Thread: Directory Submissions -- Results?

Directories mainly get you back links, they may not get you good quality ones but still there are links coming your way.

Originally Posted by bluearrow

Do those Directory submissions still work ? I used to submit my sites to 1000's of directories but there wan't much effect it had done to traffic. I think social bookmarking is more effective than directories.

yes it do works. But the main thing is that, directory submission do not means that your website is submitted in those directories. Its just the way to request the directory owners to submit your website. You need to check manually the directories which have confirmed your request.

Over the years I have tried a few services that submit my site to a couple of hundred. I have even done my own submitting. The end result is no traffic, and improved page rank? I don't think so.

On 5 June I purchased 2200 directory submissions for three web sites. The submissions were completed within the next few days.

Looking at the pattern of page impressions before and after the submissions, I see no pattern of improvement.

Much more recently, I've initiated a much larger series of directory submissions using the directory list and tool at Easy Submits.

Has anyone else done recent tests with directory submission where they did no other concurrent promotion?

Has anyone else done recent tests with directory submission where they did no other concurrent promotion?

Yes, I have done several tests.

These still work. You just don't need to do 2200, about 100 of the better ones should do just fine. (i.e., higher PR on their home pages so you can get crawled).

The key here, though, is to NOT use the exact link text in your titles. Make sure you include your link text but make sure it's not exact. Use something like "Net Builders Webmaster Forum" if you keyword phrase is "webmaster forum". Or use "Webmaster Forum at NetBuilders.org".

If you use the exact link text as the title of your submissions it will NOT work.

@ Bhartzer

I agree with your first point of picking up 100 best directories rather than throwing links to thousands of directories. Google likes only trusted directories that are nicely promoted, moderated by humans, and meet all criteria of professional ones.

But I disagree with the second point of not making exact link.

I've done many tests both with exact links and using title variations.

I have got almost equal results. But I noticed something after recent algo upadtes. Title variations doesn't work anymore. Including directory submissions, social bookmarking etc.. even for on-site meta tags, you will get better results with exact keywords. Earlier, titles like "Complete weight loss guide with real tips and supplements info" used to cover all keywords like, "weight loss guide", weight loss supplements", weight loss tips", weight loss tip", "weight loss info".. blah blah.. But now writing exact keywords "weight loss guide, weight loss tip, weight loss supplements, weight loss tips" will work.. Mean ugly you go, rankings will be better. I've tested this.

@ Will

You'll not get directory submissions results in terms of rankings or improvement within days. I have tested ONLY directory submissions for one of my blogs and it did give some value after 2 months. I just did 500 submissions to most active and PR3+ directories. 95% of them were approved in max 2 months time.. and site showed up in decent rankings after 2 months.

Originally Posted by bhartzer

Yes, I have done several tests.

These still work. You just don't need to do 2200, about 100 of the better ones should do just fine. (i.e., higher PR on their home pages so you can get crawled).

The key here, though, is to NOT use the exact link text in your titles. Make sure you include your link text but make sure it's not exact. Use something like "Net Builders Webmaster Forum" if you keyword phrase is "webmaster forum". Or use "Webmaster Forum at NetBuilders.org".

If you use the exact link text as the title of your submissions it will NOT work.

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

On 5 June I purchased 2200 directory submissions for three web sites. The submissions were completed within the next few days.

Looking at the pattern of page impressions before and after the submissions, I see no pattern of improvement.

Much more recently, I've initiated a much larger series of directory submissions using the directory list and tool at Easy Submits.

Has anyone else done recent tests with directory submission where they did no other concurrent promotion?

as far as direct traffic is concerned, I have never really got any traffic from the directories.

compared to 3 years back, the SEO benefits have diminished too.

I hardly submit to directories nowadays.

I prefer social bookmarking to directory submissions as it allows me multiple-links, deep-links and anchor text of my choice.

I had a few domains/sites that had built PR only from directory submissions. All of them are now PR0.....

Directories are a waste of time, money and effort.

If you "must" submit to a directory, it should be one that reviews the sites before its accepted. If your submit to sites that approve "everyone" - chances are your site is going to be stuck right next to a spammer site.

The only thing you might get from directories is some backlinks in the search engines. But do not expect any traffic.

Originally Posted by texashiker

The only thing you might get from directories is some backlinks in the search engines. But do not expect any traffic.

I have a few sites that get quite some traffic from free directories, so that's not 100% accurate.

directory submission is not good for traffic, but it will help you in your serp on your target keyword and then you will start getting traffic from search engines.