Just signed up for a free Directory Listing

Last week I received an email from a client saying that they had . . . Just signed up for a free Directory Listing

They had a question about this, and they almost made a mistake with it . . .

So here is the question they asked.

To the lay person, it sounds like a reasonable question, but it is a good thing that they checked with their webmaster at Hotpink Websites.

We have signed up for a free business listing at the “XYZ” free business directory.
They have provided us with a link to their site to create a cross link to help improve our web presence.
Do you think this is a good idea?
If so, the link is below, so would you please add it to our site.
If it is not a good idea and its just helping them, please don’t do it!!

Well, fortunately this client had some awareness of the possible pros and cons, and asked us first before going ahead and doing this.

Here’s my reply . . .

Hi

Directory listings should be for people to find you online . . . and find your website.

You are not in the business of promoting the Directory. Linking people through to the directory site only gives them the opportunity to find your competition.

Also, having mutual links like that can have a negative effect for you in Google.

So overall, I would suggest not adding the link to your site.

The only possible exception might be to link to a lot of really positive testimonials on the directory site, and I see that there are none there so far . . . (if only because your listing is new).

But again, you would want to replicate those testimonials in your own site anyway . . . to keep the focus on your website and not so much on the directory site. 😀

Hope this helps . . .

Google closed this particular door on SEO Search Engine Optimisation strategies a long time ago.

Because links gave Google credit to a website, it became an easy solution to mutually swap links with other websites.

But ultimately this was stopped because it was not aligned with Google’s outcomes of providing valuable online resources, (including linked resources).

So Google reassessed how it evaluated links in websites.

And in one of the more recent changes, it actually changed the rules around links so that links from poor quality or low ranking websites TO your website actually gives YOUR website “negative points”.

So while having links on your website, and links to your website are both important . . . it’s not what or how much you do so much as the quality and relevance of what you do that makes the difference.

Well, that is quite simple really!

Watch this short VIDEO

SEO 101 – BackLinks & LinkBuilding

What should you do now?

Learn more about using and not using backlinks on and for your website.
Want some help or ideas? Just contact us at Hotpink Websites now.

Or, CLICK HERE if you need a new website – Website Enquiry.

Quote

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
~ Dale Carnegie