Paid Directory listings - still a vital part of Euro SEO strategy?

[heini]

When revisiting the European SEO strategy primer [webmasterworld.com] a couple of weeks back we viewed the changes in the European SE landscape.
Most important thing of course was the explosion of PPC. Also we noted how many directories get into taking fees for inclusion.

While at this point it seems a quite effective strategy to just do quality SEO work to suceed in Europe, and go for PPC only for special purposes, it seemed there is no way around coughing up the fees for Yahoo, Lycos directory and other major local directories.
In this excellent case study: Targeting Europe - do I have to pay? [webmasterworld.com] I came to the conclusion that PPC was not neccessary, while paying for inclusion to directories was essential.

Now since this PFI thing started I've been asking myself if and when those engines that have linkpopularity as part of the algo would start to deevaluate the weight of those links.

It seems to be only logical: directories changing from strict editorial inclusion to venues for paid advertising can't be attributed the same authority anymore.

Lately I started revisiting some of the directory submissions - with interesting results.
Apparently this exact deevaluation seems to be kicking in.

Links coming from directories don't bring the boost anymore they used to do. In Fast and Google some of those don't even show anymore!

So is it time to strike paying directories off the list?

[wolfy]

Good post Heini.
I can answer saying that in Italy is still very easy to enter inside directories and local search engines for free, because of the "distance" between the Italian internet market in front of the others. I mean we are not really developed so you can have your free listings easy.
Regarding other countries I can say the same for Spain and France too but I noticed that, to enter for example in the German market is mandatory to pay in some directories such as AV, Web.de, Fireball. And of course it is really useful to submit the url to Inktomi through PositionTech.
Regarding PPC programs I think now they're raising but I don't think it's so necessary to use them at the moment. However they are useful to obtain an immediate results on big engines!!

I think that in a few years we will have to pay for inclusion in every engines and directories.

[heini]

Wolfy, what I was trying to say, in my sometimes a bit longwinded ways, is I don't see directory listings give your linkpop/PR a boost.

So when paying feisty fees for inclusion to Lycos, Web.de, Yahoo, you might get some direct traffic. But the real reason for most people to submit to every directory was in boosting your ranks in Google and Fast.

And I wonder if this really happens anymore?

[wolfy]

<But the real reason for most people to submit to every directory was in boosting your ranks in Google and Fast.>

Ok sorry for my post about "European situation", regarding your affirmation I agree with you, to be listed in those directories is not a real boost to linkpop but things are changing continously so I would not suggest to stop submitting sites for fees to directories.

Wolfy

[heini]

>so I would not suggest to stop submitting sites for fees to directories

I do. Seriously. There are directory listings, heavily paid for, that give you a jump url. Others are stuck so deep down in cats they don't even have a PR of 3.
How can I justify spending money on those?