Kikabink News

Search engine optimizers have long recommended that webmasters submit their sites to authoritative directories such as Yahoo in order to get valuable backlinks. But a glaring deletion in Google’s Webmaster Guidelines indicates that Google may no longer favor links from directories.

Brian Ussery reports that the following bullet points have been removed from Google’s U.S. Webmaster Guidelines Webmaster Help Center:

• “Have other relevant sites link to yours.”
• “Submit your site to relevant directories such as the Open Directory Project and Yahoo!, as well as to other industry-specific expert sites.”

Hmmm… another search engine optimization (SEO) game changer?

Source: Brian Ussery, “Google No Longer Suggests Directory Submission”, Beussery.com, October 2, 2008

Good article by P.J. Fusco on getting backlinks from web directories. Ms Fusco explains that obtaining backlinks from the RIGHT directories is still a legitimate link building practice for the purposes of search engine optimization (SEO).

For one thing, directory submissions typically give you control over the anchor text used to link to your site. For another thing, directories are not only fairly easy to find, but also allow and WANT you to submit your site to them.

Just be sure to focus only on directories that are RELEVANT to your business - whether they are general, topical, niche or local/regional directories. Indeed, Ms Fusco suggests you take your time when evaluating a directory and to look for these signs:

• .edu and .gov backlinks;
• An aged domain;
• Lots of pages indexed by the search engines;
• Good PageRank flow-through to the listing pages; and
• Fewer than 100 links per listing page.

Similarly, she gives some solid tips for what to AVOID in a directory. You want to steer away from directories that:

• Are NOT relevant to your website;
• Are really just thinly veiled link farms;
• Contain links to “bad neighborhoods”;
• Have excessive broken links; and
• Feature numerous pop-up or pop-under ads.

Check out Ms Fusco’s article for more tips, including a list of other things to avoid when evaluating a directory.

Source: P.J. Fusco, “Tactical Link Building: Reliable Directories”, The ClickZ Network, August 27, 2008