Directory Submission Sites That Work
Not 1,500 link farms. A curated list of directories with editorial standards, real traffic, and actual SEO value.
Directory Submissions in 2026: The Truth
Directory submissions aren't the SEO powerhouse they were in 2010. But they're not dead either. The difference between valuable directories and spam is stark—10 good directories beat 500 link farms every time.
- Editorial review before listing
- Real organic traffic
- Industry-specific directories
- Local citation sources
- "Instant approval" sites
- Directories with 1000+ outbound links
- Zero real traffic
- Spam-filled categories
The "Big Four" (Start Here)
Essential for any US business
Google Business Profile
The most important local listing. Complete every field, add photos weekly, respond to all reviews. This single listing can drive more traffic than all others combined.
Bing Places
Often overlooked, but Bing powers many local searches including Siri and Alexa. You can sync directly from Google Business Profile—takes 5 minutes.
Yelp
High domain authority, appears in many search results. Claim your free page, complete all details, respond to reviews. Paid features are optional.
Better Business Bureau
Trust signal for US businesses. Free listing available—accreditation costs extra but isn't required for the SEO value.
General Web Directories
These directories have editorial standards, real organic traffic, and established domain authority. They're worth the time to submit to properly. Quality over quantity—complete every field, write unique descriptions, add proper categories.
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Startup & SaaS Directories
If you're building a product, these directories are non-negotiable. They drive targeted traffic from people actively looking for solutions. ProductHunt, Crunchbase, G2, Capterra—these aren't just backlinks, they're discovery channels.
Site | DR | Price |
|---|---|---|
| $99/year | ||
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Local & Industry Directories
For local businesses, industry-specific and location-specific directories are gold. A plumber listed in local contractor directories gets more relevant traffic than a general web directory. Search for "[your industry] directory" and "[your city] business directory" to find niche opportunities.
Site | DR | Price |
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Best Practices for Directory Submissions
NAP Consistency
Name, Address, Phone must be exactly identical everywhere. "123 Main St" is different from "123 Main Street"—Google notices.
Complete Every Field
Descriptions, logos, categories, photos, hours, services. Incomplete profiles rank worse and convert worse.
Unique Descriptions
Don't copy-paste the same text everywhere. Write variations for each directory to avoid duplicate content issues.
Track Everything
Keep a spreadsheet: directory name, URL, submission date, status, login credentials. You'll thank yourself later.
Space It Out
Don't submit to 100 directories in one day. That looks unnatural. 5-10 per week is a sustainable pace.
Monitor & Update
Set calendar reminders to check listings quarterly. Update hours, add new photos, respond to reviews.
Directories to Avoid
"Instant Approval" sites
No review = no standards = spam dump
Hundreds of outbound links
Pages with 500+ links pass zero equity
Zero organic traffic
Check SimilarWeb—no visitors = no value
Unrelated spam categories
Your SaaS next to casinos? Run away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Browse All Directories
Filter by niche, authority score, and more. Find directories that fit your business.