Reputable Directories

[Chris]

I'm trying to compile a list of legitimate directories. IE directories that have editorial guidelines, do not exist merely to make money/gain link weight, aren't run by serial directory creators who do bait & switch marketing, and provide a benefit in the SERPs for sites listed, and don't allow spam of course.

Here is my list:

Yahoo
Dmoz
Best of the Web
GoGuides
JoeAnt

I'd like the list to be longer though, so please post any you consider legitimate directories, bigger ones only. If we did small/niche ones the list would be too long.

[KLB]

Great thread. I went to GoGuides and submitted my site to it. after submitting my site, GoGuides suggested links2go so I checked it out. It isn't very big yet, but it could show promise, so I decided what the heck, I'll give it a try as well.

[Kyle]

Skaffe.com, I've seen many friends turned down, even some of my sites in the past.

[Jenita]

Hi,

Jayde is also a good directory for listing your site.

[Selkirk]

http://sbd.bcentral.com/

[Chris]

I don't think MS is accepting submissions for that anymore.

[Kyle]

That's too bad, as of Nov 16th 2006.

[MaxS]

Think it's worth it? Between all of them, it would cost somewhere around $400.

[Chris]

Unless your site makes very little per unique, yes, I think so.

[MaxS]

Why is that a factor? Do you think it will drive traffic directly?

[Selkirk]

Lets look up some category pages on yahoo site explorer for a random topic: laptop cases.

Top tier

• Yahoo Directory > Business and Economy > Shopping and Services > Computers > Accessories > Carrying Cases - 16 external of 32 inbound links - PR 4
• DMOZ Business: Consumer Goods and Services: Luggage and Bags: Bags and Back Packs - 28 external of 33 inbound links - PR 4

Second Tier:

• Skaffe Directory > Shopping > Luggage - 1 external of 3 inbound links - PR 2
• BOTW Computers: Hardware: Systems: Notebooks_and_Laptops: Cases_and_Accessories - 0 external of 10 inbound links - PR 2
• GoGuides Directory > Business > Consumer Goods & Services > Luggage - 0 external of 2 inbound links - PR 2
• Joe Ant: Shopping > Travel > Luggage - 0 external of 2 inbound links - PR 2

Third Tier:
No traffic, no inbound links, no value.

Obviously there are very quick diminishing returns, both in traffic and in link weight.

[ozgression]

Selkirk, that is a good point you make, but I believe the biggest benefit of submission to high quality directories would be the SEO benefits relative to most other inbound linking methods (link exchanges, low quality "spammy" directories etc). I've also found that submission to a high quality directory also gets new sitea spidered very quickly - even if the category you add your link to has low a PageRank.

[KLB]

So far I've submitted to:
Best of the Web
GoGuides
JoeAnt
links2go

If you read Chris' blog you can get a coupon code for BOTW that will save you 20%. If you pay by Paypal you can get that same discount for each of your subsequent years via the Paypal recurring subscription.

[FPU]

The main thing to fear with directories is their reciprocal link percentages, if a directory has reciprocal linking code in their submission page, consider it a link farm and stay far away from it.

What is even worse is a link farm directory that sells one way links, deceiving webmasters while at the same time giving away "free" links to those who reciprocate.

You end up paying to damage yourself in these sort of schemes unknowingly paying to be listed in a reciprocal linking scam.

[KLB]

The links from a link farm won't damage a site unless said site links back to the link farm. At worst these paid one way links are just a waste of money.