10 Jan 10 How to Qualify a Directory for Link Building

We all use directories to build links, and that is the reason why there are so many web directories submission services around. But, are all of them good? Are the ones promising to submit your website to 500 directories for slightly less than $50 ($47 or $49 to be more precise) any good?

Well, you know the answer. Not all the directories are cut to be the same, and not all of them are good. Most of them are bad, and as far as $47 directories submission goes, the adage, “Pay peanuts and get monkey” holds true.

A submission to bad directory will not only not give you any link juice, but it will also suck away the respect you got from Google and other search engines, as many of the web directories are banned or blacklisted by Google.

How to qualify a directory?

You need to run a directory through three litmus tests before submitting your website to that. This will save you from the search engines’ wrath, and will deliver value for money.

1. 1. Traffic: Look for the traffic stat. Compete stat is a good indication of the popularity of the traffic.
2. 2. Outbound link policy: Check the directory’s outbound link policy before submitting your link. A directory that has stringent linking policy is good, and the one who links to everyone and anyone will get banned.
3. 3. Google PageRank and Yahoo WebRank: Check for Google PageRank and yahoo WebRank of the directory you are going to submit your website to. This step can be considered optional.
4. 4. Affiliation: Check if the directory enjoys any industry affiliation or not?

Always run a directory through these steps before you submit your link. What else do you think should one consider before submitting website’s link to a directory? Please use the comment box and let me know your views on the subject.

Tags: Adage, google, Google Directory, Google Pagerank, Industry Affiliation, Link Directory, Litmus Tests, Monkey, Other Search Engines, Peanuts, Popularity, Stat, Submission Services, traffic, Web Directories, Webrank, Website Directory, Wrath, yahoo, Yahoo Google