What is the best way to link out? Our opinion

[Akira]

Hi guys,

Could you please advice me about the best way to build reciprocal links?
I'm actually register my website with many free directories and some of them request a backlink in exchange of domain submission. Some say that this is optional, some refuse the domain submission at all.

I'm thinking about creating a page with "references" of "links" that is still referenced by sitemap but not part of the site navigation menu. This page will presumably have the backlinks.

Do you suggest this is a "fair" practice or you not recommend it at all?

If not, could you suggest any strategy to include external links in an appropriate manner?

Thanks for help

[aakk9999]

What you are doing is SEO from at least 10 years ago.

Is there a reason why you want to register your site with directories? Are you hoping they will send you some traffic or is it purely for link building purpose?

[Akira]

Are you telling me that reciprocal link building is 10 years old and irrelevant anymore? And the directories are not of any use?

I may misunderstand your reply but I find surprising that submitting a website to directories and build good backlinks is old SEO technics.

[LifeinAsia]

I think they key issues are "free directories" and "good backlinks"- not all free directories are "good" neighborhoods, especially if they demand a reciprocal link in exchange for being listed. This is, in essence, a "paid link," which Google frowns upon and devalues.

I'm thinking about creating a page with "references" of "links" that is still referenced by sitemap but not part of the site navigation menu. ... Do you suggest this is a "fair" practice

Think about it- if the directory does the same thing (puts the link to your site on a page that isn't linked from anywhere else on their site), do YOU place any value in that link?

[Akira]

Thanks for reply, LifeinAsia, makes it clear.

[RedBar]

Is there a reason why you want to register your site with directories?

I have a couple of clients' sites that are registered, for free, on a local town and the local county directory and it never ceases to amaze me that they get traffic from them, then again I live in one of the least populated areas of the UK IF that has anything to do with it.

[Akira]

That's a very good point, RedBar!

Thanks!

[mrengine]

I may misunderstand your reply but I find surprising that submitting a website to directories and build good backlinks is old SEO technics.

I'm actually register my website with many free directories and some of them request a backlink in exchange of domain submission.

What aakk9999 said about SEO techniques from 10 years ago is correct. If you do register your site with many free directories, Google is likely going to give you a free penalty. If you want to waste your time performing negative seo on your own website, that's your choice. But before you do, you just may want to do some research on unnatural link notices and how Google often references free directory links as spam.

[goodroi]

Are you telling me that reciprocal link building is 10 years old and irrelevant anymore?

Actually reciprocal linking is well over 10 years old. Here is a discussion we had on this site about 11 years ago Is Reciprocal Linking Dead? July 2004 [webmasterworld.com] Reciprocal links worked great over 10 years ago but we aren't living in that world anymore. You can spend your time on reciprocal links but I personally stopped doing that many years ago. There are rare exceptions when it makes sense to exchange links but that is more about relevant cross promotion and less about the outdated reciprocal linking strategies from over 10 years ago. Don't take my word for it, test it out yourself.

And the directories are not of any use?

99% of directories are not worth the time it takes to submit a free link and definitely not worth the money for a paid link. There are exceptions but 99% of directories are no good. Don't take my word for it, look up Google's statements and videos on this matter. Google has been very clear about the value of directory links for several years.

submitting a website to directories and build good backlinks is old SEO technics.

I suggest you spend some time researching this. You will find that building backlinks through directories is a very old technique. For example here is a 14 year old thread Be careful about link directories September 2001 [webmasterworld.com]. It is possible but very rare that you can build any good links with directories today.

[Shai]

Akira, I think you need to do more than just change the tactics you use. You need to change your whole mind-set of what link building is about. People go on about how SEO is dead; Well, what they really mean is that old SEO is dead. The type of tactics you mention have died long ago and you need to completely rethink the strategies you use and apply to link building. At first it will seem daunting but as soon as you realise the power one good quality link compared to thousands of automated links (articles, directories, comments etc) you will understand that the extra effort is actually worth it in the long term.

[Akira]

Shai, thanks for your reply, this makes sense but I'm really sceptic about the reality of the changes you are talking about.

Since 1 year I watch very closely one 5 years old website of one of my competitors. The site has nearly 0 (ZERO) on page SEO, poor design (the so much talked about the "user experience"), has about 200-300 words per page with overused keywords, has a 3 years blog (on site and another similar on Wordpress) with spinned content. I say spinned because it is impossible to read by human, the articles are visibly were token from internet and just passed through spinning software. This site has almost no social activity (except Pinterest) and the only valid point is the 7 Google reviews.

This site ranks on the first page on most relevant industry keywords.

Any thoughts? Every time I read the news about the "killer-Panda" or "#*$! Penguin" I check the fundings against this competitor's website. And guess what? Nothing happens, this site still on the 1st page.

This is why I'm a bit sceptic about what is being officially said and what the reality is regarding the Google ranking.

Still I think your say about free spam directories is perfectly correct, thanks.

[IamnotMattCutts]

If you're so strongly sceptical, why bother asking for advice?

[Akira]

If you read my answer carefully, I do not say I'm sceptical about everything. I did nuanced my post and gave a practical example.

I still ask for advice because there are so many opinions and experiences. Till now no one gave me a real life example with numbers and statistics confirming or informing any opinion. I find testimonials (on Internet) about very good results from paid directories, and find the opposite opinions.

If you have a real life example, I will be glad to hear it.

In my particular case two weeks ago my site jumped overnight for about 8-10 places just cause of a good activity on Instagram, and fell 5 places when we slowed down. And we were N12 on search results far ahead of 5-8 years old websites with much more backlinks that I had. So, if a site can jump on page just cause of few pics shared on internet, what is a real value of on-site SEO, backlinks and authority?

Hope you understand I dod try to tell that all the above is useless, I just have a concrete example and I compare what people say and what I see.

[toidi]

When it comes to directories, i think the type of site might come into play. An adsense/affiliate site is looking for mega traffic, which directories are not going to provide, but a service site is looking for 1 good click. One viewer from a directory on my site can make my whole year. And every now and then i do get a directory visitor and the last time i checked i was still at #3 in the goog.

[Nutterum]

Directories are _NOT_ dead. That said if you submit to many (as in % wise of all backlinks you have) directories outside your industry vertical you will get penalty eventually. If you live in a quiet corner of the internet (industry that Google itself does not compete in) you might have one or two free passes and get away with spamming your way to first 3-4 SERP positions. Keep in mind though that if you get penalized the recovery can take even longer.

Let me give you an example from my experience. I found out that if you want to do SEO for hotels in Europe there are ~100 or so good directories and hotel booking websites where you can list your hotel and by doing so (as well some social media presence and google and other map listings on top) you will easily get in the 7-pack within couple of weeks. The only caveat is that the hotel website needs to be decent (as in good on-Page SEO and unique content).

Similar case, if you want to list a stonemason or groomer local service in the UK via directories, you will get penalized faster than you can type "spam" . Why is that you might ask? The answer is simple - the hotel directories and booking sites funnel traffic to your website, the local business directories don`t(or very few of them do). Google can easily see this and penalize you.

So to answer your question. Yes you can submit your business to directories but 1) only top tier ones (easily google-able) 2) don`t over do it! 3) don`t rely only on it.

My personal tip - get a news/blog going for your site, start writing, start creating original content that your customers will like and you will see that you will get there. Not as fast as you might wish, but you will.

[Akira]

Toidi, Nutterum, thanks for clear and concise replies. appreciate your input!

[tangor]

I still ask for advice because there are so many opinions and experiences. Till now no one gave me a real life example with numbers and statistics confirming or informing any opinion.

IF someone has found a magic bullet for SEO they certainly will not share it openly on the web anywhere, especially here at webmasterworld! They'd carry that secret to the grave.

That said, unnatural links, and most directory links, are deprecated by the SEs (even Bing) and attempting to use techniques that were already in failure mode 10 years ago is not a way forward.

Build links the right way. Takes a little more work up front, but once established, a good website with strong links will attract more over the long term. Build for a year, not a week or a month... the web does not move that quickly as far as ranking is concerned.

As far as your example site... they just haven't been caught yet, or are bleeding scads of cash to keep themselves there.