Competitors in directories according to OSE, should I submit for the same?

[edward-may]

Hey Mozers!

I have just began my link building process, firstly creating unique and quality content and looking at my competitors.  I have found that much of my competitors are in listed in many directories.  Some are paid and some are not.  I noticed the paid ones had higher DA which seems appealing, however I'm stuck to think wether or not it is relevant to my site and if my audience will go there to search my services.  But then I'm thinking well if my competitors are there then why is it so? etc

Does anyone know if this is something I should look at?  My site has been live since november last year and we only have 1 backlink at the moment according to moz...We are on the writing wagon to filter our content and make sure were writing good engaging content however I'm seeing this obviously not the only way.  I have also read the beginners guide to backlinks via moz and researched and read other interesting ways, including blogger outreach within my niche.

Any advice around this approach?

[Daniel_Morgan]

Hi Edward,

With your competitors seemingly not having the most up-to-date or high quality link profile, this provides you with a massive opportunity! Where they have links from generic directories, you can earn links from high authority websites which are relevant to your niche.

It's always good to analyse and compare competitors' link profiles; I would only use this process to find a few main directories within your niche (free or paid) and bear in mind that they could also bring some referral traffic if the directories are popular. Otherwise, stay away from:

• generic directories (organic and paid) except for dmoz.org
• any directories which are not "human-edited" ie, there is a no editorial control of which sites go into the directories

You said that you have been actively writing content. Producing content is great but you need to promote it if it is going to earn links. The best way I have found to earn the most authoritative links is via manual outreach, in which blogger outreach could be included of course. Contact the editors and webmasters of sites within your niche (but certainly try to think creatively to find opportunities which are outside your niche too), show them some examples of that great content you've been producing and ask them about the opportunity to create some exclusive content for them or even to collaborate on a piece of content together.

Hope that helps!

[Alick300]

Hi Justin,

Many SEO experts thinks that links from directories are generally low quality links and they don't want to submit in directories.

In this case my simple question is If directory links didn’t work then why Google deindex few hundreds directories in 2012 ?

Links from the right directories can still do wonders for your site. So you should check spam score of those directories and if spam score is & directory is relevant to your website you can go for it.

Thanks

[LSIversen]

Hi Justin,

I would just like to add to the above responses, that you should be careful copying a competitors' backlink profile. These directory links could be something of the past that they put in several years ago when it worked. They could very well since have been disavowed; there's no way to know that.

There might still be some value to get from directories, but I wouldn't just get in one because my competitors are there. If they are human edited and are niche relevant (dmoz.org being the exception) then go for it. If not, then I would take a long hard look at whether or not it is worth it to go there.

[ClaytonJ]

I will not comment on the directories discussion as the boys have canvassed it well.

On link building the first suggestion or step I recommend is to capture the first 75 URL's that appear in the SERP for the most important keyword you are targeting.  Then strategize how to get a link to each of the URL's - yes some are competitors so they are no good.  Many are not competitors.  Links from these pages have high SEO value. Be relentless in pursuit of these websites for backlinks.

After I have maximised my efforts on the aforesaid I then look elsewhere.

Good luck, let me know if you need any help.

[edward-may]

Wow thanks so much Daniel, you bet this helped me so much! I have submitted to dmoz, but I don't know if I have been approved as I have not heard anything back... Do you know how to get in touch with them at all?

What is manual outreach? I know what blogger outreach is and I'm trying my first ~ using some of Rands tips.

How can you tell if directories are not human edited? I'm assuming that you can take control over the listing or have some form of control over the listing, rather then filling out a form?

Thanks again for your insights

[edward-may]

Awesome advice Alick300, again will def look into spam score

[edward-may]

Hey John,

Wow again you have such great information to share!

I like your recommendation for the first 75 URL's that appear in the SERP.  My main keyword is "psychic readings" I know some competitors who definitely won't, but your idea of looking into the pages that are not is a great idea.

I have 3 top level domains co.nz (NZ) com.au (AUS) and .com (USA) but I'm really pushing for the Australia and USA, as after running PPC, NZ was pretty dead.

So I will gather these domains.  I do have a question, how would you go about approaching some of the 75 pages?

Thanks so much again for your awesome advice.

Cheers

[ClaytonJ]

The first thing is a bit tragic and may be frowned up - you need to set up a female address sarah@brandname.com.  I find if you ask for a link as a male you receive a low response rate. If the email comes from a female - then the response rate is reasonable. A personal choice.

However that is for generic link building.

Of the 75 URL's you have collected I would create a strategy for each one - they are that important!  A phone call, begging, swapping services - whatever you need to do..  it is actually good fun, you will meet some great people. If you get a chance drop into their office.  Do free psychic readings... whatever it takes.

Each of those links has great SEO value.  The reality is it is just hard work but play to your strengths you know what they are.

[edward-may]

great, thanks for that John, will do and see how I go

[Daniel_Morgan]

I wouldn't hold out for dmoz to approve your submission. It's really the only generic web directory still worth submitting to these days but it can take months before you get approved. If and when it does get added though, it's certainly worth the 2 minutes it takes to submit.

Manual outreach is just a way to contact people directly whether that be bloggers, journalists and editors, contributing articles to industry websites etc. You can reach out by email but I find that contacting people via LinkedIn and Twitter has a much better success rate. Here is a good article to introduce you to the topic - http://www.buzzstream.com/blog/essential-guide-effective-link-building-outreach.html - which also features Moz's own Follerwonk tool.

When I say about directories which are not human-edited, I mean directories which don't even have an approval process and therefore allows anyone to "build a link" straight away. You will normally be able to spot this in a directory's "submission guidelines" and they will normally be the directories which require a small fee upwards of $50.

[edward-may]

Thats so much Daniel! A directory approached me the other day to tell me how much traffic I would get if I listed in their astrology category and that they receive so much traffic to that category a month looking for my services.  If i listed there they would give me a 20% discount taking it to around $400 a year.  So I was sitting here thinking is it the more expensive the more human-edited and non-generic the directory is?

I also read their guidelines and they consisted of quiet a lot.  For eg: they don't list websites with spam content, broken links etc

Thanks for the information regarding the manual outreach, I will take a look into the buzzstream as iv seen this floating around but didn't quiet understand the actual intent behind it, now that im looking into link building it all makes sense.

What do you think of SEO agencies that offer to build your backlinks? I'm a little skeptic around it but in saying that not my place to comment as i have not been there yet.  I have had an seo guy work with me in the beginning who i found out was giving me all sorts of nonesense advice after discovering moz.

cheers