Are directories still a valid practice? If so what are some of your favorite and most authoritative directories?

[Firestarter-SEO]

After combing over several competitor sites I have found many if not the majority of their links are from directories. I am curious to know if individuals/companies/seos etc. still use directories, if so what are some of the favorites?

[JVRudnick]

You are aware of the latest Pigeon updates, right?

And the move of directories into a higher valuation by Google for serps?

Here's how I blogged about same - http://www.canuckseo.com/index.php/2014/08/google-pigeon-update-gotta-know/ and a quick Google for "pigeon update favors directories" shows many more SEO practitioners with the same view...

Yelp has especially been moved up in my own client roster serps....

[eugenecomputergeeks]

Oh LOTS of people do.  I just don't see the point these days.  I mean I'll admit I have one directory that I paid for years ago that gives some juice but I don't think everyone just gave up on directories by any means.  Haven't you gotten the annoying emails and calls about how some company is going to make your site appear high up on Google only to find they create a subdomain on their site of your page which they already have a gazillion victims fallen for it, and then they proudly state, we'lll get you into 100 directories.

The thing is, anyone can make a directory with a domain name and a cheap or even free hosting account with the click of a button.  Most shared hosts have directory software.  I guess the thing is how you define directory.   Is it a site that is just dedicated to links of all categories that anyone can submit and get into?  The free ones that allow any site are awful.  We are long past the days of directories.  Thats why we have search engines.  I learned the hard way myself and would hate to see someone else spend time and money  on directory links.

Google has shown time and time again that  an engaging, well-built site with fantastic content and natural links are the key to success. Do you ever go to random directories to find a site?  Now if its a directory for a specific topic and the owner chooses who they accept, and they don't have a ton of outgoing links, then thats a different story.  I think of those as more of just a page on a site with some links that are relevant.

I don't think I've ever used a directory to find a site...only to find places for links.  Sure I had some success, but eventually they all were deindexed or had very low PR/DA/PA/MOZTrust and had to remove them.  There are a handful of expensive ones but seriously why would anyone use them?  I've never gotten any traffic from these directories.  I do think there is one left but its very small and relevant.  http://siliconshire.org/  It's a very nice looking tiny site for a tiny city featuring the handfull of computer repair places in Eugene, Oregon and Springfield, Oregon which has a low population.  (Was number one in 3 months for all my desired keyterms, thats how small), but moved away.  THat's useful because Google doesn't have a list of specific businesses for a small town like that.  Plus it looks cool.   I just found a second one and the title is "The not so evil directory, but when you go to it its nothing but apache errors." lol

I think its all in how one defines a directory.  There are spam directories that are after money or worse yet require a backlink to get in and sometimes also money, and there are directories that are small and serve a purpose that a search engine doesn't do.  I snagged an awesome domain recently waiting in the wee hours and planning on turning it into somethlng similar.  A small site that is dynamic for ONE business category in a small city (hair salons / barber shops).   Mine also will have reviews and an algorithm and not cost a dime to get in.  I plan on doing it Google style and having a clearly marked 3 link only box at the top that is highlighted and marked  they are paid for ads space.  I'll only allow 3 though and if someone wants in they have to outbid that business and the business only can buy 3 months at a time if others are waiting to pay.  I find that ethical because its marked, not overdone, and eventually I plan on selling the domain most likely.  I also have options to sort by price or by review.

I know its a service I'd use as Google places shows only a handful of businesses and most reviews are faked. (it appears that way anyways.)  But I think thats more like a review site then a spam directory site only after money, and users only after PR/PA/DA/MT.

Or if you consider review sites like Yelp a directory in the same ballpark which I personally don't. I consider it a review site that is unethical that needs some serious work, I had someone attack me on Yelp with totally fake accusations which took almost a year to clear up.  Yelp then would take my REAL reviews that I didn't even ask clients to do or mention and put them in the filtered section.  But in a way Yelp sticks to one category...businesses and it has something different than most traditional directories...reviews.   FINALLY after they noticed both reviews were written exactly the same grammar and even used my personal name they removed them, but still kept the real reviews hidden. Regardless it's still a vital site for marketing but when someone says that I took their money in two posts written the same way and I had to get a lawyer and a year of time to clear it up thats just wrong.  You can read online hundreds of people complain that once they paid Yelp their real reviews that were good of course came out of filtered state.  That's so wrong and not cool.

Sorry went on a tangent.

[Firestarter-SEO]

Thanks for all the responses. I guess in some was I was looking for some new info and to see if anyone had recently tested any of this. For example we still use a directory called Family Friendly Sites, it's a great link for a few bucks. I would be curious if any one has truly combed the web to find "Quality Directories".

[KevinBudzynski]

We use some industrial directories such as ThomasNet, MacRAE's and GlobalSpec. These directories do provide some, but decreasing value over the years. Google (according to Matt Cutts) looks at a few items when assessing these directories:

• Editorial discretion (who can and can't get in)
• Value (original and informative content)
• How much work they do on the site
• Usability

A good rule of thumb-if the directory looks outdated, lacks original content, has broad content (not in all cases but niche is better), looks spammy, has poor usability and anyone can get in don't use.

[eugenecomputergeeks]

Directories I think are totally useless as well.  Although some of my best backlinks are from high quality diretories that are relevant, but those are difficult to find.  For example I plan on making a directory in a city I lived in that would be just like Yelp but have ideas on how to make it more legit and it's for a specific topic for a specific city.  I'll have a tiny Ad box up top just how google does that is clearly labeled for those that pay, but the rest is based on reviews and my own algorithm.   It lets people find out where the best place to cut their hair is and they can also sort by price and location.

I'll likely do manually unless I can get API access for free as its not a huge city_ but a great domain I managed to snag in the middle of the night. Reviews are checked for authenticity like if they are really in the location or is going to be things like how many reviews they have on other sites.  How many stars will have very little "juice" over how many.  Do they have a website and what is their Alexa ranking?  And if Moz allows API access for free (If not I'll just check manually over a slow period.  I'll use Moztrust and domain trust as main factors.  The reviews on the site of course will play a key part as well.

Wow did I go off topic, sorry but paying someone in say India to get you into 1000 directories is not only money wasted but harmful.  Yet another example of Google sticking their head in the sand about blackhat SEO coming back.  They have stated many times that buying links is very bad.   Whats to stop a competitor?

That said, always ask yourself, are people going to this site and really going to click my link in the directory?  Use links only if its useful and relevant to the user.  They are worthless if nobody clicks them and is the whole point of links in the first place...to get traffic not to trick search engines.  Everything I've seen about listing in the really expensive $400 or more directories is pointless nowadays because, when was the last time you used one?   Yelp (which I HATE) is the only example I can think of other than search engines local listings.

Don't worry so much about links.  Worry about KILLER content.  People love mascots, flat simple designs just like this site.  Focus on quality not quantity but release content on a regular basis.  I think adding one piece of good content such as an article a week (on the same day especially) is a good strategy.  Don't let people con you into guest blogging for links and a lot of the directories require you link to them to get in.

Bottom line, nobody uses directories.  If you do your keyword research first, and then write engaging content you'll get natural links.  You could also link bait by writing an INTERESTING article  / content about a really great site they might pick up on the link and link back, but I'm not a fan.   I'm more of a fan of creating a widget of some kind that you encourage users to put on their sites, but even that I think nowadays is a bit sketchy as the anchor text or alt tags will be the same.

Plenty of tests have been done to show that nothing but fantastic original content mixed with knowing how to write tags properly with the best keyterms, will get incredible rankings, even in cases where backlinks haven't come yet.  Remember SEO isn't just about ranking it's about getting relevant traffic.

I like to pretend that Google staff is always sitting behind my shoulder watching.  If you feel like they would say uhhhh "how is that useful to the user." Don't do it!   You can buy great content online as well, or what I prefer is to write / make the content and hire a quality writer to edit it that is SEO savvy.

Content is king and also you'll get social media traffic from great content as well...which in turn gets links.   Remember REAL and legit Google Plus reviews with the user hopefully also +1ing your Google plus page has shown to help a lot more than expected.  Always remind happy customers that if they have a Google account that it helps if they add you to their circle, give an HONEST review, and get the red +1 pressed helps a lot.  Of course tie your Google Plus page to your website, and make SURE to make some unique posts on the Google plus page.  I promise it helps.  There was a Google staff member that was fired a while back for  blogging how valuable Google +  is or rankings.

Facebook and other sites are useful as well.  Think content and getting relevant traffic and the links come pouring in my friend.  Best of luck.

I forgot one last thing.  A great way to find ideas for content is to use Reddit, the trends tool on this site, Google Trends, and Google News.  Reddit being my favorite.  Example if your site is about virtual reality, search Reddit for Virtual Reality and you'll see whats hot right now.  Twitter too to a lesser extent.

[BenjaminMorel]

I'd agree with all of the above and say that directories are essentially useless for improving rankings, except when they count towards local citations.

Having said that, I would suggest getting a listing in any directories that rank for search queries you want to appear for. That way even if you don't get clicks directly through from your website being in the SERP you might catch a few customers coming through the directory that you otherwise wouldn't have.

[Andy.Drinkwater]

As already indicated, there is no harm in having your business listed on a directory, just don't do it for SEO purposes.

It can help when you are looking to increase cocitations (Yelp, Yell, at al) and to promote your business through niche sites is no problem either. Just tread carefully.

-Andy

[GPainter]

Directories can be alright if they are niche and you think users will find your site helpful in there, so its good if your looking to list your self for the user and not the link. e.g. yell.com etc.

[MoosaHemani]

Directories in my opinion is not a very good option (if not bad exactly) and I always recommend to use as less as possible.

The kind of directories that you should not target are the one that contain obvious spam, overdo ads and where there seems to be no traffic. If you really want to go for directories, my preference is to go for niche related directories with higher DA and that have good amount of pages indexed in Google.

Hope this helps!

[seovp]

I would say it isn't a valid practice to use for SEO. Some companies will have directories in their link profile, but these could be either from previous practices and they're now disavowed and also from a submission to a directory years ago, which is continually duplicated on new domains. Some people still will use directory submissions for short term gain but they will usually be caught by an algo in the long run.

There are few directories which may be relevant, DMOZ, BOTW and maybe some human edited local and niche directories which are used for actually creating relevant traffic rather just from SEO value, but I would suggest only using these if they use no followed links.

Kind Regards