BOTW, Yahoo Directory and Joeant - Unnatural linking, surely?

[ChrisHolgate]

Hi,

I have been reading with interest that many SEOmoz forum members still believe that a link in BOTW, Yahoo Directory and Joeant can still add value to a linking strategy.

It's my understanding that the Penguin update was designed to stop unnatural linking and link buying but Google does still seem to place some kind of value (although potentially diminished) in these directories despite them being pretty much exclusively paid for links.

What am I missing here and in a money no object world would you guys still consider them part of a good linking strategy?

Many thanks

[DukeTanson]

Firstly, i'm dead certain that if those directories didn't add any value, Google would have dealt with them because they are well known directories. The fact that they are still there means Google and its Panda/Penguin family sees value in them. We can argue all day about it but that won't change it.

Secondly the payment you make to these directories is not for your inclusion, rather for an editorial review. Two different things.

A link can be viewed as paid depending on the angle from which you are looking at it. Someone can argue that giving a blogger a product to write a review post about it, in a wayi is paid.

[ChrisHolgate]

Many thanks for your response.  I was only asking to check that it wasn't a 'they're on borrowed time' kind of situation before I parted with any cash