SEO Advice: Google and Directories

Google Webmaster Guidelines used to suggest that webmasters should submit websites to directories – specifically mentioning the Yahoo Directory. This always seemed at odds with Google’s stance on paid links. A link in the Yahoo directory costs $299. Is this not a paid link? Well, the argument went that a fee was charged for a review of the website and that was OK.

The paragraph about submitting to Directories has been removed from the Google Webmaster Guidelines. Does this mean that submitting to Directories is now frowned upon? Or is it a toughening of Google’s stance on paid links?

Web Directories

The better quality Directories need to generate income (and perhaps do not wish to use Google Adsense?). Charging a review fee was a good way to maintain the quality of websites accepted into a directory. It would be detrimental to top directories if they had to reduce their editorial staff. So we hope that Google will clarify the situation.

Google may already be discounting links in Directories. So webmasters who submit sites to Directories for one-way links may be gaining no benefit in terms of Google SERPs. This, however, is not the only reason to submit to directories – there is the additional traffic from click-throughs. Each directory may only contribute minor traffic but links in many directories will add up!

What a webmaster now has to decide now: should I submit to paid directories? Will this be considered a paid link in Google’s eyes? Until there is further clarification perhaps it would be wise to err on the side of caution. SEO Adviser, however, believes that Google will just ignore “paid links” in directories, and the links will pass no Page Rank juice in calculating SERPs.

Recommended Software Directory Submission Software: SubmitEaze  Review
Free Guide: How to Submit to Directories: A to Z Directory of Submissions