Is directory submission still a valid practice?

[HDDEPT]

Hi Guys,

I have few doubts running in my mind on directory submission, do you think it is still a valid practice in link building?. If your answer is "YES", then please correct me..

1. How submitting to directories is a natural link practice?

2. According to Google, links should not be purchased, it should to be created naturally, but if you see, a lot of high authority directories charging amount from people to index links, why Google not stopping those directories (I mean penalizing) and stopping the people who are trying to get indexed by paying.

3. According to me directories holds only bunch of links to some external domains (I hope I am not wrong), then how submitting to them can bring rankings to me?.

Sorry, if I sound stupid in any of my points, but expecting some good answers from you folks..

[BBEXNinja]

"bunch of URLs which doesn't have even a single inbound link to them, but ranks #1 on Google for so many competitive keywords"  ... competitive keywords ranking at #1 without ANY backlinks?  I find this hard to believe, but I'll be happy to be proven wrong.  Share some?

[Futura]

Yes, I think it works in some cases with the actually benefits of relevancy and authority of directory we going to take link from in the specific related category we might think a good FIT for us.

[roadrider75]

Bear in mind there are different types of directories. For example human edited directories. My testing seems to support these are defo valid. Without taking what Google recommend too literally, there is also a question of relevance and the fact that there is a marketing world outside SEO. For example if promoting a restaurant in York, a link in a directory of restaurants in York may not necessarily count in pure SEO terms but it would be unwise to not include.

In my view and experience certain directories will help SEO as part of a balanced mix of links.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi HDDEPT,

Just wanted to pop in and add that in Local SEO, directory listings are not only still valid, but are the core of citation building which is one of the main practices of Local Search Marketing. In this specific area, Google rewards rather than punishes inclusion in local business directories.

[HDDEPT]

Honestly, I am not insulting your intelligence, but do you think they really rank higher because of those directories?. I have bunch of URLs which doesn't have even a single inbound link to them, but ranks #1 on Google for so many competitive keywords. If I am not wrong, then your links are ranking because of your page's content. Please correct me If I am wrong!.

[TylerReardon]

Yes it's honestly still a valid practice. I have multiple keywords that rank number one on both Google and Bing where the only links are coming from directories.

[qlkasdjfw]

no it is not. it doesn't work anymore.

[HDDEPT]

If it is a valid practice, then how it is natural?, according to Google a link should be acquired, rather than created by a webmaster himself (Am i correct?), then how directory submission will satisfy this condition?. Also how a directory holds authority if it doesn't have great content, instead it was just stuffed with few bunch of links to some external domains?.

I agree with you on the local listings part, because local lists help find people about the local businesses (people might be naturally want to search there to find the local data accurately), but web directories works on the concept of indexing anything..

I believe in what I see, and whenever I search for something on Google or any other search engine I found some great useful blogs or businesses website with great content inside them, I never see any directories in those results (at least in 99% of the cases).

Please correct me if I am wrong!,

[SEO5Team]

Yes in my opinion directory submission is a very valid SEO practice however  there are ethical ways to do directory link building and the unethical/borderline black hat methods. Adding your client in sites like local and national directories related to the client's subject matter expertise is a recommended method for link building. A good list is the one recommended by SEOMOZ below:

www.seomoz.org/directories

Kurtis did a great post on this topic that you can read here http://www.seomoz.org/blog/web-directory-submission-danger