5 Reasons Directories Still Matter for Link Building

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Diversity is the key to having a well rounded link portfolio that helps boost your search engine rankings. That means you need to be taking advantage of all the different types of link building opportunities that exist, including directory submissions.

See, a lot of people have been ignoring directory submissions for link building for the past few years. And they had a good reason to do so. Several years ago, directories started getting abused by shady SEOs. The web was filled with low quality, automated directories that added no real value to users but instead only served as a place for greedy marketers to get more links.

That’s when Google stepped in and penalized a lot of these low quality directories. Soon after, the links acquired from these bad directories stopped carrying any weight. At that point, a lot of internet marketers wrote off using directories for link building.

But that was a mistake on their part. The truth is that directories can still be a viable option for building links. Yes, the landscape has changed (it’s gotten better!), but these links can still be useful in your marketing efforts.

Here are 5 good reasons directories still matter for link building.

1. The best directories survived the fallout—While Google took aim at the low quality, spammy directories, it recognized that not all directories were bad. The truth is that good, high quality directories do exist, and they serve a useful purpose. The best directories are meticulously edited so that they provide a quality service to users. They act as a resource where people can find the information, companies, and websites they need more easily.
2. Directory links now indicate quality—In the days of bad directories, anybody could get links on most any directory. But now that all the low quality directories have been pushed away, what remains are high quality directories that have much higher approval standards. Now, the best directories are manually edited, ensuring only the very best websites are accepted. This leads to higher quality directories that end up passing more link juice.
3. Link diversity is important—You don’t want to get all of your links from the same types of sources. Relying too heavily on any single link building tactic is dangerous, and it sets you up for failure. It’s a good idea to have a well-rounded link portfolio. That means getting your links from a range of channels, from directories to guest blogging to reciprocal links and more. The key is to not go overboard with any one type of link building. Mix it up for the best results.
4. Niche directories can drive targeted traffic—Remember, link building isn’t just about improving your search engine rankings. People click on links too. Links drive traffic. And if you get your links from high quality, niche directories, you can really attract highly targeted traffic. It’s a great way to reach your target audience.
5. Directories can be helpful for building brand awareness—It’s a constant battle to get your business’ name out there. You have more competition than ever before, and standing out is tough. That’s why it’s so important that you take advantage of every channel you have to put your name out there. Directories act as another source for promoting your company. Take full advantage of them.

 Important Tips for Building Links with Directory Submissions

Now that you understand why you should be targeting directories for link building, let’s go over a few quick tips to help you get the most from this tactic. When using directories for link building, there are a few important things you should keep in mind:

• Only submit your site to relevant directories.
• Focus on getting links from quality, reputable directories.
• Target directories focused on your niche.
• Don’t go overboard with directory submissions. Spread out your submissions and utilize other link building tactics as well.
• Look for links that will generate traffic.
• Assess the effectiveness and value of your links on an ongoing basis.