If you have done your SEO research, you probably know by now that the goal is to generate traffic to your site. Therefore, many different steps are taken to optimize your on-page and off-page SEO. Directories help to boost your off-page SEO and improve your rankings when chosen and executed correctly.
What is a Directory in SEO?
A directory in SEO is essentially an online phone book. It contains information about websites, including the name, phone number, address, and web address. This information is submitted to a specific category of the web directory you are targeting. For example, if you have a website with tutorials, you will submit your site for the education category. This directory submission is part of your off-page SEO.
What is Off-Page SEO?
Off-Page SEO refers to anything completed outside of your website that can affect your site’s rankings in a search engine. This helps search engines see other information about your site, including credibility, relevance, and authority.
Why are Directories Important for SEO?
So why does your directory submission matter in SEO? As you know, there are thousands of sites out there working hard to improve their rankings. Directory listings affect SEO because, when used appropriately, they bring up your website even when people haven’t searched for your site. The directory will target a site that will answer the user’s questions or meet their needs when searching for something.
How to Choose the Best Directory Listing
- High Quality
- Proper Management
- Domain Authority
Picking a High-Quality Directory
Many different factors determine a high-quality directory. For starters, a high-quality directory will have a professional website, including quality images. Keep an eye out for typos or spelling mistakes, as this is an ominous sight. The site should also be user-friendly, and navigating through the directory should be a simple process.
The Directory is Properly Managed
Ensuring the directory is managed correctly is crucial because it ensures that your information is accurate and up to date with what you submitted. If the directory is reliable, they will make sure the information you provide is current. They should also be reaching out to you to verify that you are the owner, whether through a phone call, text message, email, or even a postcard.
Double Check Domain Authority
When choosing the best directory listing, you want to check the domain authority of that directory. If they have a poor ranking, they are not a good option, and you should keep researching until you find a better fit.
How Do I Submit to a Directory?
Now that you have chosen the best directory, you have to submit your information to it. First, make sure to choose the appropriate category for your blog. Make sure to choose where you feel your blog will fit best among all the categories. Once you click on the category you have chosen, click on “submit a link.” A series of options will pop up for you to fill in. Once completed, fill in the section that explains the details about your site, including URL, title, and description.
As you can see, many things go into your SEO. Submitting to a directory helps to improve your off-page SEO, increasing traffic to your website. Do your homework to choose the best site possible, and keep a list of where you submitted if you ever need to update your information!