The question is, “Is Directory Submission Good for SEO?” The simple answer is yes, it is the best method of promoting your website.
Directory submission is an essential and beneficial element of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
The primary goal of directory submission is to create high-quality authority-increasing backlinks, which help improve the visibility and ranking of a website in search engine results pages (SERPs).
But Directory Submission is not good at some points.
In this blog post we will discuss details about Directory Submission, its types and why it could not be good. So, let’s dive in.
What is Directory Submission in SEO?
Directory submission is an off-page SEO technique where a website is submitted to an online directory to create backlinks and improve search engine rankings.
These directories categorize websites based on their industry, niche, or topic.
When a website is listed in these directories, it gets a backlink, which can help increase its authority and visibility in search engines.
However, the effectiveness of directory submission depends on the quality of the directory.
Types of Directory Submission in SEO
There are three main types of directory submissions in SEO:
1. Free Directory Submission
This type of submission does not require any payment. Website owners can submit their sites to directories for free.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Cost-effective | ❌ Approval time may be long |
| ✅ Accessible to everyone | ❌ Quality of Directories may vary |
| ✅ Increases the number of backlinks | ❌ Effect on SEO can be limited |
2. Paid Directory Submission
In this type, you will have to pay some free in order to get backlinks. It is also known as a premium directory submission.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Faster Approval | ❌ Cost involved |
| ✅ Best quality backlinks | ❌ Not suitable for all budgets |
3. Reciprocal Directory Submission
This requires the website owner to provide a backlink to the directory from their own site in exchange for the directory listing.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Free listing with faster approval | ❌ Requires giving a backlink |
| ✅ increase in mutual backlinks | ❌ Quality of Directories may vary |
How to Do Directory Submission in SEO?
Following a right method to submit your website urls in directories is important. Below given list explains exactly how to perform directory submission.
- Choose the Right Directories: Select directories that are relevant to your website’s niche and have better domain authority. Avoid spammy or low-quality directories.
- Prepare Your Website Information: Gather the necessary information about your website, such as the URL, title, description, keywords, and contact details. Ensure the description is concise and properly represents your site.
- Select the Appropriate Category: Choose the category that best fits your website’s content. This ensures your site is listed in the correct section, making it easier for users to find.
- Submit Your Website: Follow the submission guidelines of the directory. Fill out the required fields with accurate information and submit your site.
- Wait for Approval: After submission, you may need to wait for the directory to review and approve your listing. This can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
- Monitor Your Listings: Keep track of your submissions and check if your website has been listed. Ensure that the information is correct and up-to-date.
You can use SEMrush’s Link Building Tools for monitoring your backlinks status regularly.
Also Read: How to Solve Indexing Request Rejected? [5 Effective Ways]
Now you know “What is Directory Submission in SEO?” and also the successful submission to directory. But you should also be aware of guidelines to follow for the best quality of the submission.
Directory Submission Guidelines
While submitting your links in any directories you’ll need to follow the below given directory submission guidelines:
- Submitting to Low-Quality Directories: Avoid directories that have a poor reputation or are known for spam. These can negatively impact your SEO and may result in penalties. Search engines can also add your domain to Spam Category.
- Ignoring Directory Guidelines: Each directory has its own submission guidelines. Ignoring these can result in rejection or removal of your listing.
- Using Duplicate Content: Submitting the same content to multiple directories can lead to duplicate content issues. Write unique descriptions for each submission.
- Submitting to Irrelevant Categories: Ensure you submit your website to the most relevant category. Submitting to unrelated categories can confuse users and search engines.
- Overlooking Directory Quality: Evaluate the quality of a directory before submission. Check its domain authority, traffic, and reputation to ensure it is worth submitting to.
Best Free Directory Submission Sites [90+ DA Score]
| Sr. No. | Directory Submission Sites |
|---|---|
| 1 | list-directories.com |
| 2 | a1webdirectory.org |
| 3 | usalistingdirectory.com |
| 4 | marketinginternetdirectory.com |
| 5 | alistsites.com |
| 6 | alistdirectory.com |
| 7 | 247webdirectory.com |
| 8 | 9sites.net |
| 9 | pakranks.com |
| 10 | weboworld.com |
| 11 | usalistingdirectory.com |
| 12 | everbestlinks.com |
| 13 | freeprwebdirectory.com |
| 14 | callyourcountry.com |
| 15 | callbuster.net |
| 16 | thetusker.biz |
| 17 | corpdirectory.info |
| 18 | addsite.info |
| 19 | dmozing.com |
| 20 | yellowlinker.com |
| 21 | piseries.com |
| 22 | linkdirectorylistings.org |
| 23 | dealdirectory.com |
| 24 | godirectory.org |
| 25 | intercambioseo.com |
Submitting your links to this directories will help your website for improvement of local SEO, for gaining quality backlinks and for high visibility.
Alternatives to Directory Submission in SEO
There are many alternatives to directory submission in the market. You can easily try them as per your interests.
Content Marketing: If you like writing unique and legit content, then you can generate high quality content. Impressing the verified bloggers can make your website list in their blogs.
Quora: Answering Questions in Quora help bloggers create best links inside the answers. As Google pushes Quora answers to top 10 in the SERP, it will be easy to make a directory in Quora.
Medium: Content Writing in Medium.com is the best way to push a website by adding links to the content in Medium. You can easily create a short summary of the content you previously created in your website. After that, just link the Medium Content Summary to your website and see the boost!
Pinterest: Pinning your content thumbnails, summary videos, infographics in Pinterest will give your a medium to share your website visuals to a directory. Try adding your website link to every pin, which will help you create high quality dofollow links.
LinkedIn: Creating summary posts from your website content in LinkedIn can push your website rankings. But, Google ranks many LinkedIn posts to number one if the content is well-organized and better than other sites.
FAQs
Is Directory Submission Good for SEO?
Directory Submission used to be a popular and legit SEO technique, but over time and increase in the number of websites, its value decreased.
But don’t worry today also there are many directories in which you can submit your website links and gain backlinks.
For websites targeting local users, directory submission is necessary. Directories like Google My Business, Yelp, BBB, etc. can help you gain high-quality backlinks.
How do I Submit a Directory in SEO?
Submitting links to a directory is easy. Select a directory with high domain authority and open you niche category and submit your URLs.
After successful submission you will have to wait for its approval. After approval, you have successfully gained a backlink.
Conclusion
Directory submission in SEO is a strategy that involves submitting your website to online directories to gain backlinks and improve search engine visibility.
While its role has evolved, it can still provide benefits when done correctly.
By choosing the right directories, using unique descriptions, and following best practices, you can enhance your SEO efforts through directory submission.
Remember to evaluate the effectiveness of your submissions and explore alternative strategies to build a strong and diverse backlink profile.
Understanding what directory submission in SEO is and how to leverage it effectively can contribute to your overall SEO success.
