Links are the top metric by which search engines determine who you are and what you are about, and ultimately how you are ranked in search results. In other words, links are your website's life line. A great way to jumpstart your link-building efforts to get that online vote of trust is to submit your business to directories, which is a great way to get your small business website on the map.
Wondering how to get more inbound links to your website, and where to start?
Here’s a list of top link-building directories, which are all FREE resources to help you get started.
Local Directories:
Loopt.com
Localeze.com
Biglocal.com
Openlist.com
Outside.in
BOTW.org/top/Regional/United_States
Superpages.com
Search Engine Local Business Listings:
Yahoo.com, Google.com and Bing.com Local
Getlisted.org (to double check if you’ve been listed)
Blog Directories:
DoFollowBlogs.com
PlaceBlogger.com
Bloglines.com
Blogsearch.Google.com
Technorati.com
Blogged.com
BlogCatalog.com
Blogmarks.net
MyBlogLog.com
Zimbio.com
Review and Rating Directories:
Yelp.com
Rateitall.com
InsiderPages.com
Directories not only help you get more inbound links but also bring in more qualified traffic and generate leads. As you add your business to directories, be sure to use very specific categories including location, industry-specific niches and anything else that makes you unique. Whether you are locally focused or have branches throughout the country, you should be listed where people are looking for you. Inbound links pointing to your site from other trusted sources on the Web are like people raising their hand to Google and saying, "You should pay attention to this one!"
Photo Credit: Jurek Durczak
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American Video Productions 2:46 PM on February 11, 2010
A fantastic resource!
Dawood Mirza 2:53 PM on February 11, 2010
Awesome article thanks for sharing. what are the top 10 paid directories with high pr that drive traffic and increase website ranking?
Laura Ciocia 2:53 PM on February 11, 2010
More great info! You guys are awesome!!
John 2:54 PM on February 11, 2010
Great Blog. Very helpful
capital west advisors 3:03 PM on February 11, 2010
thanks a ton for this useful info. I request you to post more and more resources like this. Are there any other directories which gives instant backlinks.
Merryl Rosenthal 3:09 PM on February 11, 2010
Fabulous resource. Thanks for putting so much valuable information in one place and "on the house"!
Vipul 3:37 PM on February 11, 2010
Great post! I am definitely consider all the sites mentioned above, but I am concerned of the quality of inbound links.
Melinda 4:33 PM on February 11, 2010
Good list. I also like www.brownbook.net
King 5:02 PM on February 11, 2010
hey Hubspot gang! this is great, thanks a bunch. I especially find the blog directories useful.
Pamela Seiple 5:11 PM on February 11, 2010
King,
If you find the blog directories useful, also check out the following article, "8 Free Links to Promote a Blog" http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/3013/8-Free-Links-to-Promote-a-Blog.aspx
Thanks,
Pamela
Rob 5:19 PM on February 11, 2010
I think the blog directories list is useful but you say "Directories not only help you get more inbound links but also bring in more qualified traffic and generate leads."
Since when did any directory provide you with qualified leads? I think your dreaming a bit there! The only web directories worth submitting too are dirs like botw, yahoo, dmoz and maybe a few industry niche directories. But thats only too build your initial trust in the eyes of the eninges but give you click throughs and leads? Not directly.
Mitchell 6:01 PM on February 11, 2010
How effective is it to be listed with Yahoo and pay the $300/year? Great index of free listings by the way!
Scott Fu 6:53 PM on February 11, 2010
We get a good number of leads from good directories like HotFrog and Google Local. The quality seems to be OK to since I guess people find these sites when they have intent to purchase. Sure some of the directories we've added to haven't sent us anything but for the cost it hasn't seemed to harm us either.
Michelle Carvill 6:59 AM on February 12, 2010
Hi there thanks for the resource - would be great to get a UK focused list too! Any one out there got one ready to share??? Yelp.co.uk works - and yahoo and bing. Do follow blogs.com now charges! No longer free. And some of the others are blocked due to oversubscriptions. But generally got me thinking about the importance of links again!
Rebecca Churt 7:06 AM on February 12, 2010
Michelle,
We will definitely be posting resources for other countries, UK included ... stay tuned.
Craig Nattress 10:56 AM on February 12, 2010
Hi, great post however is there any chance you could list those available in the UK for us non-US subscribers :-)
Thanks!
Chad Wilgus 4:40 PM on February 13, 2010
Linking is new to me but any info. is great and appreciated.
Rituraj 11:44 PM on February 13, 2010
Very nice resources you have provided to us.
I am providing a link for submitting your business news to us.
http://www.neytri.com
Margie 10:14 PM on February 17, 2010
Fantastic Resource - I have already submitted our site for a couple of the blog listings. Does anyone have any rating directories or lists that are more relevant for B2B, enterprise software type listings?
Thanks!
Said 9:16 AM on March 10, 2010
Thank you a lot!