Mass article submission

[Max_powers]

I'm quite new to SEO and initially I was learning from the wrong sources who suggested to submit content to as many article directories as possible and the same with website submission to other web directories. Most of the directories they had suggested were low quality, with the only quality ones being made for a niche, which was not my websites niche. They also recommended other bad on-page techniques such as spinning/scraping other websites content - not that I followed this method anyway.

Anyway, after educating myself more on how SEO and the search engines themselves work, I know that this is not the best practice. My website initially benefited from having all of these links but now has dropped off ranking for the keyword entirely. It still ranks on the front page for other long tail keywords and the actual domain name, but not the primary keywords. I'm worried that Google has in some way blacklisted my website for the main keywords, which were also used in all of these articles, but not the others if that's possible.

At the moment I'm restructuring my website by increasing the amount of content and especially the quality of content so that I can submit it to better directories such as DMOZ and other niche specific directories and websites. Will Google look past the links from the low quality directories if my website is included in DMOZ and other high quality, niche specific directories? Is it better to just abandon my current website and start fresh?

Thanks for any answers and/or advice in advance.

[AlanMosley]

i would suggest that you are more than likly not flaged, but the links have been found and discounted.

Yes you may still rank for long tails as there is less competition.

If you have been punkished for un-natural links, you more then likly get a message in GWMT

[Francisco_Meza]

I agree. You'll be notified in GWT. Forget about trying to get you site in DMOZ. Submit it and forget about it. I have been trying to get into DMOZ for a couple years now.

BUILD quality content on your landing page. Watch this WBF: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/the-new-onpage-optimization-whiteboard-friday