There are a lot of misconceptions about directory links. Some people think they are no longer helpful, while others believe they have great SEO value. Directory link can be beneficial, but they also have some downfalls. In this blog post, we will discuss directory link in depth so that you can decide whether they are suitable for your website.
Web directories were created to help people navigate the internet. Web directories are online resources that allow users to find information on the internet. They are organized by category and subcategory, making it easy to find what you are looking for.
This article will explore what directories are, why they were created, and the type of links you can get from them. We will also examine the pros and cons of directory links and Google’s official stance on them. Finally, we will give you our thoughts on whether or not directory link are still worth your time and effort.
What Are Web Directories?
Web directories are simply lists of websites. They can be organized by topic, region, or other factors. Directory links are simply links from these directories back to your website. These links can be do-follow or no-follow.
Well, In the web directories, the website owner has to submit their website URL, a short description, and a title, and sometimes choose categories. After the submission is complete, It’s up to the directory owner whether they want to approve or reject the website.
If the directory is of high quality, then getting a link from that directory will be beneficial to your website. The link will not help your website much if the directory is of low quality.
Why Were Web Directories Created?
Directories were created to help people find websites on the early internet. They were essentially like yellow pages for websites. While search engines have largely taken over this function, some people still prefer using it. Directory link can still be helpful.
What Are Directory Links?
Directory links are simply links from web directories back to your website. These links can help improve your SEO by increasing your link popularity and giving you more opportunities to rank for relevant keywords.
Pros And Cons Of Directory Links
There are both pros and cons to directory links. Here are some of the most important ones to consider:
Pros:
- Directory links can improve your link popularity
- It can give you more opportunities to rank for relevant keywords
- Directory link can help increase traffic to your website
- It can help you build relationships with other businesses
- Directory links can be an excellent way to get started with SEO
Cons:
- Directory links may not be as valuable as other types of links
- It can be challenging to get directory link
- Some directories are more reputable than others
- The directory link may take longer to show the results
- You may need to pay for some directory listings
Types Of Directories
There are a few different types of directories that you should know about:
Business Listing Directory
These directories list businesses in a specific industry or location. This directory has valuable links for SEO and can help improve your local search rankings.
These directory passes do follow links that google trusts and values.
A few good examples of business directories are Yelp, Foursquare, and Angie’s List.
General Directory
A general directory is a directory that lists websites of all types in a directory. Dmoz is an example of a General directory.
While not as focused as other directories, they’re the easiest to build; because they accept every listing.
Local Directory
A local directory is a directory that lists websites in a specific location. This directory is handy if you have a business that relies on local customers.
Some good examples of local directories are Yelp, Foursquare, and Angie’s List.
Niche Directory
A niche directory is a directory that lists websites in a specific niche or industry. This directory can be valuable for businesses in competitive industries.
Some good examples of niche directories are Avvo, FindLaw, and Justia.
Paid Directory
A paid directory is a directory that requires you to pay for a listing. These directories can be valuable if they are high-quality and have a good reputation.
Some paid directory examples are Best of the Web and Business.com.
Google’s Comment On Directory Links
In general, we don’t follow links from web directories. This is because these links are often not editorially placed by the directory site’s owner.
However, there are a few exceptions. For example, we follow link from well-established directory sites like DMOZ and Yahoo!
Should You Disavow Directory Links?
If you have a directory link pointing to the website that you believe is harming your SEO efforts, you can disavow them.
To do this, add the following line to your disavow file
domain: directoryname.com
Be sure to replace directoryname.com with the actual directory name.
How To Build High-Quality Directory Links?
There are several ways you can try to find directory link, but the best are mentioned below:
Use Advanced Search Operators
One way to find directory links is to use advanced search operators.
Here are a few examples of advanced search operators
- site:.edu “submit a site”
- site:.gov “submit a site”
- inurl:directory “add URL”
- allintitle: directory
- allintitle: directory “submit a site.”
- allintitle: directory “add URL.”
- “suggest a site to this directory.”
- “suggest a site for this directory.”
- “add your site to this directory.”
- “submit your site to this directory.”
Just replace the directory with the directory you want to find.
Use Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free tool that shows you the links pointing to your website. Add your website and click on the “Links” tab to use it.
You will see a list of all the websites linking to your website. You can then filter the results by directory links by clicking on the “More” drop-down menu and selecting “Directory Links.”
Spy On Your Competitor’s Directories
One way to find directory links is to spy on your competitor’s backlinks. This can be done with a tool like Ahrefs.
- Enter your competitor’s website into the tool
- Click on the “Backlinks” tab.
- Then, filter the results by directory links by clicking on the “More” drop-down menu and selecting “Directory Link.”
Directory links can be a great way to improve your SEO. However, it’s essential only to build high-quality directory link. Otherwise, you may end up harming your SEO efforts.
FAQs
What Is The Best Way To Build Directory Links?
The best way to build directory links is to use advanced search operators or Google Search Console. You can also spy on your competitor’s backlinks to find directory link.
What Are The Types Of Directories?
The directories are business listing, general, local, niche, etc.
Should You Disavow Directory Links?
If you have directory links pointing to your website that you believe are harming your SEO efforts, you can disavow them. To do this, add the following line to your disavow file: domain: directoryname.com. Be sure to replace directoryname.com with the actual directory name.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have a better understanding of directory links, you can start building high-quality directory link to improve your SEO. Just be sure to use good techniques to find the best directories that google loves, or you will be wasting your time and efforts.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear from you.
Happy directory link building!
Thanks for reading:)
