Directory submissions

[mountrecruitment]

Hi all

There seems to be some conflict around the idea that listings in business directories don't matter. I don't mean those obscure ones yet I don't just mean yell.
What about cylex, UKSBD etc?

Also what are thoughts on this type? http://blogs.fasthosts.co.uk/search-engine-optimisation-2/25-free-links-promote-website/

 

[fisicx]

Mostly pointless. The article is over 3 years old, a lot has changed since then. Submit if you want to but don't expect Google to pay any attention.

 

[mountrecruitment]

That's what I thought but saw a web dev company in a localised search I did and their cylex listing (with 2 dubious reviews) was page 2. Not difficult but still above plenty of other relevant sites!

 

[neils3]

Directory submission is ok if you're doing it as a direct traffic generating tactic, for general SEO, I wouldn't hold your breath. For local SEO, it can contribute to your local citations of NAP (name, address, phone number), which may be helping the web dev company cited above.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Local citations (including directories) are an essential part of optimising for local rankings with Google. it is all about consistency of information.

Bulk directory submission is out and out dangerous, it can get you slapped.

 

[StevePoster]

Directory submission is usually ignored but for the spammers it is a great spot for them. I had noticed that some of the directory submission sites are in premium mode which means you have to pay for your listings.

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

Mostly pointless. The article is over 3 years old, a lot has changed since then. Submit if you want to but don't expect Google to pay any attention.

What about the direct traffic these can bring. SEO is about increasing targeted visitors isn't it.

 

[greyheart]

Do yell and yelp (pretty much pointless, but for the 5 minutes it takes not an issue). Other than that if there's a decent niche one then fine.

But, really not worth it past that. I think we did Yell, Yelp and igamingsuppliers for ourselves (we do a lot in the iGaming (Gambling) sector.

I wouldn't advise wasting any time doing any more.

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

Do yell and yelp (pretty much pointless, but for the 5 minutes it takes not an issue). Other than that if there's a decent niche one then fine.

But, really not worth it past that. I think we did Yell, Yelp and igamingsuppliers for ourselves (we do a lot in the iGaming (Gambling) sector.

I wouldn't advise wasting any time doing any more.

But a local business owner might read this and think hey business directories are bad. You think it's pointless but you'll spend 5 minutes doing it? This is bad advice.

 

[greyheart]

Since when does the definition of "pretty much" match "completely"......

 

[mediaguy35]

We use over 300 directories ourselves, the traffic isn't always targeted, but we get business from them, sometimes even upto 100 plus new clients per month, and that's worth £7'500 to us a year. Ok, its not where the bulk of our £££ comes from, but its nice extra cash in the bank and it works.

These days I doubt anyone cares if the G slaps directories, who cares, it's highly unlikely each directory's followers of loyal users care as long as they can find what they want from that directory.

The directory haters cannot affect an industry that began the search era - there's too many directories that can more than hold their own without Google, as G's traffic is maybe just 20% of a directories traffic flow anyway. Never discount any website's traffic flow, these sites are established and that's what counts.

Give us 50 directories that send us 2000 visitors a year anyday, as that's meat and gravy to our biz, we get loads of clients from it. What happens is the directory users find us, then bookmark us for future use for years to come, they then find our other sites and buy from us there as well

Win every time..

 

[OldWelshGuy]

mediaguy, I think the point you are missing was that if a site relies too heavily i.e. a large part of their backlinks come from dofollow poor directories, then they can be hit by the Google 'bad inbound links' algorithm, which will see their rankings tumble. So it isn't a case of what you said

" These days I doubt anyone cares if the G slaps directories, who cares,"

If they submit to a load of directories that have been slapped, then they themselves will be pulled into that neighbourhood and see their OWN site get slapped

 

[mediaguy35]

If they submit to a load of directories that have been slapped, then they themselves will be pulled into that neighbourhood and see their OWN site get slapped

We know a few entertainment companies who claimed they got slapped by SEO's. The usual reason is panic.... few weblinks, SEO's who ripped them off, zero profile, expensive PPC fees, lost SERPS positions, lost weblinks etc etc. We make good money off SEO's all the time, its really great.

We've owned in the past, some cool sites that caused these well, 'so called slaps', the sites grows into a monster, and then gets even greater traffic, so we laugh when we hear this stuff. We discovered from new clients that it was only the directories that manipulated pagerank, but people will hire SEO's to spam them about on crap blogs etc, so deserve all they get.

In the larger view of things, I don't see a problem, apart from SEO's who hear about a few cases of manipulation, then turn it into Chinese whispers to create work from it. If it was such a problem then every directory on earth would be empty from removal requests wouldn't it - if it was this huge issue eh. The fact their not, suggests that advertisers are obviously happy with their link space.

 

[fisicx]

Does anyone understand these posts? 'cos I don't.

 

[mediaguy35]

Does anyone understand these posts? 'cos I don't.

That's because my posts somehow affect your services, so you inject a put-down comment as you feel it will save your reputation on here.

 

[fisicx]

Nope. Still don't get it. Dunno what services you think I provide but SEO isn't one of them.

Not even sure what reputation I have on here - I mostly get called rude names.

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

But surely the argument should be against Google which previously appeared to disregard bad links but then began to count them as negative votes.

 

[fisicx]

Google does what google does. They dropped the advice to get directory links 6 years ago: http://searchengineland.com/google-removes-directory-links-from-webmaster-guidelines-14921

 

[mediaguy35]

A link is good if it provides benefit. Benefit is traffic, at its minimum value. A weblink cannot harm a website because its just webcode for gods sake Link value can be reduced somewhat, but it doesn't stop traffic flow. Obviously those who rely on Google's free SERPS are most affected, but its just panic talking and they feel its necessary to put down everyone else. Or its just SEO bods selling themselves in a bad way.

Too many got ego issues, and the SERP lovers get off on this to an extreme - its crazy and laughable, and I think many are simply lunatics with little else to do with their time but keep banging on about it.

 

[fisicx]

A weblink cannot harm a website because its just webcode

That is probably the most incorrect thing you have ever posted.

 

[mediaguy35]

That is probably the most incorrect thing you have ever posted.

A link is a link (on its own). On its own, its harmless, but, when its placed on an inappropriate site, its that site that devalues the link.

If I own a link/url, I control placement of that link - I don't have control over websites that are created to harm others.

I can't get any more basic than that.

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

Google does what google does. They dropped the advice to get directory links 6 years ago: http://searchengineland.com/google-removes-directory-links-from-webmaster-guidelines-14921

To put this into perspective they said "... If people think that a directory is going to bring them lots of visitors (I had a visitor from the DMOZ once), then it’s obviously fine to get listed there. It’s not something that people have to do though "

 

[mediaguy35]

Some premium directories really pack some juice.

Ya, think how long they've been sitting on the web, all that traffic built up over the years. Some of em got to be worth a fortune to the right buyer. TrustedPlaces did very well:

Sokratis Papafloratos, 31, Greek-born chief executive and co-founder of TrustedPlaces, will join Yell as part of the deal for an undisclosed cash sum thought to be close to £2 million.

wowzer!! and it wasn't even unique in any way either. they got lucky hehe. They got backing from Howzat founders who also own Cheapflights.com.

I wouldn't join the acquiring company though, just want to sit on a beach somewhere and consider my options. Why would anyone with 2 mill in the bank want to work for anyone else.

The guy did well - mind you, he wasnt the only one who did it. Quite a lot of huge directories out there with talent behind them.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Some of these posts are great, real popcorn stuff, honestly they really are comic gold

 

[OldWelshGuy]

I was just saying that Google have and are punishing sites for having poor quality inbound links, and yet some people are claiming it is smoke and mirrors created by SEO's to further their business.

 

[Ad Republic]

They're generally low quality and low value. However, some of the more established directories (such as yell) trickle traffic through and can result in sales.

 

[fisicx]

However, some of the more established directories (such as yell) trickle traffic through and can result in sales.

Really? I've yet to see Yell provide anything of any use to anyone.

 

[Ad Republic]

Yeah, it generates about 10-20 visits per week for us, which of course isn't very much, however it's generally good quality traffic.