Directory Submissions
How do I submit my website to directories?
When it comes to getting your business listed all over the net, many believe quantity is much more important than quality. Here at Engage Web, we know that quality is a much more important factor in all areas of SEO, even when it comes to directory submissions. Here’s why.
Picture two websites.
The first website is desperate for directory entries, so they’ve gone for the quickest route possible. They’ve downloaded some automatic directory submission software or they’ve been contacted a company promising thousands of submissions, who are using much the same software themselves. Their website does end up with thousands of mentions in web directories, but with many of them duplicate. Those directories are mostly very low-quality sites and link farms, offering either no value to their rankings or, worse, giving a negative impact.
Yes, lots of low-quality directory submissions can negatively impact your rankings. When Google visits the website and examines the link profile, it finds it to be poor.
The second website, however, has opted to invest a little more time in its directory submissions. It takes the time to research the more established directories with authority, and it’s using a manual submission process, which mean its submissions are unique and are more likely to be accepted once reviewed.
The resulting directory listings not only looking better for the search engines, but they’re actually attracting some human traffic too because the directories are real and relevant.
Search engines don’t like a rush job
Another consideration site owners should have with directory submissions, and indeed all kinds of link building campaigns, is the search engines’ view.
Search engines get suspicious of ‘miracle link profiles’. If a site’s profile looks poor one day, and shows a miraculous improvement the next, then the search engines tend to suspect that some kind of shady manoeuvring has gone on. Such as a bulk directory submission service being employed.
As you might guess, the reaction to fast, huge changes in link profiles is not a positive one and, once penalised in the search engines, a recovery can be difficult. There are instances when you can get away with attracting many links in a short time. Directory submission building is not one of those times, so it’s important to be careful.
Quality is a long term plan
Google is always evaluating its criteria on link building to keep the SEO industry honest, and to ensure it provides the most relevant results when someone makes a search. This means that directory submissions to poor websites which don’t meet the guidelines can do more harm than good for your rankings. An SEO strategy that features a host of automatic directory submissions might get you some short-term results but could ultimately lead to your website being penalised within Google.
The right directory submissions, as part of your search engine optimisation plan, can greatly enhance your website’s SEO campaign and even help with specific searches.
If you’d like to speak with us about how directories can improve your rankings and, thus, your online enquiries and sales, then book a call today.
