I started researching paid web directories when the rankings for popular posts on a recipe blog of mine went down enough to reduce clicks significantly. This happened for no obvious reason. I can’t be 100% sure but I think this happened when some spammy and low quality sites started linking to mine. They were linking to popular web pages in an effort to increase their SERP I’m assuming or as back-link spam and would usually only last a few months.
I found and got my blog listed on two directories that were not fly by night directories and would not be considered a link scheme according to Google and and what I’ve heard from Google webmaster videos. Once indexed and showing as a link to my website in Google Search Console I was back to ranking based on the content of my site. I don’t want to have to keep disavowing spammy sites using my content which wasn’t effective as there would just be another low quality site doing the same thing. I’d rather be posting a new recipe.
I’ve seen posts saying you shouldn’t use these web directories. Google hasn’t said that you shouldn’t use ANY and I would suggest you shouldn’t use them in a spammy way and MUST avoid any that are low quality and spammy.
I think of the legit ones as a source of a link from a site where the directory is basically saying they checked your site out, it doesn’t appear to be some scam, isn’t under construction, or doing anything that could be considered bad. It’s a human verified editorial link where the directory would reject any spammy submissions.
Google has mentioned in at least two Google webmaster videos that directory sites are fine as long as they aren’t accepting and publishing any link from anyone. Watch the video for more details. It makes sense to me from Googles perspective if a directory is having low quality spammy sites listed then it can’t trust the links from it as they are manipulating search results in a negative way and can’t give those links any value and I agree with this.
I would try and keep the percentage of links from web directories on the low side and build them over time. Maybe one every couple weeks until you have a few. It’s not like anyone won’t realize the links are from directories by spreading them out but I think it looks better to not have an entire bunch show up at once. I don’t know if there is a point of diminishing returns on links from different web directories. I wouldn’t go crazy with getting them. It would be easy for Google to know how many of your back links are from web directories and ignore anything other than the 10 best, first 10, create some average or whatever or give you a penalty if you go crazy with getting them. I’ve looked at back-links for some sites with say 3k links and a high DA that easily were on 10 or so directories.
So how do you know which ones are worth getting a link from? Here’s my guidelines. They are simply my opinion on what I look for. There’s quite a number of web directories. List on the best and least expensive ones especially if its for a non-business website and don’t take the option to be listed for a reciprocal link. Legit ones generally won’t have that as an option.
How to know if a web directory is worth getting a link from
- DA of 40 or higher according to Moz OSE If you find one local or specific to your type of site with a lower DA it might still be be fine. Check it out well to be sure.
- LSI of 20% or higher according to SEOprofiler
- Google indexes the directory. Check by doing a Google search for site:domain_name nameofsomeoneinyourcategory
- Competitors or websites similar to yours should be listed and able to be found doing a Google search of site:domain_name websiteORname
- Are competitors or similar reputable websites listed?
- Is there an appropriate category for you? Some are focused on blogs, businesses, both or a specific category.
| Web Directory | Moz DA | LIS Link Influence Score | Indexed by Google | Allows Deep Links | Lifetime Listing Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best of the Web | 68 | 99% | Yes | ? | $299.00 |
| Best of the Web – local | 67 | 72% | Yes | ? | $? |
| Best of the Web – blogs | 67 | 55% | Yes | ? | $299.00 |
| Hot vs Not | 67 | 36% | Yes | No | $160 |
| Web Directory at R-TT.com | 64 | 33% | Yes | ? | FREE* |
| viesearch.com | 58 | 21% | Yes | ? | $9.99 |
| SoMuch.com | 57 | 34% | Yes | No | $8.95 |
| Family Friendly Sites | 56 | 48% | Yes | ? | ? |
| JAYDE | 55 | 65% | Yes | ? | FREE |
| Aviva Directory | 55 | 89% | Yes | ? | $149.95 |
| Aviva Directory – Blogs | 55 | 33% | Yes | ? | $1 or $149.95 |
| JoeAnt.com | 54 | 61% | Yes | With approval | 39.99 |
| BusinessSeek.biz | 51 | 33% | Yes | Yes | $12.00 |
| allthewebsites | 50 | 34% | Yes | ? | $ |
| DirJournal | 49 | 83% | Yes | ? | $159.95 |
| alive DIRECTORY | 49 | 62% | Yes | ? | $149.95 |
| A1 WebDirectory | 48 | 40% | Some | ? | $39.99 |
| ProLinkDirectory | 46 | 40% | Yes | Yes | $19.00 |
| Cipinet | 46 | 34% | Some | Yes | $25.00 |
| 01WebDirectory | 44 | 54% | Yes | ? | $49.00 |
| Elite Sites Directory | 43 | 34% | Yes | No | $3.00 |
| A List Directory | 42 | 33% | Yes | Yes | $3.99 |
| Jasmine Directory | 41 | 74% | Yes | ? | $99.00 |
| A List Sites | 41 | 20% | Yes | Yes | $3.99 |
* Requires a unique description (easier than it sounds!)
Niche type directories
| Web Directory | Moz DA | LIS Link InfluenceScore | Indexed by Google | Allows Deep Links | Lifetime Listing Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WebDesignersDirectory | 55 | 55% | Yes | Yes | $139.00 |
Please report any on this list that are problematic or no longer active. I’ve seen some not listed here where it seems like they closed down and someone else bought the domain only to put up a directory website of questionably quality.
If you know of any I’m missing that meet my guidelines let me know!