A reader recently asked the following question: "We have heard the more directories our site is listed with the better it is for our SEO. We have had someone contact us to say they can list us with thousands of directories for not a great deal of money. Is this something that is worth doing? "
Here was my answer:
Unfortunately no. More is not always better in the world of SEO. Let me give you a little business knowledge that applies to this. Business listing directories are call "citations." A citation is where your business name, address, and phone number are listed. For this to be a benefit, one must assure that ALL of your business directory listings (citations) are consistent to one another, active and manageable on a regular basis.
Why is this important?
Google continually uses citations to verify the authenticity and credibility, not of your website, but that of of your Google business listing. One issue I run into a lot is that clients are often unable to update/manage a consistent local presence. For example: Say you buy 50 local directories listing. How will you ensure that all 50 will stay live, current and up to date?
Remember that Google is the most important directory to get listed on correctly and often, so this should be the primary goal of your directory listing strategy. They are the most influential search engine, the most popular, and therefore, the most powerful.
YOU HAVE TO "CRAWL" BEFORE YOU WALK
Remember that Google has its own way of crawling and scouring the web for SEO information from your site. Like Google, these other numerous directories have their own way of gathering the information based on their own unique algorithms and crawling methods. And some of these may contradict Google's methods. Much like your Google listing, most of these directories are dynamic in that, over time, they go out on their own to gather and update information about your business based not on your direct input, but on other information they themselves crawl and find throwout the web. Directories do this to keep the information updated so that they are providing visitors with the most accurate and relevant information available.
In order to keep your listings current with all 50 directories, you will have to work on the meta tags and descriptions with all of these submissions, and you will also need to make them consistent with your Google listings. If you do not do this, Google's bots can get confused and create duplicate listings. This can hurt you in many ways if the search engines think you have duplicate content. It may also confuse viewers who don't know which link to click on.
So, while the short answer from my desk is an emphatic, "No," if you do choose to go down this path, you will need to enlist the help of an on line business directory expert, who can advise you in how to do this without hurting your results in Google. If you need help listing your business on line and are concerned about your listings on the web, contact us at Foamers.net.
We are a Yext Certified Partner and have been helping businesses get listed in some of the most powerful directories. Our PowerListings Network has over 50 of the most prominent and innovative sites, maps, and apps available. And we reach 220 million customers each month. Now that's power! Let us know if we can help your business get noticed, without having to worry about what the internet crawler bots are up to!
