Posted : 02/6/10 3:44 AM
Hello and welcome to our second post in our Healthy Link Building series. In this post we’re going to take a good hard look at one of the most popular, one of the most abused, and one of the most misunderstood methods on building links. This method is submitting your link to online link directories. But before we get in to the do’s, dont’s, and questions about submitting to link directories lets look at what exactly a link directory is and learn a little about their history.
Directories have been around on the Internet for a long, long time. In fact, before search engines they were the primary way of finding what you were looking for on the Internet. Similar to a phone book, an online link directory contains listings organized by some manner with each listing containing a description and contact information. And just like phone books, a link directories primary purpose is to help someone find the information they are looking for.
When submitting to link directories you must keep the primary purpose of a link directory in mind. You don’t want to submit your link to directories where no one is going to find your link right? So how do you decide what directories you should submit to and which ones you should pass on?
1. Look at how the link directory is constructed. Is it eye appealing? Is it easy to find what you’re looking for? Would you use this link directory for anything other than submitting your link? These are all important questions to ask yourself. You want to submit your link to directories that are easy to navigate.
2. How visible is this link directory? Is it easy to find on the Internet? What’s the directories Alexa Rank and Page Rank? Where does it rank in the SERPS ( Search Engine Results Page ) on the major search engines ( Yahoo, Google, and Bing ). Where did you find this link directory? You want to submit your link to active directories with high visibility and regular traffic.
3. Does the link directory have a category that fits your website? Submitting your site in the proper category is crucial. Not only will it be easier for people to find your site if it’s in the proper category, but the search engines will also associate your website with the name of the category influencing what keywords you will rank for.
4. Are any of your competitors websites found in this directory? Are they getting any traffic from the directory? You want to submit to link directories that will send you direct targeted traffic. Don’t worry about what the link directory can do to get your site ranked higher in the SERPS because if the link directory is sending you targeted traffic you’re completing your end goal any way. Plus in general if the directory is sending you quality regular traffic chances are the increase in the SERPS will soon follow. If you’re not sure how to find out if your competitors are getting traffic from the directory simply ask them. It may seem nerve racking but 9 times out of 10 a webmaster ( competitor or not ) doesn’t have a problem giving you some information about a link directory.
So now you have a good idea on what types of link directories you should submit your site to. Before I end this post I leave you a small list of some of the best directories. Some are paid, others are free, and all of them have something unique to offer. In our next post we’ll be discussing another popular link building strategy. Thanks for reading and please feel free to leave comments.
1. DMOZ ( Open Directory Project ) – This directory is free, human edited, and can be very difficult to get in to.
2. Yahoo Directory – Arguably the best link directory on the Internet the Yahoo Directory will bring your website quality traffic and help you in the SERPS. However, it is a little pricey.
3. Best Of The Web – Best of the web is a great paid, human edited link directory that can really help your site get noticed on the web.
4. Search Sight – Some say that this is a search engine but it’s really a link directory with a search bar. Search Sight can really help you get some high quality traffic to your site.
5. Business.com – This is a great directory for B2B traffic. However, just like the Yahoo directory it is a little pricey.
