It is true that building effective links have become quite a struggle in recent years since Google has been cracking down on manipulative link practices – including web directories. However this does not mean that directories are a bad idea. With the necessary precautions and good directory submission sites, it could be a very effective tool.
So obviously the first thing you should do is to never list your business on any low-quality directory submission sites – or any other low-quality websites for that matter. Your best bet is to look for niche directory submission sites that are most likely to be valuable to users. It is also important to make sure that any directory you submit to have some parameters for websites that they will and will not accept.
The best directory submission sites all have editorial teams who review both submissions and edit listings, descriptions and titles. Directories that automatically accept any links will not be valuable.
Directories and Local SEO
Directories are no longer good for getting countless links to your website so you can rule Google. Now directories are most valuable when they are used carefully and mostly for Local SEO purposes. Websites like Yelp will practically always rank higher than branded websites for, say ‘Cape Town pizza’. Getting listed on directory submission sites can be very valuable for local search.
Even though there is an endless confusion over whether directories are a good idea, or over which directory submission websites owners should make use of, the bottom-line is that high-quality links will never go out of style – whether the links are from directories or not.
Google still consider links from high-quality, niche directories to be ‘good’ links, and they will help your website in generating more organic traffic.
High-Quality Directory Submission Sites
Here is a list of 20 directories that can be very valuable, especially when it comes to Local SEO (in no particular order):
- nichemarket.co.za
- jayde.com
- ananzi.co.za
- cylex.co.za
- findplace.co.za
- 9sites.net
- freeprwebdirectory.com
- gainweb.org
- info-listings.com
- knm1.com
- linkroo.com
- nonar.com
- synergy-directory.com
- tsection.com
- w3catalog.com
- xhii.com
- junkmail.co.za
- qango.com
- sayellow.co.za
- showme.co.za
- yalwa.co.za
Don’t Automate Directory Submissions
A unique description is essential when submitting a directory.
Do not automate your directory submissions. The reason for this is that web searchers want unique content, not one listing copied to tons of directory submission sites. This will get you the best results with search engines and prevent penalties.
Also by writing a unique description for each directory, you are creating a higher quality directory that users will find more useful. Google does not want countless free low-quality directory listings with template descriptions. It is not useful and thus it is exactly what Google will penalize you for.