://www.seozoo.biz
http://www.fastseodirectory.com
http://www.hotlinkdirectory.com
http://www.cafeatlantico.info
http://www.gr8linksdirectory.com
http://www.seolinkvinepro.com
http://www.euro2008tv.com
http://www.tele-script.com
http://webkno.com
http://www.dopoc.org
http://elektronickits.com
http://www.nometrix.com
http://freelink-directory.net
http://maletier.com
http://www.creedsetc.com
http://www.pixelsocial.com
http://www.sitedir.net
http://www.yvir.com
http://www.everbestlinks.com
http://www.avisual.net
http://www.linkchest.info
http://www.linkscomet.com
http://intermagnetusa.org
http://masterseodirectory.com
http://www.web-search-directory.com
http://freelanddirectory.com
http://featuredinc.com
http://www.web-directory-site.com
http://reppinbelizean.com
http://fastfiredirectory.com
http://shamrockdirectory.com
http://carefullypicked.com
http://www.linkwisely.info
http://prboostdirectory.com
http://addalinkdirectory.com
http://www.yoganza.com
http://www.dirlib.org
http://www.ss6.net
http://www.ampledirectory.com
http://www.directorymule.com
http://myonlinewebdirectory.org
http://online-web-directory.com
http://web-directory-online.org
http://www.approvedweb.org
http://str.orangmuda.com
http://dirtree.com
http://freedofollowdirectory.org
http://www.virtualwebdirectories.com
http://www.seowebdirectories.com
http://www.openwebdirectories.com
http://www.submissionwebdirectories.com [0]
http://www.linkbuildingwith.com
http://www.estateaddurl.com
http://www.awebdirectories.com
http://www.keywordaddurl.com
http://www.10seotips.com
http://www.twitteraddurl.com
http://www.webdirectorieslist.com
http://www.addurl8.com
http://www.videosubmiturl.com
http://www.submityoururlto.com
http://www.catalogwebdirectories.com
http://www.iwebseotool.com
http://www.imperialwebdirectory.com
http://www.addsubmiturl.com
http://www.downhomedeals.com
http://www.freeaddurlbusinessdirectory.com
http://www.directorylistfree.com
http://www.addurlpage.com
http://www.webdirectoriesfree.com
http://www.freehomeownerquote.com
http://www.addurluk.com
http://www.addurlwebdesign.com
http://www.freewebsitesites.com
http://www.addurlrecreation.com
http://www.submiturllink.com
http://www.submitforyou.com
http://www.edtoolsdirectory.com
http://www.freeaddurllist.com
http://www.freeseowebdirectories.com
http://www.autopartsaddurl.com
http://www.addurlsubmiturl.com
http://www.unisystemdirekt.com
http://www.howtodirectorysubmission.com
http://www.freesubmitasite.com
http://www.directoryeu.com
http://www.iframeseo.com
http://www.addurladdsite.com
http://www.submitsitetodirectories.com
http://www.mytopsearch.com
http://www.directorysubmitsite.com
http://www.designaddurl.com
http://botw.org/?uid=33717
http://www.goguides.org/
http://www.whatuseek.com/
http://www.business.com/
http://www.pakranks.com/
http://www.archivd.com/
http://www.aaaagencysearch.com/
http://www.operationuplink.org/
http://www.gimpsy.com/
http://www.goguides.org/
http://www.joeant.com/
http://www.lycos.co.uk/dir/
http://www.skaffe.com/
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/
http://www.web-beacon.com/
http://www.wowdirectory.com/
http://www.submitedge.com/
http://botw.org/
http://www.seofriendlyinternetwebdirectory.com
http://www.seofriendlylinksubmit.com
http://www.trafficanalysisservices.com
http://www.tres-soles.org
http://www.tsklar.com
http://www.webdirectoryandsearchengine.com
http://www.webdirectorybook.com
http://www.webdirectoryurl.com
http://www.webdirectorywithfreelistings.com
http://www.webinternetlistings.com
http://www.webmasterstrail.com
http://www.webopenlink.com
http://www.variogate.com
http://www.vlaemsch.com
http://www.voikos.com
http://www.von-morl.com
http://www.walpri.com
http://www.weather-marine.com
http://www.web-bulletin.com
http://www.webdirectorieslistings.com
http://www.worldlct.com
http://www.worldneturl.com
http://www.worldracingforum.net
http://www.worldurldirectory.com
http://www.worldurllink.com
http://www.worldwidewebfreepromotion.com/
http://www.yangsdirectory.com
http://www.yourdigitallifeonline.com
http://www.zachrottman.com
http://www.zamekmiedzylesie.com
http://www.zipnetdirectory.com
http://www/webhotlink.com
Learn how you can build more backlinks to your website. Download the free guide to optimizing your website.
Latest posts by Adegboye Adeniyi (see all)
- Law Firm SEO 2021 – Complete Guide to SEO for Lawyers - March 31, 2021
- Link Prospecting: A Guide to Beginners - March 28, 2021
- 5 E-commerce SEO Metrics and How to Improve Them to Double Your Sales - January 9, 2021