Directory link building used to be the name of the game.
20 years ago.
Is it still worth your time today?
Let’s find out.
Link building cheat sheet
What is Directory Link Building?
Web directory link building is the process of submitting your website to online directories with the aim of obtaining a quality backlink on a relevant anchor text.
These directories are websites themselves, designed to list and categorize other sites, making it easier for users to find specific information or services.
They come in various types, each serving different purposes and target audiences.
Types of Directories
- General Directories: These are broad-based and cover a wide range of topics and industries. Examples include DMOZ (now defunct) and Yahoo Directory (also shut down), which once were highly authoritative.
- Niche Directories: These directories focus on specific industries or topics, such as health, technology, or real estate. Websites like HealthGrades and TechCrunch Directory are examples.
- Local Directories: These cater to specific geographic locations and are invaluable for local businesses. Examples include Google My Business, Yelp, and Yellow Pages.
- Business Directories: These list businesses across various sectors, often focusing on B2B relationships. Examples include LinkedIn Business Directory and ThomasNet.
Directory Link Building is Long Past its Prime
High quality directory backlink building was once a cornerstone of SEO strategies, but its effectiveness has waned significantly over the years.
Google has evolved to focus more on the quality and relevance of links rather than sheer quantity.
Consequently, the value of most directory backlinks has plummeted.
The decline began as directories turned into repositories of spammy, low-quality links, leading Google to devalue or ignore them altogether.
Algorithm updates such as Penguin specifically targeted unnatural link-building practices, including reputable directory links, reducing their influence on search engine ranking.
Today, many directories that once carried significant SEO weight are either defunct or have lost their credibility due to an influx of irrelevant, low-quality links.
Web Directory Link Building Can Still Work for Local Businesses
Despite the overall decline, quality directory link building still holds value for local businesses, particularly when done thoughtfully and strategically.
Local link building directories like Google My Business, Yelp, and industry-specific directories continue to play an important role in enhancing local SEO. Here’s how:
- Local directories often appear at the top of search results for location-based queries. =
- Customers tend to trust businesses that appear in well-known directories, leading to higher chances of engagement and conversions.
- Citations from local directories contribute to the consistency of your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) information across the web. Consistent NAP details are crucial for local SEO and help search engines verify the legitimacy and location of your business.
- Many local directories allow customers to leave reviews. Positive reviews can improve your business’s reputation and also influence your search rankings. Engaging with customers through these platforms by responding to reviews can further boost your online presence.
How to Build Quality Links with Respona?
In this section, we’ll be using our own tool, Respona to run a blogger outreach campaign to secure some high quality backlinks on relevant sites.
Navigate to the “Campaigns” tab and click on “Create a New Campaign.” You’ll be prompted to select a campaign type.
Choose the “Blogger Outreach” campaign template.
Fill in the two essential fields:
- Enter the keywords relevant to the type of content or niche you are targeting. Respona’s AI can also suggest additional keywords to broaden your scope.
- Incentives: What will your prospects get in return for collaborating with you (e.g., a link in your upcoming guest post)?
The keywords will be used to find relevant link opportunities, while the incentive will be pulled straight into your email sequence – which you can access after clicking “Use this template”.
Respona provides a pre-designed email template, but customization is essential.
Consider adding an AI-generated “icebreaker” to further personalize each email.
These icebreakers can include specific details about the recipient’s blog or recent content, making your outreach more genuine and tailored.
Moving to the next step, Respona automates the process of finding relevant blogs and websites to target based on the keywords you’ve entered.
Respona automatically applies the `inurl:blog` search operator to ensure all opportunities are from blogs.
Refine your results using additional SEO metrics, such as domain authority, to ensure the websites you’re targeting are viable for collaboration.
On the next screen, you can access Respona’s email finder and AI personalization settings.
Respona’s email finder is pre-configured to locate website owners, content and SEO managers, and other relevant personnel for link-building collaborations.
Provide guidelines for AI personalization to make the emails sound more like you.
This could involve setting an appropriate tone or including examples of past successful personalizations.
Enable the “recurring search” option to allow Respona to periodically re-run the search and add new opportunities to your campaign.
This ensures that your outreach list keeps growing automatically as new blogs and websites enter the niche.
Click “Run Automation” to let Respona take care of finding link-building opportunities, their contact information, and email personalization.
The software will start populating results in real-time, so you don’t have to wait for the entire process to complete to start reviewing opportunities.
Before launching your campaign, conduct a final review to ensure everything is in place.
Even though Respona populates all variables, manual edits are highly encouraged to add a personal touch.
This helps avoid coming off as spam and ensures each email feels genuine.
Respona will run final verifications to check for placeholders or unfilled variables and ensure you’re not reaching out to recent contacts or duplicates.
Once everything is in order, you can launch your campaign.
Respona will begin sending out your personalized emails according to the schedule and settings you’ve chosen.
Link building cheat sheet
Now Over to You
So, in conclusion, directory submission link building is a largely forgotten SEO practice – except for the occasional local business directory submission site.
In 2024, the best way to get high quality backlinks is by finding and reaching out to relevant sites, and setting up ABC link exchanges (by providing them with a link from an upcoming guest post you have, for example).
Need help scaling up your link building?
Don’t hesitate to start your 14-day free trial with Respona to see how we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Directory Link Building Still Effective in 2024?
While directory link building is not as impactful as it used to be, it can still offer some benefits, particularly for local businesses looking to improve their local SEO.
However, it’s essential to choose high-quality, niche-specific directories that offer real value and relevance.
What are the Risks of Directory Link Building?
The main risk of online directory link building is being penalized by search engines for low-quality or spammy backlinks.
Search engines like Google frown upon websites that use directories solely for link building without considering the quality and relevance of the local directory.
How Do I Choose the Right Directories for Link Building?
Focus on directories that are relevant to your industry, have high domain authority, and are well-maintained.
Avoid low-quality directories that appear cluttered with irrelevant listings or are known primarily for selling links.
How Can Local Businesses Benefit from Relevant Directory Link Building?
Local businesses can gain noticeable benefits from listing in local directories such as Google My Business and Google Maps, Yelp, and industry-specific directories.
This niche directory listing can help improve local search engine visibility, drive referral traffic, and enhance online presence within their specific geographical area.
Should Directory Link Building Be My Primary SEO Strategy?
No, directory link building should not be your primary link building strategy in 2024.
It should be part of a broader, diverse link-building and SEO approach that includes content marketing, guest posting, influencer outreach, and other white-hat techniques that provide more sustainable SEO benefits.
