While creation of backlinks is crucial to webmasters, few are yet to manage the workload that comes with ensuring that they create the most reliable ones. One of the major ways through which webmasters have been banking on to meet this end is by using directory backlinks and yet, these seem to be losing their appeal and now it is only a matter of time before they are deemed totally ineffective. This is largely due to various reasons. For starters, it is important to note that most directories are not included in navigational links. In addition to this, most are also lacking in sitemaps and for this reason, they cannot create any effective backlinks and this tends to be a waste of time.
Sorting links in the directory with appropriate title and relevant links will ensure the quality of the directory. The more specific category and sub-category that goes deep to show exact sites related to the micro niche is important here. Many directories lack in getting sub-categories divided widely throughout the site. This will lead to listing of unrelated sites on some categories. Having outgoing links to unrelated sites will give bad impression to search engines. So, having a backlinks from pages that have non-relevant external links will not be so helpful in terms of SEO too. So, it shows the quality of improper navigation directories are lacking quality.
For backlinks to work effectively, they have to be on a static database. This is largely due to the fact that this makes it easy for search robots to identify your content and at the same time read it. This however, is not so with majority of directories since they tend to be more dynamic and as such, not easily identifiable to search engines. What is more, most of the directories use the no index and no follow attributes and for this reason, they do not create backlinks that one can rely on. Having nofollow or noindex delivers zero value for SEO benefits and this is one of the reason why most directory link building fails.
Also, some directory have large number of outgoing links per page. Google Webmaster guidelines have advised us not to exceed 100 external links per page. Most directory fails to follow this rules by showing more than 100 links per page. Of course, it is convenient to show all related links per page but it will not be helpful in SEO terms. Only a fraction of directories shows less than 20 links per page and uses pages to navigate more than 20 links in same directory. No matter, how good the outgoing links controlled, directories are known to have huge external links. Having a link from thousands of links from one domain will certainly reduce the value of back links.
Finally, another major reason leading to the doom of directory backlinks is the fact that most of the content placed on the same is not arranged in a systematic way. There is always a mix up of urls and as such, the search engine reads this as spam and totally ignores the same. It is largely due to these facts that directories are not being used largely since their ability to create quality backlinks is on the low. For these reasons, it is more ideal to consider other backlinking alternatives that will deliver more results.
Directory link building is still effective when done in proper way. It’s just became more time consuming as you need to create a reliable directory list first. Also a lot of people seems to forget that it’s always a good practice to build a few backlinks to the page of the directory on which our link is placed.
Why is Directory submission not effective? Isn’t it the same as social bookmarking?
I don’t think it is the doom. They just need to protect it from spammer.
Directory backlinks are almost of no value today. I mean take a look around your backlinks profile…do you see any directory site links coming up in your rank reports via google.com. that proves this “directory” submission FAG has ended..literally at least I being a SEO expert my self..never offer my clients Directory submission..