Is Directory Submission Good for SEO or Dead Now?

[indexjunkie]

Directory submission isn’t what it used to be. google updates killed most low-quality directories, so mass submissions = dead. only use high-quality, niche directories that are trusted. they give tiny SEO boost and can help local SEO a bit. focus more on content, backlinks, and user experience now. basically, directory links are like a garnish, not the main course.

 

[Velvet_Riot]

Directory submissions are no longer the powerful SEO tactic they once were. After Google’s updates, most low-quality directories lost value, so bulk submissions are ineffective. Instead, stick to reputable, niche-specific directories—they offer only a small SEO benefit but may support local rankings. Today, it’s much more important to invest in quality content, strong backlinks, and overall user experience.

 

[saifr25sd]

Directory submission isn’t what it used to be. google updates killed most low-quality directories, so mass submissions = dead. only use high-quality, niche directories that are trusted. they give tiny SEO boost and can help local SEO a bit. focus more on content, backlinks, and user experience now. basically, directory links are like a garnish, not the main course.

I think low quality link submissions was always not good but directory submission do help in local seo and they are still relevant.

 

[harrygreen90]

You're absolutely right that directory submission is mostly dead in the way people used to do it. Back in the day you could just blast your site to hundreds of directories and see real ranking improvements, but Google caught on to that game years ago and now most of those directories are either penalized or completely ignored. The ones that still matter are super selective - think industry-specific directories like legal directories for law firms, or local business directories like Google Business Profile, Yelp, and maybe Bing Places. Those can actually help with local SEO and drive real traffic because actual humans use them to find businesses.

The problem is people still waste time submitting to random directories hoping for magic SEO juice when they should be focusing on things that actually move the needle like creating content people want to link to naturally or building relationships for legitimate backlinks. I've seen people spend hours submitting to directories and get zero measurable results. If a directory requires payment or reciprocal links, or if it's just a massive link farm with thousands of unrelated sites, skip it completely. Your garnish analogy is perfect - a few high-quality directory listings won't hurt and might help a tiny bit, but if that's your main SEO strategy you're already losing to competitors who are doing actual marketing.

 

[ms007]

I’ve been reading mixed opinions about directory submission as an SEO strategy. Some say it’s completely outdated and can even hurt rankings, while others claim it still works if you choose the right niche or high-quality directories.


I’m trying to figure out whether spending time submitting my site to directories is still worth it in 2025. Does Google still give any weight to directory backlinks, or is it better to focus on other link-building strategies like guest posting, outreach, or digital PR?


Would love to hear from people who are actively doing SEO right now—are directory submissions still part of your strategy, or are they officially dead?