Directory submission still works? Any real experiences?

[Ajinkya Samark]

Hey,
You need to find a directory which has good DA and PR also it should be relevant to your website.  Don't do the excessive submission as it always considers as spam.

[Nimit.Suri]

When i 1st started learning seo and the techniques it involved directory submission was everywhere.But now its loosing its importance
Directory submission will only give u a little boost * if its human edited or paid directories) and i don't think its a wise ides shelling out 40dollars and at times 60 dollars just for a listing .And that too its not guaranteed and they ask for a reciprocal link as well on top of that .I don't do that anymore.
There are spammy directory websites which have the same ip -same website design and same look (check the ips of the website on ip checker tool) you will get your answer. Directory submission is useful may be only for the startup company who are new in business .who want a little bit of exposure. Before submitting i would recommend you to check the listing in the directory - check if the websites are live .and submit your listing in the right category or else don't

[Jennyholms]

As i observe after doing analysis of competitor's site backlinks, Directory submission still works for increasing the backlinks. For doing Direction Submission keep some points into the mind:
*) Always use High PR or Good DA containing sites for submission.
*) Use a unique content every time when you're going to submit content.
*) Submit URL in relevant directories only.

[saravanan28]

Directory submission for SEO still works fine. But as I said earlier, it has to be done appropriately. Adopt an up to date link-building strategy to your directory campaign to get the best results. Keep your traffic organic, as much as possible while attracting the best quality links to boost your online visibility.

[Lishmalinyjames]

Directory submission is still valid practice. As you see directory submission is still effective. But there are so many people who are ranking well without building backlinks and without submitting to any directories.

[pankaj0008]

Yes, Directory submission is still very important if you are doing SEO for your website but if you are doing on High DA sites plus do follow submission based websites.

[Divya165]

I would like to answer the question Directory submissions are no longer useful ways to promote your website and increase traffic. However, there are still high-quality directory submissions that can help your company task to create from relevant sources.

[miller]

Notion that directory submission is a bad SEO technique is an oversimplification. While it's true that Google's Penguin update targeted manipulative link schemes, including directory submissions, it's not a blanket condemnation of the practice.

In reality, directory submissions can still be a valuable way to acquire relevant, high-quality links from authoritative sources. However, it's crucial to focus on directories that are:

Reputable and well-established
Relevant to your niche or industry
Provide unique, descriptive, and keyword-rich descriptions of your site
Allow dofollow links
Have a high Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA)
On the other hand, submitting your site to low-quality or spammy directories can indeed harm your SEO. This is because such directories often engage in manipulative link schemes, which can lead to penalties.

In my experience, I've seen clients' websites benefit from directory submissions when done correctly. For instance, one client's website saw a significant increase in organic traffic after being listed in a reputable industry-specific directory.

To mitigate potential risks, it's essential to monitor your website's backlinks and adjust your directory submission strategy accordingly. This may involve disavowing links from low-quality directories or focusing on high-quality directories that provide value.

[shakshishukla009]

Directory submission can still work if used strategically, but its effectiveness has diminished due to changes in search engine algorithms. High-quality, niche-specific directories can provide valuable backlinks and referral traffic, boosting SEO when done correctly. However, submitting to low-quality or spammy directories can harm rankings. 

Real experiences vary: some marketers report improved visibility from niche directories, while others see minimal impact. Focus on directories relevant to your industry and ensure consistent information (NAP – Name, Address, Phone). Modern SEO places greater emphasis on quality content, link-building, and user experience, so directory submission should be a minor part of a broader strategy.

[suwaidionlineuae]

Yes, directory submission still works—but only when done selectively. It's no longer an SEO tactic for building hundreds of backlinks, but it can still provide value in the right situations.

Here are some real-world observations from SEO practitioners:

Quality matters more than quantity. Listings on reputable, relevant directories (especially industry-specific or local directories) can improve visibility and help users discover your business.
Local SEO benefits. Consistent business information (name, address, phone number, website) across trusted directories can support local search performance.
Referral traffic. Some niche directories send targeted visitors who are genuinely interested in your products or services.
Brand trust. Being listed on well-known directories can increase credibility, even if the direct SEO impact is modest.

However, avoid:

Submitting to hundreds of low-quality or spammy directories.
Paying for bulk directory submission services that promise thousands of backlinks.
Using automated submission tools that create inconsistent business listings.

A practical approach is to:

Submit to major trusted directories relevant to your country or industry.
Focus on niche directories where your target audience actually searches.
Keep your business information consistent across all listings.
Prioritize quality content, technical SEO, and earning natural backlinks over directory submissions.

In practice, many SEO professionals today use directory submissions as a supporting tactic, not a primary link-building strategy. A handful of high-quality, relevant directory listings can be worthwhile, while mass submissions generally provide little value and may even hurt your site's reputation if the directories are spammy.