I have a question that I would like to have expert (anyone else is welcome to reply also) opinions on.

I wrote a software application called Directory Site Submitter during the middle of last year.

Generally sales were OK but not great. I wrote the application after the Google updates which was devaluing reciprocal links (I had lots of them on my money site) and thought that there would be a rush to do directory submissions by webmasters.

My question, is whether directory submissions are going to continue to be a viable backlink in the eyes of Google in 2007?

The reason that I ask is that I'm trying to decide whether I should work on any significant enhancements to the software for 2007 or should I put my focus elsewhere.

Also, are there any guesses as to other link strategies for 2007 that are going to become hot or go extinct?

Thanks much,

Tony Stai

Only Google can really answer that question.

I'll do my best and say it depends. Some directories are probably always going to be considered valuable such as a link from the Yahoo directory. Many directories aren't worth much of anything now.

There's a lot of variables to look at in how much weight Google would give to a link from a directory from the overall authority and trust Google sees in the directory to the relevance to the site to what other sites the directory links to.

As for automated directory submission software I think they're all pretty much useless and there's already far too many of them out there.

Thanks for the response.

In the case of Directory Site Submitter, it's not an automated submitter since I believe that sets all sorts of flags at Google. Really, it's a embedded browser that has a list of directories and prefills the forms with unlimited randomly rotated titles/descriptions/keywords. The added features beyond the browser are setting a limiter for your submissions and reports from your submissions.

Do you think that both article and website directory backlinks are seeing the end of their life in terms of SEO. Of course there are still reasons to do both for traffic and exposure but that is pretty limited and may not be worth the effort if you don't also get a boost from the backlink.

I'm also wondering if the SE's are developing a massive list of trusted authority sites and other links are given very little weight in the algo.

Thanks, Tony

That makes it a little more useful. I think again it depends. Directories can still be a good way to get links. I think as with a lot of things seo related we're all coming to realize that quality is more important than quantity. It's certainly how the search engines view things.

So there really isn't a reason to submit to an endless list of directories. You're going to get most of the benefit from an handful of them. Of course it's hard to always know which handful and so we'll all likely be submitting to more directories than we need to and it's still a pretty good way to begin building a link profile.

Regardless of whether submitting to many directories is the right thing a lot of people are going to believe it is and submit to as many directories as they can. Read some of the threads here and and look often someone suggests it as a way to build links. Also look at the many people who still argue for some long out of date tactic for anything seo related.

No matter whether directories are in or not people will be submitting for quite some time.

Similarly for article directories. The best way to make articles work with building links is to get your article on a site where it isn't easy to get published. Of course since that takes more work and time most people will just submit to as many article directories as they can.

I think the smart seo thinking is moving away from mass submissions to website and article directories, but the majority of people won't get on board with that mostly because it's easier to submit en masse that take the time to try to get published on the more difficult sites.

Directory submissions have been the first step of marketing since well before search engines came along at all. I don't see it going the way of the dinosaur anytime soon, but who knows nowadays.

My submission girls use the digixmas.com semi-automatic directory submitter. I have yet to find anything else that compares. If you like, I would be happy to give yours a field test.

I agree with you William. I think directories are fine and submitting to a few of the better general directories and a good number of niche directories is still good practice and probably will be for awhile.

I do think there's a point though where the benefit of the next directory isn't all that much and with directories like most anything else in seo more isn't always better. There's a point of diminishing returns with directories, mostly because there are far too many garbage directories out there.

I also think manual submission is the better way to go since automating things completely is an easy footprint to discover and likely to be seen as over optimization. I'm guessing though the semi-automatic submitter you use overcomes a lot of the issues around the footprint and appearing over optimized.

I don't want to leave the impression that you shouldn't submit to directories. I think they can be a part of your link building efforts. I just want people to submit smartly instead of submitting everywhere quickly.

If the directory has a good pr then yes! They get listed pretty quick. Google is so weird when it comes to back links but they will get you ranked asap!

Originally Posted by tonystai

it's not an automated submitter since I believe that sets all sorts of flags at Google

How would Google know whether a site was submitted to directories via software or by hand ???

It leaves a footprint chrischrist, the SE's don't like it. They think your trying to get somewhere with no work! If anyone uses auto programs, I suggest stop using them! They are dangerous ground to walk on. Its easy enough to do by hand or hire someone cheap to do it manually for you!

Originally Posted by theseokit

It leaves a footprint chrischrist

Uhh, it would only leave a footprint if you submitted TO the search engines themselves with it.

The big 3 have no way of seeing your submissions to anywhere else, so how the heck would they ever see any footprint???

Believe me almost every auto tool leaves a foot print. As I said there are better ways. You can probably come out cheaper then the program cost. And your safe that way!

Ok... someone on here actually left me speechless for the first time ever.

Hehe, glad I could be the first... I guess I should re say this, yes William not all programs leave a foot print, But rather then take the chance, I instruct all customers and clients not to use them. Id rather be safe then sorry. :0 Just my 2 cents!

Originally Posted by theseokit

It leaves a footprint chrischrist, the SE's don't like it. They think your trying to get somewhere with no work! If anyone uses auto programs, I suggest stop using them! They are dangerous ground to walk on. Its easy enough to do by hand or hire someone cheap to do it manually for you!

And as William says it would only leave a footprint ON THE SITES YOU SUBMITTED TO.
No-one else would have access to those other sites. To be able to analyse a software "footprint" you need at least three examples of the actions performed by that software.

With directory submitting software there is not going to be a discernable "footprint" that is any different to a user going to directories and using copy & paste from a text file into the sites submission page from their browser.

"Footprints" are detectable in such software as page generation tools, link farm software and the like.

You seem to be under some major misconceptions. SEs do not like or want automatic query tools scraping their results pages, Google even mention one specifically in their guidelines.

We will have to agree to disagree chris christ, as I said it was just my 2 cents. But I wouldn't take the chance as a professional or hobbyist.

Last I heard Google valued natural links. directories are submit URL making them not natural but artificial links giving them less value. unless they are DMOZ/ yahoo directories