Why link directories are still important for SEO?
Because of backlinks. Main thing is that from link directories you can get enormous amount of backlinks. However some of them are not anymore good backlinks and will be disregarded. Hence to find good directories like for example are yahoo yellow pages and business directory, you should watch on some directory basic characteristics.
Main things to watch about your directory are:
- Every site accepted
- Google page rank
- Traffic
- Directory indexed
- Are links “dofollow”
If every site is accepted that means directory is probably considered by search engines as a spam link farm. If directory has PR 0 and it is old, then it can be penalized for selling links. If you put your link on such directory, then it is possible Google will penalize you too. Is there traffic on the directory (check alexa, compete and similar sites) if no, then probably your link in directory will not gave you any traffic at all. Is directory indexed? If no then it is maybe penalized. Are links in directory dofollow? If not then you don’t have any use in term of SEO from them.
Now if your directory list is compiled based on this five points, your list has value, and backlinks from those directories will have real SEO value.