Are Most Directories Useless?

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Are Most Directories Useless ?

I have not been a fan of using directories for website marketing or for link building. When I first began the process of link building directory site submissions it was a well established mode for link building. But it never made sense to me. There was all of this great volume of articles and posts that indicated that the search engines were mostly interested in great content.

Since directories didn’t seem to offer quality content they didn’t seem to be very good options for using in backlink development. But I went with the flow and tried using software that partially automated the process. I submitted to around 100 sites this way and manually. In this process I only used free directory listings. After 90 days I reviewed these sources and discovered that we gained submission in only 9 directories. The ROI didn’t warrant any further use of this method, but the misconception was still circulating that the practice worked.

I still wasn’t convinced that these links from directories provided quality relevant links and I held on tightly to this conviction. Then it seemed as if Google had waged war on directories as many witnessed their Page Rank diminish in 2008. So I joined the bandwagon denouncing the use of directories.

Then Google eliminates any reference to using directories for any purpose. Gone where the recommendations for industry stalwart’s DMOZ and Yahoo. This was followed up with remarks from Matt and others at Google. It seems that Google’s position on using directories has not changed, but they never state what that position is only that it has not changed.

The reality is the only reason that most directories exist is to generate links, links that are used to gain higher search rankings. So let me see most directories have no useful content and their only reason to exist is to manipulate the search engines through links. This doesn’t sound search engine friendly to me.

How was your experience with directory submissions?

What say you?

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4 Responses to Are Most Directories Useless?

  • Ccwd says:

    I have been doing my own SEO for the last few years and have realised that spending time submitting to the low-quality directories is probably a waist of time. You can find some good quality industry specific directories that offer the ability to add anchor text and create added content, but they are rare and sometimes expensive!

  • stacie@building materials says:

    My husband was part of an SEO company and he started off submitting to directories and he didn’t find it was that effective. The directories simply don’t put in the effort that a proper company would or that an individual would and unless the directories themselves are very popular they may not have the right kind of popularity.

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  • R. Lee@Apply for a Credit Card says:

    I don’t trust such weird ones at all!! They should possess out some fantastic results!! :) I feel a good SEO would definitely gear up with some lovely keywords which are going to be very beneficial for the company!!!

    keywords not allowed here or spam!

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