What is directory link building?
Directory Link Building: People strongly prefer using online tools to solve nearly all the problems they face in their daily lives. All kinds of small and big businesses use impressive SEO tactics to get better results.
A survey of customers found that 98% of people looked up a local business online in the past year. 82% of people look up area businesses once a week or more.
Even though search engine optimization (SEO) is always changing, link building is still a key part of any successful SEO plan. Getting links from high-quality directories is a good way to boost your website’s exposure and search engine ranking.
Directory link-building is an essential component of any link–building strategy or SEO strategy. And if you use the right tactics, it can have a big effect on how your website ranks in search engines. Finding the right directories is one of the first steps in making links through them.
Over the years, many people have become naive about directory links, even though you can create connections that are-
- Relevant
- Contextual
- From prominent domains
Locating niche/industry-specific directories to submit your site to and making sure the links you create are relevant to what is posted on your site are essential steps.
Tools like Moz’s Link Explorer or Ahrefs can help you find useful, high-quality directories to link building. This guide will show you the best ways to build links from directories to help your website’s SEO.
What Are Directory Backlinks?
As the name suggests, directory backlinks are links to your site that come from other web directories.
“Web directories” refers to specific platforms that act as an online catalog for other websites. They usually keep a large database on the web, where you can find a list of basic information about third-party organizations and sites.
Most of the time, these two ways are used to get the information:
Automated: Some web directories’ AI engines automate data retrieval, processing, and segmentation. They use complicated algorithms to get basic information from relevant sites. This information is then in the right order and added to their internal lists.
Manual through Human: These are web directories with human-edited content. Human editors organize and check the data entry, then put it in order based on a custom formula.
Most of the time, the standard names are given the most weight in the directories. They ask online companies and bloggers to send in their brand name and the address and phone number that goes with it. These details make up what we call “NAP” as a whole.
The address area is very important because that is where you can put links to your site. Webmasters can add a backlink to their site from their directory profile.
Even though NAP is the most basic level of information, current directory submission sites often add more information to it, like product specifications and the company’s history.
Why should you build directory links?
Directory link building helps establish your website’s reliability and authority by showing search engines that you get high-authority backlinks from other trustworthy websites.
Best Directory Link Building Techniques
Here are some of the best ways to create link building in directories that can greatly help your SEO.
1. Choose high-quality directories
Submitting your website to sites that aren’t very good could hurt your SEO efforts more than help them. Choose high-quality directories that have a lot of traffic and have important categories for your business.
For Example
- Google My Business
- Yelp
- Yahoo Local
2. Make a full profile of your business
Build a full and accurate business profile when you submit your website to a directory. Include the name of your business, its address, phone number, the URL of its website, a statement of what it does, and any relevant keywords.
By making this data more accessible, you increase the likelihood of attracting new clients.
3. Use local directory listings
Local listings are a good way to reach out to customers in your area. Add your website to local sites like Google My Business, Yelp, and Yellow Pages to make it easier for local customers to find it.
4. Use Relevant Keywords
Use important keywords in the submissions you send to directories to make them more visible in search results.
However, it is recommended that you use keywords relevant to your nature of business and consistent with the search terms your target audience uses to locate items and services like yours.
5. Use directories in your niche
Submit your website to niche directories focused on your business or niche. Niche directories are very specific and bring in customers who might be interested in your goods or services.
6. Make the most of anchor text
Anchor text is the words that can be clicked on in a link. To optimize anchor text, you should use keywords that fit the linked page’s content. Use anchor text that is descriptive and relevant when you submit your website to directories. It will help you build your online profile.
7. Update directory listings regularly
By updating your directory pages regularly, you can ensure that your business information is correct and up-to-date. Search engines like websites with correct and consistent information, so make sure you update your directory listings often to help your SEO efforts.
Advantages of Directory Link Building
Directory link building refers to the practice of acquiring backlinks from online directories with link building strategy. The primary advantage of directory link building is that it can help improve a website’s search engine rankings by enhancing its link profile and potential for increased organic traffic.
Online directories, when chosen wisely, can provide valuable and relevant backlinks, leading to higher domain authority and visibility in search engine results, ultimately boosting the overall SEO efforts of a website. So let’s get started it.
- Increase Visibility
Increasing your website’s visibility and the traffic it receives can be accomplished by submitting it to various online directories.
- Better Ranking
Directory Link Building can improve a site’s position in search engine results pages.
- Cost Effective
Directory Link Building helps you to divert your potential customers to your website in a cost-effective way.
- Link Diversity
Directory link building gives you the chance to get links from a variety of sources. This variety can boost the credibility of your website in search engines because it shows that you are getting links organically.
- Target and Relevant Niche
Directory link building lets you focus on sites related to your niche or business. By submitting your website to niche-specific directories, you can get backlinks from authoritative sources in your business. These relevant backlinks can increase your site’s visibility and rating in search engine results, indicating that your site is trusted and appreciated within its specialized specialty.
Types of Directory Link Building
Directory link building can be categorized into several types. Each type offers unique advantages and should be chosen based on the specific SEO goals and target audience of a website.
1. General
As their name implies, these directories cover many industries in their listings. This is because these sites accept links from almost any site, no matter what the page is about, what business it is in, or how good it is.
Instead of people, bots accept link comments on the website. But if you submit your link-building or backlinks to general web directories, your brand will be grouped with other companies that do similar things.
Users can look for anything, including insurance companies, loans, vets, and lawyers.
You don’t want too many general online sites to list your backlink. Google can see this as an increase in the backlinks you’re getting. The online version of the yellow pages, which is still around, is a familiar example of a general directory.
2. Business
Business lists are online directories of businesses and brands. General directories include even bloggers and people who haven’t registered, but business entries are only for people who sell services or products.
We’re talking about companies or websites like:
- Better Business Bureau
- Yelp
- MapQuest
- BizJournals 411.com
- MerchantCircle
Their job is to give people basic information about companies that might interest them. Some add reviews and ratings from previous customers to the information about the company.
Your business page can be used for more than just SEO. When the directory backlinks are finally running, you may utilize the same web page to boost your credibility and general trustworthiness.
Then, when people come in and leave reviews, BBB will have to check them to make sure they are real. So, in a way, business listings are also places where people find and suggest brands they can trust.
That means link building shouldn’t always be the last step of a plan. As a follow-up, you might want to use reciprocal linking to send happy buyers to the review page.
Better Business Bureau, or BBB.org for short, is one of the best places to find this information. Consumers love it because it does thorough background checks on businesses and those working for them.
For example, the web directory will want proof that the business you want to list is real. That is why it has a method for accrediting businesses.
3. Paid Directories
Paid directories differ from most other directories because they don’t let just anyone put themselves on the platform.
Instead, you have to pay a fee to place your link building on the website. It turns the fact that directory backlinks are a good value.
Also, the fact that the website makes money shows that it is well-made and run.
They usually charge a monthly or yearly subscription to the directory’s website. They make sure that your directory page stays up-to-date.
4. Niche Directories
When you put backlinks in online directories focused on a certain field, they become more powerful.
All the listings in these directories are related to a subject or theme, like a specific sector or business.
Even though these sites are harder to find, they are the best for marketers and link builders because they are high-quality.
You should focus on these kinds of sites for your Directory Link Building.
Practical examples of niche directories are-
#A. TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is pretty much in the hospitality business like
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Lodges
- Travel destinations
#B. KBB.com
The Kelly Blue Book, or KBB, lists car dealers by area and type of car.
#C. Houzz.com
Houzz.com is mostly about built design, so it’s a great place to show off builders and their work.
5. Local Directories
Local Directories are specialized business listings that can sort the businesses mentioned based on locality.
87% of people have used these directories to find nearby businesses. The local search algorithms on the websites were built with GPS in mind. It makes it easy to find useful results close to where you are.
Local Directories are especially good for businesses that have real stores. By putting their information on sites for area directories, they can
- Build links to their websites from directories
- Raise company awareness in the area where they do business
- Promote themselves on Google as a very important business in the area
Even though the web is mostly praised for how far it connects people, it turns out that people are now using it more and more in their communities. More and more people are using location-based business listings to find suggestions for businesses in their area.
And if you look at the numbers, you could say that up to 97% of people find out about neighborhood businesses mostly through the Internet.
Building high-quality directory backlinks in 3 steps
If you want more people to see your website and higher search engine rankings, one approach you may take is to build quality web directory link building. We’ll talk about the three most important things you must do to make high-quality list backlinks.
1. Find New Directories
The first thing you need to do is find new sites to list your business. Here are some ways to search for directories:
Search Engines: Search a well-known search engine like Google as a first step. Use relevant keywords like
- Business Directories
- Industry-specific directories
- Local Directories
Check out your search results and make a list of potential sites.
Competitor Analysis: Use SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to look at the backlink profiles of your rivals. These tools let you know which directories your rivals are getting backlinks from. You can decide if these sites are also good for your business by finding out about them.
Niche Directories: Look for directories specific to your business or niche. These guides are made for a certain type of person, which makes them more useful for your business. You can find these directories by searching for keywords from your business plus words like “directory” or “listings.”
Local Directories: If your business is only open in a certain area, you might want to put it in a local directory. These directories are focused on companies in a certain area, which makes them great for local search results. Find area directories using location-specific keywords and words like “directory” or “listings.”
2. Choose Best Directories
After making a list of possible websites, judging their quality and value before sending your site to them is important. Several SEO tools, such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz, can help you. Use these tools in the following ways:
- Domain Authority: Domain Authority (DA) is a measurement that shows how strong and authoritative a website is. A higher DA means that the directory is of better quality. Tools like Moz give websites DA scores, which help you figure out how authoritative the sources you’ve found.
- Backlink Profile Analysis: Use SEO tools to look at the sites’ backlink profiles. Look for directories with a wide and healthy set of backlinks, which shows that other reputable websites trust them. With a tool like Ahrefs, you can learn a lot about a directory’s backlink background.
- Traffic and Visibility: Look at how many people use the sites and how well they are known. Tools like SEMrush can give websites an idea of how much organic traffic and exposure they get. If you choose directories with many visitors, your business page will reach more people.
- Relevance: Consider how the guide fits your business or field. A directory focused on your niche or target audience will likely bring you more relevant traffic and possible customers.
Even though these SEO tools can help you figure out how good a directory is, it’s important to use them as a guide instead of depending on their metrics alone. Manual evaluation and common sense are important ways to determine if a guide is right for your business.
3. Submit Your Business Listing
After choosing the directory submission sites, it’s time to submit your business entry. Follow these steps to make sure your application is accepted:
- Get your information ready: Collect all the information you need about your business, such as its name, address, phone number (NAP), website URL, description, and important keywords.
- Create Unique Descriptions: Avoid using duplicate descriptions across different folders. Write statements that are unique, interesting, and true to your business.
- Keep things the same: Ensure your NAP information is the same in all listings. Search engines can get confused by information that isn’t constant, which can hurt your local SEO efforts.
- Follow the rules: Pay attention to the directory’s rules for submitting and giving the information it needs in the way it wants. Your post could be rejected or taken down if you don’t follow the rules.
- Check and Change: Check your directory listings often to make sure they are still live and up to date. Update your business information as soon as something changes to keep it correct.
Top 150 Directory Submission Sites
Make a table of directory submission sites with DA.
| Sr. Num | Website URL |
| 1 | http://somuch.com/ |
| 2 | http://www.add-page.com |
| 3 | https://www.prolinkdirectory.com/ |
| 4 | http://handtucher.net/ |
| 5 | https://viesearch.com/ |
| 6 | https://www.searchmonster.org |
| 7 | http://www.linkdir4u.com/ |
| 8 | http://www.add-page.com |
| 9 | https://www.blogs-collection.com/ |
| 10 | http://www.bestdirectory4you.com |
| 11 | http://www.diyodp.com/ |
| 12 | http://www.dn2i.com |
| 13 | https://thalesdirectory.com |
| 14 | https://www.directory-free.com/ |
| 15 | https://drikdir.com/ |
| 16 | https://www.etalii.info/ |
| 17 | http://www.directory10.biz/ |
| 18 | https://www.mugro.info |
| 19 | http://wldirectory.com |
| 20 | http://www.dracodirectory.com |
| 21 | http://www.comoestamos.com/ |
| 22 | http://www.addsite.info/siteadd/ |
| 23 | https://www.visionwebdirectory.com |
| 24 | http://www.onlinewebmarks.com |
| 25 | http://www.niledirectory.com |
| 26 | http://www.business.com/ |
| 27 | https://botw.org/ |
| 28 | http://www.exactseek.com/ |
| 29 | http://www.hotvsnot.com/ |
| 30 | http://www.stpt.com/ |
| 31 | http://www.directoryworld.net/ |
| 32 | http://directory.r-tt.com/ |
| 33 | http://www.whatuseek.com/addurl.shtml |
| 34 | http://www.galaxy.com/ |
| 35 | https://www.aabacosmallbusiness.com/ |
| 36 | https://www.somuch.com/ |
| 37 | http://www.abilogic.com/ |
| 38 | http://www.allthewebsites.org/ |
| 39 | http://www.joeant.com/ |
| 40 | http://thalesdirectory.com/ |
| 41 | http://directory.v7n.com/ |
| 42 | http://www.alivedirectory.com/ |
| 43 | http://www.directory.ldmstudio.com/ |
| 44 | http://www.chiff.com/ |
| 45 | http://www.itzalist.com/ |
| 46 | http://www.theseoking.com/ |
| 47 | http://www.goguides.org/ |
| 48 | http://www.arakne-links.com/ |
| 49 | http://www.gimpsy.com/ |
| 50 | http://www.123world.com/ |
| 51 | http://news.portalit.net/ |
| 52 | http://www.topsiteswebdirectory.com/ |
| 53 | http://www.free-website-directory.com/ |
| 54 | http://www.azoos.com/ |
| 55 | http://www.bigweblinks.com/ |
| 56 | http://www.busybits.com/ |
| 57 | https://www.worldsiteindex.com/index.php?a=0 |
| 58 | http://www.incrawler.com/cgi-bin/dir/addurl.cgi |
| 59 | http://www.linksgiving.com/ |
| 60 | http://www.multimeta.com/ |
| 61 | http://www.bhanvad.com/ |
| 62 | http://www.onemission.com/ |
| 63 | http://www.info-listings.com/ |
| 64 | http://www.01webdirectory.com |
| 65 | http://directorygold.com/category/business/ |
| 66 | https://www.skaffe.com/info/addurl.php |
| 67 | http://www.internet-web-directory.com/ |
| 68 | http://www.searchwiz.org/ |
| 69 | https://www.hoppa.com/en |
| 70 | https://www.cannylink.com/payment.php?id=644172 |
| 71 | http://www.sunsteam.com/ |
| 72 | http://www.linkopedia.com/cgi-bin/add_08790.cgi |
| 73 | http://www.azlisted.com/ |
| 74 | http://www.webs-best-directory.com/ |
| 75 | http://www.kingoftheweb.net/ |
| 76 | http://www.netinsert.com |
| 77 | http://www.site-sift.com/ |
| 78 | http://www.yeandi.com/ |
| 79 | http://www.kingbloom.com/ |
| 80 | http://www.ibrain.org/ |
| 81 | http://www.avivadirectory.com/ |
| 82 | http://www.seekzap.com/ |
| 83 | http://www.goongee.com/ |
| 84 | http://www.greenstalk.com/ |
| 85 | http://www.kwikgoblin.com/ |
| 86 | http://www.addyoursitefreesubmit.com/ |
| 87 | http://www.click4choice.com/ |
| 88 | http://websitespromotiondirectory.com/ |
| 89 | https://anthonyparsons.com/ |
| 90 | http://www.sightquest.com/ |
| 91 | http://www.cyborginfo.com/ |
| 92 | http://www.linkwith.us/ |
| 93 | http://www.mastersite.com/ |
| 94 | http://www.global-weblinks.com/ |
| 95 | https://arielis.com/ |
| 96 | http://www.freeadvertisingdirectory.com/ |
| 97 | http://www.abboo.com/ |
| 98 | http://www.hrwebdir.org/ |
| 99 | http://www.sevenseek.com/ |
| 100 | http://www.ajdee.com/ |
| 101 | http://www.smartlinks.org/ |
| 102 | http://www.searchturtle.com/ |
| 103 | http://www.apahcinc.org/ |
| 104 | http://www.onebigdirectory.com/ |
| 105 | http://www.smartylinks.com/ |
| 106 | http://www.kazancity.ru/en/ |
| 107 | http://www.abifind.com/ |
| 108 | http://www.seekon.info/ |
| 109 | http://www.infowebworld.com/ |
| 110 | http://www.clearleadinc.com/ |
| 111 | http://freewebdirectory.org/ |
| 112 | http://www.octopedia.com/ |
| 113 | http://www.a1directorysearch.com/ |
| 114 | http://www.directorylive.net/ |
| 115 | http://www.websavvy.cc/ |
| 116 | http://www.webxperience.org/ |
| 117 | http://www.pharos-search.com/ |
| 118 | http://www.cascandra.com/ |
| 119 | http://www.onedir.biz/ |
| 120 | http://www.better-business-directory.com/ |
| 121 | http://ask-dir.com/ |
| 122 | http://www.homepageseek.com/ |
| 123 | http://www.primodirectory.com/ |
| 124 | http://www.directoryfind.net/ |
| 125 | http://www.web-directory.in/ |
| 126 | http://www.seoma.net/ |
| 127 | http://www.umdum.com/ |
| 128 | http://www.sitesnoop.com/ |
| 129 | http://www.1linkdirectory.com/ |
| 130 | http://www.allthewebmasters.com/ |
| 131 | http://www.directorytop.com/ |
| 132 | http://www.rankland.com/ |
| 133 | http://www.tomdirectory.com/ |
| 134 | http://www.rubberstamped.org/ |
| 135 | http://www.directory-world.org/ |
| 136 | http://www.aroundtheweb.com/ |
| 137 | http://www.a1bidlinks.com/ |
| 138 | http://www.web10.ws/ |
| 139 | http://www.sporge.com/ |
| 140 | http://www.linksvalley.com/ |
| 141 | http://www.allthebizz.com/ |
| 142 | http://www.ewilla.com/ |
| 143 | http://www.gosearchbusiness.com/ |
| 144 | http://www.objectsdirectory.com/ |
| 145 | http://www.gotowebguide.com/ |
| 146 | http://www.innerseek.com/ |
| 147 | http://www.indexplex.com/docs/ |
| 148 | http://www.categorizedweb.com/ |
| 149 | http://www.managednames.com/ |
| 150 | http://www.allfreethings.com |
Final Thoughts
Directory link building through directory submission sites can be a good way to improve your website’s exposure and search engine rankings. By submitting your website to relevant directories, you can get directory links that can be used as useful references and sources of referral traffic.
Focus on high-authority directory links from directories with a strong image and domain authority. The search engine algorithms give these links more weight, which can help your SEO efforts.
It’s important to remember that getting links in directories should be part of a backlink profile that includes other high-quality links from different sources. By following best practices, like sending accurate information and checking and updating your directory listings regularly, you can use directory link building to improve your website’s online presence.
