What is Directory Link Building?
Directory link building involves submitting your website to online directories to obtain backlinks and improve your website's visibility in search engine results.
These directories categorize businesses and websites by niche, location, or purpose, providing a way to enhance brand visibility, attract targeted traffic, and strengthen SaaS SEO efforts.
Benefits of Directory Link Building
1. Boosted Domain Authority
Backlinks from reputable directories improve your website's domain authority, signaling search engines that your site is credible and trustworthy.
2. Improved SEO Rankings
Search engines view links from high-authority directories as valuable endorsements, which can positively impact your rankings and accordingly, revenue.
3. Increased Visibility
Directory submissions ensure your website is visible in specific niches or local markets, helping you reach a broader audience.
4. Targeted Traffic
Listings in relevant directories drive traffic from users actively searching for services like yours, increasing the likelihood of conversion.
5. Brand Credibility
Being featured in respected directories enhances trustworthiness, as customers often perceive directory-listed businesses as reliable.
Types of Directory Websites to Earn Links From
General Directories
General directories list businesses across just about every industry you can think of, making them great for visibility (but not always the best for niche traffic).
These directories usually categorize businesses by industry, location, or service type. While they aren’t hyper-focused, they offer a broad reach and can be a great starting point if you’re trying to get your SaaS name out there.
For example:
- LinkedIn Company Pages: Enables businesses to network and showcase their services globally.
- Manta: Focuses on small businesses with an international reach.
- Crunchbase: A directory for businesses, startups, and investors worldwide.
- Hotfrog: Lists businesses across industries, focusing on visibility and backlinks.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB): Provides accreditation and reviews for businesses across all sectors.
Local Directories
Local directories are where things start to get more focused (+at least a little bit). Many of them list all kinds of businesses too, but they get more specific when it comes to locations. They only list businesses operating within a specific area, making them perfect if your company targets customers in particular regions or cities.
Here are some nice examples of these directories:
- Google Business Profile (Google Maps): One of the most widely used platforms for local searches.
- Yelp: Focuses on customer reviews and ratings for local businesses.
- Bing Places: Microsoft's version of a local directory.
- Yellow Pages: A digital evolution of the traditional print directory.
- Angie's List: Focuses on service-based businesses like plumbers or contractors.
Industry-Specific Directories
Now, here’s where things get exciting. Industry-specific directories are niche-focused platforms that cater to particular sectors.
For SaaS companies, these are often the bread and butter of directory link building. Why? Because these directories attract the exact audience you’re targeting: people actively searching for solutions in your niche.
For example, if you’re a SaaS CRM provider, platforms like G2 or Capterra are non-negotiable. They allow you to showcase your product, display user reviews, and even let customers compare your tool to competitors—all in one place.
Examples are:
- G2 and Capterra: Leading directories for SaaS and software companies, featuring reviews, ratings, and comparisons across various software categories.
- Zocdoc: For healthcare providers like doctors and dentists.
- Realtor.com: Focused on real estate agents and property listings.
- Houzz: Dedicated to professionals in home improvement and interior design.
- Behance: A directory for creative professionals like designers and illustrators.
Blogging Directories
If your SaaS company is serious about content marketing (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), blogging directories are a fantastic way to amplify your reach. These platforms categorize blogs by topic, helping readers discover content that matches their interests.
Say you’ve written a killer blog post on “Top Tools for Remote Collaboration.” Adding that to a blogging directory like Blogarama can bring in readers who are actively searching for resources in that space.
Some examples of this include:
- AllTop: Aggregates top blogs across various industries, from technology to lifestyle.
- Blogarama: One of the oldest blog directories, featuring thousands of blogs in multiple categories.
- BlogLovin’: A platform for discovering, following, and interacting with blogs.
- OnTopList: Focused on listing blogs and offering opportunities for exposure and SEO.
How to Identify High-Quality Directories
1. Relevance
The directory must align with your business niche or location. A SaaS company should prioritize directories that cater to software, technology, or B2B industries.
2. Domain Authority
High-quality directories typically have higher domain authority (DA), which boosts your SEO when you gain backlinks from them. Tools like Ahrefs or Moz can help assess DA.
3. Listing Quality
A good directory maintains high-quality listings with complete and accurate information. Avoid directories that look spammy or lack a clear structure.
Best Practices for Directory Link Building
1. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
You don’t need to be on every directory out there. Instead, focus on directories that are reputable and relevant to your business or industry. For example, if you’re in SaaS, platforms like G2 and Capterra are great options, as we’ve established earlier.
Avoid shady directories with little traffic—they’re more likely to hurt your rankings than help. A good rule of thumb? If a directory has a clean design, user reviews, and ranks well on Google, it’s likely worth your time. You can check out what people are saying about them on Reddit, X, or other forums and social media platforms. This gives you an idea of whether it’s a good bet or not.
But keep in mind that this is one less issue to worry about if you just outsource all your SaaS link building efforts to a good SaaS SEO agency like embarque.
2. Be Consistent with Your NAP Details
This one’s non-negotiable: your Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) must match across every directory. Why? Search engines like Google use this info to verify your business’s legitimacy. If your details are inconsistent, it’s like sending mixed signals, and that can hurt your local SEO rankings.
Pro tip: Use a spreadsheet or a tool like BrightLocal to keep track of all your listings. That way, you can quickly update them if anything changes—like your phone number or address.
3. Write a Killer Business Description
Your directory profile isn’t just for SEO, we love to think of it as a mini ad for your business. So, write a description that highlights your unique value but keeps it concise. For example:
- Bad: “We provide great services at an affordable price.”
- Better: “We’re an award-winning SaaS platform helping businesses automate workflows and boost productivity by 40%.”
And don’t forget to add in your primary keywords naturally. If you’re targeting "best project management software," weave it into your description without making it sound forced.
4. Leverage Directories for Backlinks the Right Way
Directories can offer valuable backlinks, but not all backlinks are created equal. Google values links from high-authority, relevant sites, so aim for directories that:
- Have a strong domain authority (use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to check).
- Are relevant to your niche (e.g., industry-specific directories).
- Allow do-follow links (these pass link equity to your site).
Just remember, spamming low-quality directories for backlinks can backfire—Google’s algorithms are smarter than you think.
5. Keep Your Profiles Active
This step is often overlooked: simply creating a profile isn’t enough. Regularly update your listings to keep them fresh. Did you launch a new service or win an award? Add it to your profile. Did you get new customer reviews? Respond to them—it shows engagement and helps build trust.
Also, monitor your analytics. Tools like Google Analytics or UTM tags can show how much traffic and conversions you’re getting from specific directories. If one isn’t pulling its weight, reconsider if it’s worth the effort.
FAQs About Directory Link Building
1. How does directory link building help with SEO?
Directory link building helps with SEO by providing backlinks from high-authority directories, improving your domain authority and visibility in search results.
2. What are the best directories for SaaS companies?
SaaS companies should prioritize industry-specific directories like Clutch, Capterra, or G2. Local directories like Google My Business are also valuable for location-based visibility.
3. Can directory link building improve local SEO?
Yes, local directories like Yelp and Google My Business can boost local SEO by helping your business appear in location-based searches.
4. How do I avoid penalties when using directory links?
To avoid penalties, focus on high-quality, relevant directories and avoid spammy or low-authority ones. Always use accurate and consistent information.
5. Are paid directories worth it for link building?
Paid directories can be worth it if they have high authority, a strong reputation, and align closely with your target audience.
6. How often should I update my directory listings?
You should update your directory listings whenever there is a change in your business information, such as address, phone number, or pricing.
