Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Submit [XXXXX] can register your website URL with 40 Top search engines and directories, all for Free.
I've seen this offer many times during my recent get-directory-listings campaign. Is this safe to do?
Yahoo is too expensive
Google (dmoz) Can't get in
MSN small business, I won't even comment on that lol.
Directories are only good for PR status - hell, even Countyweb don't deliver, and they were floated on the Stock Exchange! So what does that tell you.
There is a pattern here people, you just got to stop paying these huge fees, and pull the ads when they fail to deliver. Only then will these diectories get the message and do something to improve the service and traffic delivery.
These discussions about link placement are quite entertaining and all that, but they get the exposure from it - and get to relieve you of your cash. Most want targeted traffic, who (if you are honest) actually gets it, and how much really converts to a sale.... I bet very little in both cases.
Also, if I may post a related question:
What are 'organic directory submissions?' I've heard a lot about these but I'm not exactly sure what they are.
Submitting by hand? Never came across the term. Most people refer to things done without any automation as organic - i.e. organic link development vs. automated link development.
I still see benefit from some of the bigger directories. Frankly, if a site isn't going to make enough to spend some cash on directories just for what, in the traditional marketing world, would be called branding, then I wouldn't bother with building it. A bought link is a bought link.
Most directories I submit to only charge a one time fee and there are a lot of good niche directories out there.
If your site is an affiliate site or has little unique value, forget about dmoz.
Don't you own a directory and post here all the time about why you can't get it where you want? You basically just said that directories in general suck and are rip offs... maybe you should try another type of site. One you yourself actaully think is worth something.
>>>then I suggest you buy 10 directory/SE links and at least these are with established companies and are safe
You're in this thread on here saying what crap paid "reputable" link directories are and in here you're advising this poster [webmasterworld.com] to buy 10 links from directories. In the next breath, you tell the poster "the web is just too big for a measly 500 links to make you stand out" - but ten directory links will do the trick?
Here you advise press releases [webmasterworld.com] and in another thread (that has since been deleted I believe due to the downward spiral it took) you were bashing how press releases were a waste of time.
Please - before you continue to give out advice as fact to other posters here, especially new ones, actually decide what you believe in and stick to it.
Yes, most 'link' directories ARE a waste of time, but let's be clear which ones.
FFA's and recip directories plus UK General ones will not bring anyone the traffic they think they'll get That's based on the ever changing world of the web and the fact that it takes proper uniqueness to be successful and stand out!
but let's deal with facts here -
You see for good results, a link MUST be found and it must be located in something that can be found easily. People use keywords to find stuff right! Now, some of these directories use very strange sounding keyword domain names that people just won't remember, and if they can't remember a name, how are they going to type it in the first place. Also as there are so many distractions on the web, eg, flashing ads, pop ups and funny noises and the constant hassle of being busy anyway - people aren't going to remember some weird domain name anyway -so the name will fail. If a business domain name can't be remembered, then it fails, the site won't be found and searchers can't use a site that they can't find.
I found one directory, but I can't think of the name, so chances are I won't find it ever again easily. No regular visitors equals nobody to sell to. Advertisers won't pay if there's no regular traffic, that's just basic common sense.
Searchers want to find things quickly, and if they can't find what they want, they'll move on. Therefore, visitors won't return to do a search and a link won't be found regularly. I guess you could always make a note of the domain or bookmark the site, but that's an argument for another day.
To prove this fact, I splashed out on a link with MS Small Business Directory, which was £40 for 12 months. According to AW stats, I haven't seen 1 single visitor for my £40, for 3 months.... But it hasn't paid off yet so guess what I'm thinking hehe.
I also shelled out on a weblink on Kellysearch too, no results, not 1 clickthrough even. This is Kellysearch we are talking about here, which has been established for 200 years and that's part of Reed Business I might add, but that means nothing if the clickthroughs aren't there. You used the term 'reputable' we all know the Oxford English definition, but in results terms it don't mean anything at all. Something can have a great brand name, and still not deliver - as I just explained did happen.
'Some' directories ARE worth the link presence though, I happen to think that directory links should be seen as branding for the advertiser, and not a quick traffic supplier. An established directory 'should' bring the traffic over the long term, but I've never experienced a massive surge of traffic from any of them, that's something associated with Search Engines which are obviously very different and used more often etc etc. See how easily 2 different search models can be interpreted as able to produce similar results........ Do people think before they submit their sites? - that's very debabtable. How much research does the average surfer do before pulling out that credit card? How much effective monitoring of ROI does the average advertiser do? I'd say practically none.
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I never implied that 10 directories will 'do any trick' However, I do think for link building purposes 10 links in established directories means that those ones are used pretty regularly and from that basis, the links will work. Those links might serve as an access point for searchers, guides sites looking for quality sites, and the SE's that spider.
That's my point on their usefulness.
I still maintain that 500 links isn't enough to make you stand out, and I'm happy to remain stead fast on that.
In my experience it depends on the editor. Almost every site I've seen built directly around a single affiliate program never gets listed (though I'm sure a small percentage do - editors in highly commercial categories are more likely to decline that those in smaller niche areas). Sites with affiliate links can get in - provided the site isn't built solely to promote those affiliate links - or at least the editor feels they aren't.
By all means, try, especially if you don't haver a lot of experience with dmoz and knowing what will or won't get past their "criteria" - your site may get in - I just know that since most of my sites are based around an affiliate program, I, personally, no longer even bother to submit those types of sites after a few years of denials.
Am I to think from your last post that you don't believe getting back links into a site work's then, is that what your trying to say?
I'm wondering about that myself. I'm submitting to directories to get back links. I never really entertained the thought of immediately increasing my traffic through directory submissions. I'm hoping to increase traffic in the long run by having more back links and hence better standings in SERPs.
Nope, I didn't say that. I'm saying 500 backlinks aren't enough to deliver any serious traffic. By serious I mean - 5000 + visitors per day... er for ordinary bog standard website.
Just so you understand me, I talking about ordinary links from targeted websites that most exchange with every day. I'm not talking about major top websites here, only the normal everyday type of businesses.
I'm hoping to increase traffic in the long run by having more back links and hence better standings in SERPs
Thats great littlegiant, just keep at it and you will get there in the end ;)
