A few years ago, you could rule the top ranks of Yahoo and MSN with religious directory postings. That is not the case anymore. For competitive Google Rankings you need to do directory submission and much more. But directory submission service is still a necessity and what you need to figure out is how to extract the most link juice from your submissions. For that you have to submit to the very best authentic directories. Here’s a stab at defining tier 1 directories:
Best way to submit is to key in on your niche. Make website directory submission to directories that will allow you to suggest new categories. Or try and make maximum submissions to niche directories. You will have the advantage of fewer links on the page and your link will become all the more relevant to your website.
Try and submit to free directories and those where you are not required to give a backlink. What the directory is conveying is ‘since there is no fees, money will not bias the listings.’
Make SEO directory submission to sites with strong editorial policies. Authentic directories, even if they charge a fee, won’t guarantee your website’s inclusion. What this means is that you are paying to review your listing, not to get listed. This means that there is real editorial judgment implied in the policy. The listings from such directories convey value to the search engines.
Try submitting in a geographical location from the user perspective. Generally, people have a tendency to hire someone local rather than far away.
You can own the search engines with directory submission if your field is niche enough. But for general categories and competitive Google SERPs, you need to do directory submission and then some more search engine optimisation.
It is always better to go slow with the directories, make submissions over a period of time rather than hammer them for a solid few days! This way you come across as a serious and trustworthy website to the search engines.
The link juice from directory submission to ‘hard to get into’ selective directories is higher than what you will get from hundreds of submissions to poor quality directories.
Directories that have earned lots of high quality back links from acclaimed editorial sources carry more value than those whose links come from SEO communities and paid sources.
The best way to determine if a directory will pass link value is to observe its ability to rank for its own title tags. Those directories that rank highly can surely provide a ranking boost to your site too!
And last but not the least, a visit to their category pages and listed sites should impress you.
Tags: Directory Submission
