Introduction to Directory Submission in SEO
Directory submission is an off-page SEO technique that involves submitting a website’s URL and other relevant details to web directories. The primary goal of this strategy is to build backlinks, which can significantly enhance a website’s visibility and ranking on search engine result pages (SERPs), thereby fostering business growth.
In an era dominated by online presence, directory submission sites act as digital signposts, guiding users through a vast expanse of information. These directories connect businesses, services, and ideas with a global audience, offering a versatile platform to promote businesses and improve SEO. By listing your website in these directories, you can gain valuable backlinks, increase visibility, and drive more organic traffic. Additionally, reputable directories help build credibility and authority while creating networking opportunities and connecting businesses with potential clients or partners.
Guidelines for Choosing The Right Directory Submission Sites
Selecting the right directory submission sites is crucial for maximizing the benefits of this SEO strategy. Here are some essential guidelines:
Relevance to Niche: Choose directories specific to your industry. For instance, if your business deals with AI video interviewing, directories focused on HR technology or recruitment would be ideal. Ensure general directories have appropriate categories for your business.
Domain Authority (DA): Use tools like Moz, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to assess a directory’s domain authority. Higher DA directories offer more SEO value.
Traffic and Popularity: Check the directory’s traffic using tools like SimilarWeb or Alexa. Directories with higher traffic can provide better visibility and potential referral traffic.
Quality of Listings: Review existing listings to ensure the directory maintains high standards. High-quality directories are more trusted by search engines.
Indexation: Confirm that the directory is indexed by search engines. Use the “site:” operator in Google to check this (e.g., site.com).
Link Type: Verify that the directory provides do-follow links, as these pass SEO value to your site.
Submission Requirements: Choose directories with stringent submission and editorial guidelines, as these tend to maintain higher quality standards.
User Experience: Ensure the directory is user-friendly, well-organized, and easy to navigate, contributing positively to SEO performance.
Additional Tips
- Avoid Automated Submission Tools: Manual submission is generally preferred for better results.
- Focus on Quality Over Quantity: It’s better to submit to a few high-quality directories than many low-quality ones.
- Optimize Listings: Use relevant keywords and compelling descriptions in your listings.
By following these guidelines, you can select directory submission sites that effectively contribute to your overall SEO strategy and enhance your website’s visibility.
Top 10 Directory Submission Sites List
1. SoMuch
SoMuch is a long-standing free online directory that can help boost your website’s visibility. With a user-friendly platform and a wide range of categories, it’s easy to submit your site and get discovered by potential visitors. While its domain authority has fluctuated over time, it still attracts a steady amount of traffic. Whether you’re a small business or a personal blogger, SoMuch could be a valuable tool for your online presence.
DR: 37
Traffic: 1.7k/m
Domain Age: 26y
Price: free
2. 1websdirectory
1websdirectory is an online platform that organizes and categorizes websites across various subjects. It’s like a digital phonebook for the internet, helping users find relevant information quickly. With search and browse options, you can discover new websites and resources efficiently.
DR: 25
Traffic: —
Domain Age: 15y
Price: free listing as well paid.
3. 9sites.net
9sites.net claims to be a directory for quality websites with a large user base. However, the site has reported security issues and lacks independent verification of its claims. It’s recommended to use established, reputable directories for website promotion and prioritize security.
DR: 28
Traffic: —
Domain Age: 17y
Price: free listing and hidden features paid.
4. Viesearch
Viesearch is a long-standing online directory that helps you boost your website’s visibility. As a human-powered search engine, it offers a unique approach to categorization and listing. With its install approval feature, similar to Entireweb, Viesearch ensures quality control over its directory listings. By submitting your website, you can potentially reach a wider audience and improve your search engine rankings through valuable backlinks.
DR: 72
Traffic: 1k/m
Domain Age: 19y
Price: free.
5. AboutUs.com
AboutUs.com is a collaborative online platform that has evolved from a simple website directory. It now allows users to create and share information about websites, making it a valuable resource for discovering new online content. Essentially, it functions as a community-driven encyclopedia of websites where anyone can contribute and benefit from the collective knowledge.
DR: 75
Traffic: 5k/m
Domain Age: 27y
Price: free.
6. CorporateDir.com
CorporateDir.com is a global business directory platform. It offers a database of companies and their key personnel across multiple countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. This platform allows users to search for specific businesses or individuals based on various criteria.
DR: 35
Traffic: 1.5k/m
Domain Age: 11y
Price: free.
7. BOTW
BOTW, a leading online directory, has been helping businesses get discovered and grow since 1994. With over 400,000 categories and millions of users, BOTW is a reliable platform for businesses to increase their online visibility. By listing your business on BOTW, you can reach a wider audience and attract more potential customers.
DR: 80
Traffic: 40k/m
Domain Age: 29y
Price: $149/yr or $299 for lifetime.
8. Entireweb
Entireweb goes beyond just being a directory submission site; it’s a comprehensive search engine designed with functionality at its core. Unlike other directories, Entireweb offers the advantage of instant approval after submitting your website, making it a breeze to get listed. Additionally, they provide a free submission option with basic features, allowing you to get started right away.
DR: 75
Traffic: 222.2K
Domain Age: 26y
Price: Free & Paid ($15/month).
9. Blogarama
According to the website, Blogarama is an excellent directory website with over 143,000 active blogs. One of its standout features is that it automatically fetches and adds your latest blog posts, saving you time and effort. This makes it a valuable platform to get your content seen by a wider audience.
DR: 77
Traffic: 46K
Domain Age: 21 years
Price: Free & Paid.
10. Super Pages
Superpages is a local business directory that connects consumers with businesses across the U.S. It features over 20 million listings, 100,000 user reviews, and a comprehensive directory of services and contact information. This makes it a valuable resource for finding businesses in your area and learning more about them.
DR: 88
Traffic: 496.8K
Domain Age: 29 years
Price: Free & Paid.
How do you submit a website to a directory site?
Learn how to effectively submit your website to online directories to improve search engine visibility and attract new visitors. This guide covers directory selection, listing optimization, and best practices for building high-quality backlinks. Discover the art of manual directory submission and achieve long-term SEO benefits.
Step 1
Begin by selecting a directory submission site and evaluating its domain authority. Once you have chosen a suitable site, proceed by clicking on the Submit Link button to initiate the submission process.
Step 2
When filling in these details, please specify whether the submission is for the homepage or a service page. When generating the title, use your primary targeted keyword. For the description, include information about all services and your company. These things help you drive quality traffic and crawlability.
Step 3
After submitting your directory, click on the Latest Link button to locate your directory submission backlink. Once you are found click on the Link Details button.
Step 4
This is your final directory submission backlink, check all details and grab your directory submission landing page URL.
Top Verified Directory Submission Sites List
| Explore Different Types of Backlinks for Your Website! |
| Profile Creation Sites List |
| Social Bookmarking Sites List |
| Article Submission Sites List |
| Business Listing Sites List |
| Image Submission Sites List |
| Web 2.0 Submission Sites List |
How Directory Submission Works
Submitting a link to a directory is a straightforward process but requires attention to detail for optimal results. Begin by selecting a category that closely matches your website’s content. This ensures your site appears in relevant searches, enhancing both relevance and visibility. Next, provide your website’s URL, a concise and keyword-rich description, and, if required, additional details like contact information or social media links.
After submission, the directory may review your site to ensure it meets quality standards. This can range from immediate automatic listings in less stringent directories to longer, manual reviews in more reputable directories. The review phase assesses the accuracy and appropriateness of the provided information, helping maintain the directory’s integrity and usefulness.
Directory submission sites act as online gateways where website owners can present their sites for potential inclusion. The process involves identifying a suitable directory, filling out a submission form with your site’s details, and then waiting for evaluation by the directory’s administrators. These directories come in various types—general, niche-specific, and locally-focused—catering to different needs. Additionally, submitting to directories helps improve search engine optimization by generating valuable backlinks that enhance website rankings.
In essence, listing your website in directories increases online visibility and contributes positively to your SEO efforts. However, it’s crucial to choose high-quality directories, as poor-quality ones may negatively impact your SEO.
Types of Directory Submission Sites
Directory submission is a crucial aspect of SEO, helping websites gain visibility and authority. There are several types of directories to consider:
General Web Directories
These directories categorize websites across a wide range of topics. They offer a broad reach but can be less targeted.
- Examples: DMOZ (now part of Open Directory Project), Yahoo! Directory, and LookSmart.
Niche-Specific Directories
These directories focus on specific industries, hobbies, or interests. They offer more targeted exposure to a specific audience.
- Examples: Health directories, technology directories, fashion directories, travel directories.
Local Directories
These directories cater to businesses serving a particular geographic area. They are essential for local SEO and attracting nearby customers.
- Examples: Google My Business, Yelp, Yellow Pages, and Bing Places.
Blog Directories
These directories list blogs based on their content and categories. They can help bloggers gain exposure and attract new readers.
- Examples: Technorati, Blogarama, Alltop.
Note: While directory submission was once a cornerstone of SEO, its impact has diminished over time. However, high-quality directories can still provide valuable backlinks and increased visibility. It’s essential to focus on relevant and authoritative directories to maximize benefits.
Benefits of Directory Submission
Directory submission remains a valuable tool for boosting a website’s online presence. By submitting your website to relevant online directories, you can enhance visibility, improve search engine rankings, and attract targeted traffic.
Key benefits include:
- Increased Visibility: Expand your website’s reach by making it discoverable to a wider audience through directory listings.
- Improved SEO: High-quality backlinks from reputable directories can positively impact your search engine rankings, helping your website climb higher in search results.
- Targeted Traffic: Attract potential customers directly interested in your products or services by listing your website in relevant categories.
- Enhanced Brand Authority: Establish your business as a credible and trustworthy source within your industry by securing listings on authoritative directories.
- Cost-Effective Marketing: Directory submission is generally a budget-friendly strategy compared to other online advertising methods.
While the significance of directory submission has evolved, it continues to be a valuable component of a comprehensive SEO strategy when used in conjunction with other tactics.
Common Mistakes in Directory Submission
Directory submissions can be a powerful tool for boosting your website’s SEO and generating targeted traffic. However, to maximize their effectiveness, it’s crucial to avoid common pitfalls. Here are the top five mistakes to steer clear of when submitting your site to directories:
- Ignoring Submission Guidelines: Each directory has unique rules and requirements. Submitting without carefully following these guidelines can lead to rejection. Continually review and comply with each directory’s specific instructions to ensure successful submission.
- Over-Submission to Low-Quality Directories: Submitting your site to too many directories, especially those of low quality, can harm your SEO. Focus on directories that are relevant to your niche and have a good reputation. A targeted approach yields better results than a scattergun strategy.
- Incorrect Category Selection: Choosing the wrong category can reduce traffic quality and negatively impact your site’s SEO. To attract the right audience, ensure that the directory’s thematic relevance aligns with your website.
- Inaccurate or Promotional Descriptions: Your submission should provide a clear, factual description of your business. Avoid sales language, keyword stuffing, and promotional phrases. Keep it objective and use third-person language. Many directories will reject submissions that appear overly commercial or stuffed with keywords.
- Using Unprofessional Email Addresses: Always use a company email address that matches your domain when submitting to directories. Email addresses from free providers like Gmail or Yahoo may raise suspicion and lead to rejection, as they are often associated with mass submission tools.
Final Tips:
- Remember, directory managers manually review each submission. They deal with numerous submissions daily and are quick to reject those that don’t adhere to guidelines.
- If you’re unsure about how to navigate directory submissions effectively, consider consulting with an SEO expert. They can help you strategize your submissions to enhance your online visibility and avoid costly mistakes.
Tools for Directory Submission
In this section, we’ll delve into two key aspects of directory submission: Automated Submission Tools and Manual Submission Tips.
Automated Directory Submission
Save time and boost your website’s visibility with automated directory submission tools. These powerful software solutions streamline the process of adding your website to countless online directories. By automating repetitive tasks like filling out forms and submitting data, these tools help you reach a wider audience and improve your search engine rankings.
Key benefits include:
- Efficiency: Submit your website to multiple directories simultaneously.
- Reach: Expand your online presence and attract new visitors.
- Backlinks: Build high-volume backlinks to improve SEO.
- Time-saving: Focus on other important marketing tasks.
Automated Directory Submission Tools
- SubmitEaze: Offers a large database of directories and automated form filling.
- Fast Directory Submitter: Free tool with basic features for automated submissions.
- Internet Business Promoter (IBP): IBP 12.0 is an SEO software that covers all your optimization needs. It includes backlink management, search engine and directory submission, ranking checks, keyword suggestions, content submission, and custom SEO reports.
- SubmitWolf: SubmitWolf 8.0 simplifies directory submissions by automating the process. It includes features such as priority directory submissions, access to hundreds of directories, and batch submission options.
- Dynamic Submission: Dynamic Submission 7.0 streamlines the process of submitting your site to search engines and directories. Features include automated and manual submissions, SEO ranking reports, SEO suggestions, link popularity checks, and keyword-building tools.
Manual Submission Tips
Maximize your website’s exposure through effective manual directory submissions. By taking a strategic and personalized approach, you can build valuable backlinks and improve your search engine rankings.
Key benefits of manual directory submissions include:
- Quality control: Choose directories relevant to your business.
- Customization: Tailor your listings for maximum impact.
- Authority building: Earn high-quality backlinks.
- Improved search visibility: Increase your website’s discoverability.
Essential tips for successful manual submissions:
- Research: Identify reputable directories in your niche.
- Keyword optimization: Incorporate relevant keywords into your listings.
- Consistency: Maintain consistent business information across all directories.
- Quality content: Write compelling descriptions that highlight your unique value proposition.
- Time management: Prioritize directories with the highest potential impact.
By investing time in manual submissions, you can lay a strong foundation for your online marketing efforts.
