Do Directory Submissions Still Hold Any Value?

[Avril]

Originally Posted by temyong

Thanks for reminding me,....But even how careful you are sometimes sh*t happen.

Right there dude...however, we can prevent that sh*t from happening if we always bear in mind the ethical way of SEO...

[MrCat]

Originally Posted by arturobraganza

Yeah, but why use the weaker method if you may use any other methods rather than directory submission? Do you think you can make your site rank in doing directory submissions only? Well I think you should wait for a couple of years before you make your site rank from directories.

Think of it this way:

Two new sites in the same niche both optimizing for the same keywords and both have the same onpage factors - title, meta, keyword density, etc. as well as offpage optimization (using the same keywords as anchor texts and in the same venues). Site A submitted to 100 selected quality directories and Site B thought of directory links as weak and not worth the effort.

Now who would you think would rank better for that keyword?

[qwidjib0]

Personally I think the article posted by the OP was using the link baiting strategy of stirring controversy.

True, most directory links are lower value than sources that are more unique, have a better pattern of of links to themselves, and have a lower link density per each page. A link in a random SEO directory won't be nearly as effective as a related site to yours with a high link portfolio to itself.

But directory links absolutely have an effect.. else Google wouldn't still themselves recommend DMOZ.. and if you doubt that, try using a few crazy long-tail terms to link to your site in a directory, using words not otherwise mentioned, and watch your site rank for them in the SERPs.

</debate>

[John Scott]

Mr Wallace is a smart guy. Most web directories hold very little value. The ones that do hold value don't hold as much as they used to. Still, depending on the directory and the category and other conditions, directories can be one factor that adds to the prominence of a website in the SERPs.