Google Rankings: Free Directories
Google & Directory Submissions Directory submissions are a common practice among both small business owners and digital marketing professionals
Google & Directory Submissions
Directory submissions are a common practice among both small business owners and digital marketing professionals. Online directories are a simple medium for self-promotion and inbound link generation, until now. Google has begun to remove directories from their index (similar to the de-indexing of blog networks).
In a recent Webmaster World thread, Barry Schwartz noted that roughly half of the directories he was aware of had been removed from the index. While the ‘fifty percent’ approximation seems a bit excessive (probably closer to twenty percent seems more likely), it still illustrates Google’s intentions quite clearly.
Here’s a quick video from Matt Cutts (head of the Google Search Quality team) in 2011 explaining how Google differentiates paid directory links, paid links and free directory links:
Why the change from Google?
The move is definitely in line with Google’s overall Penguin update, with the death knell definitely sounding for the lower quality, content-poor websites. Essentially Google is choosing to target lower quality website’s that are used as low-quality link building tactics and those that offer no real value to the user.
It’s through moves like this that effectively highlight the importance of an inbound link strategy and more importantly, link diversification. Users with generally poor inbound links or a directory-reliance would be feeling the latest update fairly heavily. In fact, any decent search-engine optimisation professional would caution you regarding the dangers of relying on any inbound link medium that isn’t transparent, natural and valuable.
What’s next for Google?
Just recently Google launched an assault against paid blog networks, de-indexing a fairly significant amount, and then releasing the Penguin update (targeted at unnatural anchor link text). So now, after targeting link directories, it can be assumed that the next low-quality target for Google will be article directories (again!) or press release websites (both of which offer very little value). The overall strategy behind the recent updates from Google revolves around eliminating low-quality, pointless, unnatural websites from the index.
In reality, building links from directories, press release websites and article directories are all considered ‘black hat’ practices. The tactics are against Google’s Webmaster Guidelines and offer no long-term stability or value to the website. While a number of search-engine optimisation agencies and clients will be complaining of significant losses, it presents a huge benefit to ethical, long-term search-engine optimisation professionals. As expected, natural, content-oriented links will always pay off in the long run.
What's next, Kook?
A meeting with us costs NOTHING. Even if you have an inkling you aren't getting the results you'd expect, let's have a chat.