Since we know that it is necessary to reference a website so that it is visible on the first page of the search engines, directory registration remains a widely used technique. However, it has always aroused great debate among SEO experts. Google’s algorithms are constantly evolving. During these evolutions, certain techniques seem not to be well seen by the search engine. Is directory submission part of it? Is this technique still effective today? Let’s go around the subject.
What directories bring for SEO
Recall that directories play 2 roles for your referencing:
– They are free sources (in most cases) of backlinks. They allow you to create incoming links to your site. The only downside is that what Google wants are quality links. And the directories are unable to provide them.
– They contribute to your local SEO if your goal is to expand your activities in a well-defined geographical area. Moreover, the submission to the directories is very encouraged to guarantee an optimal efficiency for the local referencing.
The realities of SEO with directories
But let’s face the reality,
– As has already been mentioned above, directories are not really the best sources to provide you with quality backlinks. First, because it is rare to find directories with high PR. Second, because the outbound links of directories are swarming like ants. However, the more numerous, the more the “link juice” emitted from a site is very low.
– The techniques that allow to create traffic for your site are more and more numerous . SMO or Social Media Optimization has become very trendy right now. All SEOs are already moving towards these techniques instead of spending time submitting their site to directories that almost never respond.
Is this technique so close to disappearing?
The direct answer to this question is No. The submission to directories still has something to contribute to SEO, as tiny as it is and it is not the experts who will deny it. But in order not to waste time and to avoid the penalization of the search engines, there are some conditions to respect for the submission. Here they are:
SUBMIT YOUR SITE ON A REGULAR BASIS
What is important is not to register the site in a hundred directories at the same time. The pattern is always the watchword when it comes to SEO. In addition, about twenty directories of high quality are enough to get you some results like home related directory listings.
USE DIRECTORIES THAT FIT INTO YOUR THEME
This is very important . Search engines are happy to see that your backlinks come from a site that deals with the same theme as yours.
STOP PLAGIARISM
As much as Google, directories do not like plagiarism. Avoid submitting a single description of your site in 2 different directories .
USE HIGH PROFILE SITES
The PR or Page Rank is an index that allows Google to know the level of popularity of a site. The higher your PR directory, the more you will have a chance to have quality backlinks.
FORGET THE AUTOMATIC SUBMISSIONS
It’s better to spend some time on manual submissions than to use automated submissions that may be suspicious of Google.
DIVERSIFY YOUR LINKS
Finally, you must diversify your links, do not always use the same expression for the anchor of the link. You can also link to an important page of your site (for example a category page of your shop).
