Paid directories and Google

Is there any relationship between the two, good or bad?

[ciaoenrico]

I realize paid links are frowned upon by Google. But I wonder, has anyone seen any change - either positive or negative - from buying into the more high-traffic directories, such as the Yahoo Directory, Microsoft's BCentral, or Business.com?

Would anyone say the benefit of these sites is from the traffic they generate in and of themselves, but not to be found in SEO?

On a slight tangent, does being listed in the Yahoo Directory help with listings in Yahoo's natural searches? (I only just came up with this question, so I'll go take a peek at the Yahoo side of things and see if it's been posted in there.)

Thanks!

[rkhare]

imho paid directories are not worth kind of money they are charging now a days

[Quadrille]

I don't think directories are graded by price.

Yahoo! is a directory worth being in, as it clearly has some 'authority'.

But with most directories, you'll find as much value in a free directory as in a paid listing; indeed, I could name scores of 'paid for' directories that are an utter waste of cash, and many 'free' directories that are very good places to be.

When selecting a directory, always start with the free ones, then the paid-for 'niche' directories for your topic, finally the 'paid for' general directories.

'paid for' means either a one-off payment for a permanent listing, or an annual payment: think long and hard before committing to an annual payment; you'll find it very, very rarely value for money.

There are way over 100,000 general directories. Probably fewer than 300 of them are worth submitting to. Be fussy; why make an idiot rich? ;)