If you want your directory submission site to perform well, you'll need to find out what others are doing right. In this article, we'll look at three important traits shared by the best directories on the web.
Directory sites can be great resources for finding businesses and services in specific niches. However, building an online directory can require a lot of research and work.
One way to simplify the process is to have website owners submit listings to you. With a submission site, you're in charge of vetting which businesses make it into the directory and which don't.
In this article, we'll discuss what directory submission sites are and how they work. We'll also break down the three traits that top directories share and link you to some of our favorite options. Let's get to it!
An introduction to directory submission sites
Directory submission sites compile resources from all over the web so that visitors have an easier time finding the stores and businesses that they need. The idea of a submission site is that the admins accept suggestions for what businesses to add to their list:
Crowdsourced directories tend to result in more comprehensive lists. In practice, that usually translates to more traffic for the directory site and more clicks for its listings.
When a user submits a site to a directory, the admins will analyze it to see if it's a good match for their audience. If it is, the site goes into the directory and the user will get a backlink to their website.
Backlinks can help a site rank higher in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). Search algorithms see backlinks as a type of recommendation or seal of approval from one site to another. When you link to another site, you're essentially saying “This is a good resource, so check it out!”.
3 traits of top-ranking directory submission sites
If you want to build a top-ranking directory, you'll need to use the right tools. Business Directory Plugin can help you with the technical side of things, but you'll also need to understand what makes for a successful directory. Here are three traits the best directory submission sites share.
1. They have a high domain authority.
Domain authority is an SEO metric that gives you a rough idea of how “trustworthy” a website is. Getting backlinks from sites with a high DA will give you better SEO results.
Building domain authority doesn't happen overnight. You'll need to accrue backlinks to your directory site and publish engaging content on a regular basis. Creating a blog on your site can help you build authority more quickly.
2. They have a detailed submission process.
Trustworthy directories don't just link to any website that reaches out to them. They will typically have a submission and approval process in place. This helps ensure that the websites they link out to are relevant and helpful to their users:
If you want website owners to reach out about submissions, you'll need to have clear guidelines on your site. This will help make the submission process a lot simpler. It can also save you from having to explain your directory's requirements over and over again.
3. They offer do-follow links.
Do-follow links are those that pass on “ranking juice” to the sites they point towards. When you link to a website, you can choose to make that link either do-follow or no-follow.
Some directories offer only no-follow links. This means that, even though they link to a website, those backlinks won't impact its search engine rankings in any way.
Offering do-follow links can be very enticing for website owners. Ideally, you'll make it clear that you support do-follow links during the site submission process or in your guidelines.
A list of the top-ranking directory submission sites
If you plan on building a reputable directory submission site, you'll want to look at some examples. To make your life easier, we've put together a list of some of our favorite directory submission sites:
For starters, we recommend that you analyze directories with high domain authority. Additionally, you'll want to pay attention to their content and structure. This can help you emulate their approach to SEO so that you can improve your own rankings.
Conclusion
Directory submission sites are highly sought after by business and e-commerce websites. If you run a directory that's open for submissions, you'll be able to have your pick of which sites to list. Plus, you get to help users find the best available resources for their needs.
Whether you're thinking of starting a directory submission site or looking to improve your directory's performance, here are the three things that you'll need to focus on:
- Building a high domain authority
- Having a detailed submission process
- Offering do-follow links
If you want to start your own business directory, using the right plugin can make that process a lot simpler. Business Directory Plugin can help you transform your website into a full-blown business directory and accept submissions from users. Check out our list of features!
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