Directory Submission – The most commonly known off-page SEO Link Building strategy that strikes through all Web masters / Link Builders mind when promoting their website. But is it worth doing? Yes, it is, purely based on how effectively and efficiently being done. Here comes some of the tips for doing it effectively. Let us see them in detail.
Do’s:
1. Find out if the directory is indexed by the topmost search engines. If it has not been cached by search engines for a long period of time, there is definitely no point in submitting your links on it.
2. Established, popular directories can bring in traffic and also the kind of back links that’ll actually foster your site’s optimization process.
3. When you submit your site into categories, make sure that the directory in question offers a unique category structure that helps in better organization of info. This will help you in locating relevant information in quick time.
4. Always check the outbound links on the category link pages. This will give you a good insight into how helpful such a submission would be for your site.
5. Check the Google PageRank of the Web directory
6. Do a quick search in the directory to be sure your site isn’t already listed. This saves your time.
7. Read and follow the Guidelines of the directory before submission process. I always prefer Webmasters to read and follow the DMOZ guidelines as it is applicable for directories all over the web.
8. Identify the single best category for your site. The Web Directory has an enormous array of subjects to choose from. You should submit a site to the single most relevant category. Sites submitted to inappropriate or unrelated categories may be rejected or removed.
9. Consider quality while building links. A single quality link is better instead of numerous non-quality links. Submitting the sites in Quality Directories can improve the site’s ranking.
10. Make sure to include the keywords you are trying to target in your anchor text, but do not make them spammy. Do not use the same description and anchor text for every link. Try to change it around a bit and target different keywords.
11. Use appropriate title and description. Title should be your targeted keyword which appears in the anchor text. Description of the site is very important. Its better to create a description with all main keywords of that page. But make sure you don’t stuff keywords in the description.
12. Try to get quality links from high PR directories. Links from high PR directories carries more weight.
13. Always prefer manual submission. Don’t rely on automated tools / softwares. Submitting websites to directories on a regular basis can be a real-time consumer. Roboform helps to do this job a lot faster. Roboform, it’s an autofill password keeper that’s encrypted, a knock-your-socks-off form filler, and an all around serious tool.
14. Always aim for one way links through directory submission and avoid paying for links.
15. Keep track of your submissions, check your approval status on a regular basis.
16. Document your work for future reference.
Dont’s:
1. If a directory uses the ‘rel=no follow’ attribute for your link, search engines will actually never follow that link to your site. Therefore, such a directory will be of absolutely no help in your optimization campaign. Even redirects are usually not considered for back links by search engines.
2. Beware of link farms, bad neighborhoods and free-for-all (FFA) link sites. This may harm our site.
3. Don’t submit in directories that approve the sites without reviewing them manually and use some automated scripts to do the same.
4. Do not submit mirror sites. Mirror sites are sites that contain identical content, but have altogether different URLs.
5. Do not submit URLs that contain only the same or similar content as other sites you may have listed in the directory.
6. Do not submit your site to a directory again in a month. Few sites may accept this but most of the directories displays an error message, “Domain already exists in the directory”. Give some time to see results. If you are not listed, rethink your submission, drill down to a deeper, more relevant category, and resubmit.
7. Sites with overlapping and repetitive content are not helpful to users of the directory. Multiple submissions of the same or related sites may result in the exclusion and/or deletion of those and all affiliated sites.
8. Do not disguise your submission and submit the same URL more than once.
Example: http://www.dmoz.org and http://www.dmoz.org/index.html
9. Do not submit any site with an address that redirects to another address.
10. Do not submit sites “under construction.” Wait until a site is complete before submitting it. Sites that are incomplete, contain “Under Construction” notices, or contain broken graphics or links aren’t good candidates for the directory.
Here are some of the top directories:
1.www.dmoz.org
2.www.skaffe.com
3.www.botw.org
4.www.goguides.org
5.www.illumirate.com
6.www.directory.ldmstudio.com
7.www.jayde.com
8.www.pegasusdirectory.com
9.www.onemission.com
10.www.anaximanderdirectory.com
11.www.info-listings.com
12.www.prolinkdirectory.com
13.www.surfsafely.com
14.www.searchsight.com
15.www.mastermoz.com
Disclaimer: The post is completely based on individual thoughts and SEO Services Group bears no responsibilities for the thoughts reflected in the post.
I really liked your blog! You have some great content.
Excellent Post for Directory Submitters
Thank you for a great article. You clearly told about all “Do’s” and “Dont’s” as regards to the directory submission. I would also add one more point to the “Dont’s” list such as “Do not submit deep links”. Directories accept only links to domains and deep links are not allowed.
@Julia Thank you for your suggestion. But still there are many directories that accept deep links.
Hi,
Great post you nailed all the points regarding directory submission.
I would like to know the average time taken for a directory to accept my listing, provided I follow their guidelines and submit accordingly.
@tabsfiroz Thanks for your comment. There are few instant approving directories which list your submissions immediately. Some fast approving directories may take 2 or 3 weeks to review your listings. But most of the directories take nearly three to six months to review the submissions. So we can’t predict the exact approval time.