@scottlinklater said in Do You Risk A Penalty From Local Paid Directories in 2022?:
An interesting question @scottlinklater, and an even more interesting response @miriamellis.
I know a bit about those directories. Yes, they are paid advertising, much in the same way as all the 'free' directories out there. The difference is that advertisers are not relegated to all but invisible listings below 'premium' advertisers. It's all very well adding your business to these free directories, but they are not subject relevant and pretty much only provide a non-relevant backlink.
The intention with these sites is to provide industry specific directories so that the exposure the advertiser gets is far more valuable, and directly relevant to what people are searching for. It's not just about a 'backlink'.
Furthermore, it's designed to be local, hence the geo-sensitivity. All this is intended to help the small businesses out there that do not have huge marketing budgets but want to have access to potential business from online customers.
I understand your concerns, and I am happy to address them directly if given the opportunity. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
