Are paid-for web directories a 'bad thing' for SEO?

[dangerman]

There are a number of web directories that have been around a while (ie BestOfTheWeb) and have high page rankings. They offer inclusion into specific sectors for a fee (either one-off or annual).

Bearing in mind that the directory publishers manually check that a site is suitable for inclusion into a category (so have a certain 'relevance'), in the light of recent comments by Matt Cutts and others about paid-for links, does anyone have any evidence that these directory listings are having or will have a negative impact on Google SERPs?

[walkman]

hard to tell now, but a while back Google suggested we signed up at these directories. I guess they wanted help with trying to classify sites.

[Lobo]

I believe they probibly have a slight impact, but certainly do not believe they are either worth the effort or indeed worth the money, for me it seems like a bad ROI in time and money.

[ken_b]

If you are paying to get whatever PR might go along with these links, it's may not be worth it, but it's probably not "bad for seo", just not beneficial to you.

If you are paying to get into a directory that is likely to send you a ton of traffic, then seo is not relevant.

[walkman]

>>If you are paying to get into a directory that is likely to send you a ton of traffic, then seo is not relevant.

If goog does not see them as "paid" links /an attempt to cheat.

[ken_b]

Get enough links that each send you a ton of traffic and G is not relevant, and neither is what they think. :)

[ronburk]

I guess they wanted help with trying to classify sites.

And now they may get some of that help from Google Co-op [webmasterworld.com], if it takes off.

[pageoneresults]

Bearing in mind that the directory publishers manually check that a site is suitable for inclusion into a category (so have a certain 'relevance').

The key word there is suitable. Depending on how the editorial process is conducted will determine the overall quality of the directory.

In the light of recent comments by Matt Cutts and others about paid-for links, does anyone have any evidence that these directory listings are having or will have a negative impact on Google SERPs?

I wouldn't think so. You're paying for a directory listing and that is it. If the directory has been classified as a trusted site then you may see some referrals from those indexed directory pages. Other than that, there is no harm done. Worse case scenario, the link is not counted in the overall scheme of things.

[reseller]

Good morning walkman

">>If you are paying to get into a directory that is likely to send you a ton of traffic, then seo is not relevant.<<

If goog does not see them as "paid" links /an attempt to cheat."

How would goog be able to see them as paid links/an attempt to cheat :-)

Algos?

Manual inspections?

[walkman]

very easily: if you have more than x% of links from directories something is fishy. I don't think it's hard to figure out directories...

[martinibuster]

BOTW and DMOZ are the only directories that send me traffic. Yahoo directory sends me zilch. BOTW's adult directory actually ranks for stuff, and is probably one of the best things an adult promoter looking for links can consider.

Best of the Web is the only pay directory that has refused to let one of my sites in, too. I even emailed them and said, It's mb, let me in! But no dice, they said the website wasn't up to their standards, and I respect that.

As far as an SEO thing, three links (one from dmoz, one from Yahoo, and one from BOTW) aren't going to make a big difference to your rankings, nor will they be a "bad thing" for SEO. They are just three decent links.

These days, I don't consider any other directories but those three.

[reseller]

walkman

"very easily: if you have more than x% of links from directories something is fishy. I don't think it's hard to figure out directories..."

A whole generation of webmasters were brought up hearing every Guru telling them about the benefits of submitting to directories.. the more the better.

And now suddenly for no logical reasons; directories links is a bad business.. "something fishy"!

What will be next ;-)

[MLHmptn]

What will be next ;-)

Google's demise. It won't be long before Google requires inbound links to every page on our sites or it won't be indexed. AND that inbound has to be an authority....Laugh

[walkman]

I'm not sayign it's bad in Goog's eyes, but should they decide so, it's easy to igure out.