Directory Submissions

Directory Submissions

Definition: Before the age of modern search engines (yes there was such a time!) users would find their way around the Internet by clicking on hyperlinks and using web directories. These directories allow website owners to submit their details and if they are good quality, the owner of the directory would include their link within the relevant category. Fast forward over fifteen years and web directories still exist but in reality, normal web users do not use them much. But SEOs still use them because they are relatively easy to get links from. Some will be free and others will be paid.

Here is some guidance from Matt Cutts on how Google handle paid directories. Types of links you get: Usually low-quality except for a handful of pretty big directories which are still maintained and only accept quality websites. You can often get anchor text links from lower quality directories, particularly if it is a paid directory. Higher-quality directories will only use your business or website name as the anchor text of the link. Directories can also be good for domain diversity.

The process: The process for getting links from directories is very simple but also very boring.

You can often outsource this work to companies who will submit on your behalf and charge a small fee per directory they submit to. This can be a good solution but you should make sure that you get accurate reports of the work that has been done. Here is the manual process:

1. Find quality web directories (links below on this)

2. Go to their guidelines and make sure that if they charge a fee, it isn't for guaranteed

acceptance but for the review of your website

3. If happy, go to their submission form and fill in the details

4. If you paid, make sure you follow up if your link hasn't gone live to see if you've been

rejected and why

Additional reading:

Here are some additional resources on building links using directories:

★ Link Directory Best Practices for SEO by Cyrus Shepherd

★ Link Building with Directories by Wordtracker

★ List of Web Directories by SEOmoz

★ Matt Cutts on Paid Directories (video)