Current Thoughts on Directories?

[CalgaryRealtor39]

I have heard pros and cons on directories forever, just wanted to check in to see what everyone is saying about them currently.

[RyanKent]

When you mention directories I presume you are referring to Link Directories as opposed to Article or other directories. Some examples would be DMOZ, Yahoo, Business.com and BOTW.

In the mid 90s, link directories were a helpful way for sites to be discovered. Search engines didn't exist and when they started, the results were low quality. People could visit a directory site, type in a topic and find a list of sites with information about that topic.

Fast forward to present day and most directories have absolutely no value. Generally speaking, the value of a link can be measured by how difficult it is to obtain. Free directories normally have no value as anyone can get a link. The pay directories offer no value since paid links are not trusted by search engines and therefore do not pass link juice.

That leaves two types of directories which have value:

1. Pay for review directories. Sites such as Yahoo directory, BOTW.org, Business.com charge for a REVIEW of your site. The fee must be paid in advance and is NON REFUNDABLE. The review is a quality check of your business and website. If you do not pass the review, your site is not listed and you are out the fee. If your site passes the review, you earn a listing.

2. Niche directories. Some niche directories require a fee for a review and others are free. The only general free directory I am aware of which usually offers value is DMOZ. There are directories which focus a specific topic such as Wines or Particle Physics which can be valuable. Other niche directories charge for a review or have various requirements which, upon meeting, your site can be listed. The BBB would one example while Verified by Visa is another.

As with most of SEO, there are many factors to consider when weighing the value of a directory. You can't just say "blogs are good" or "social network sites are good" as a blanket statement. It is their proper implementation as a strategy which has tremendous potential. Along the same lines, directories are neither good nor bad but the overwhelming majority of directories are bad for various reasons. SEOmoz has offered a list of quality directories. Please not the list is NOT perfect. There are some directories on the list which may not offer value, and there are likely some good directories which have not made this list.

There are tons of articles on this topic already on SEOmoz. You are welcome to use the Search function and you will find many opinions. I would suggest focusing the more recent articles first.

The most valued web directory is DMOZ as it's home page has a PR of 10 and it is has been specifically favored by Google in the past. Even so, there are pages in that directory so deep that Google doesn't even crawl them and therefore the links have no ranking value.

One sign of a quality directory: imagine search engines did not exist. Will membership in this directory lead to any direct traffic? If the answer is yes, it is likely a "good" directory.

[AlanMosley]

I agree with what Ryan has already said., but i would also suggest local directories, i triied to find the Matt Cutts video where he stated local mixed with a few quaility links is a good idea but i could not find it, you will have to trsut me. To me it makes sence to get a local link pattern, if you are a local business.

If a directory is nich then by nature not everyone is included, and can be usefull
Matt Cutts has stated that they still give weight to directoreis that dont accept eveyone

[CalgaryRealtor39]

Thank you for your very detailed answer.