When it comes to improving ones backlink profile, many website owners choose to build backlinks by submitting to web directories.  While common method, generating the desired results from web directory submissions is not common.  In this article are some tips that can help you get the most from your web directory submissions and also help you realize why article directories usually give better results for link building campaigns.

It is common knowledge that article directories commonly provide better SEO results.  There are many reasons why, and chief among these reasons is site linking structure.  Quite a few article directories have an internal linking structure that is optimized.  Whether it is navigation breadcrumbs, or the use of snippets in the category with a page dedicated to the complete article, if you look closely at many article directories they are outright superior to web directories.

There are not many web directories that offer an optimized internal linking structure.  An excellent example of one web directory that has taken internal site structure seriously is this website directory.  In addition to link detail pages that allow permit unique text, their website directory also provides a listing sitemap to improve indexing and the user experience.

Another comparison that must be made between article and web directories is the quality of content submitted.  Article directories tend to have higher listing rules then web directories.  For example, article directories usually require three-hundred words for each submission while web directories require thrity words.   Professionals in the SEO community understand that for a link to provide any weight there should be content on the webpage.  Web directories tend to be abused in this regard, and the submitters wastefully submit away brief descriptions just to land a link.  This does not benefit the web directory or the individual submitting.

Web directories can become a magnet for duplicate content.  The same website owners usually submit the same titles and description to hundreds or even thousands of directories.  The leading search engines void duplicate content to a large degree and those submitting are simply wasting their time and dragging web directories deeper into the abyss.  Granted, knowledgable web directory editors will write their own descriptions but most will not.  Article directories on the other hand tend to be operated by people that truly want good articles and the search engine traffic that is associated with superior articles.  Article directory operators normally place the responsibility of a unique submission on the person placing the submission, which is the way it should be with web directories as well.

Web directory submitters can help to control their own destiny and how much influence their web directory submissions will have on their offpage SEO efforts.  Since most web directories accept up to five-hundred characters of text, it is very important for submitters to add as thorough of a description as possible.  Website owners submitting to any directory should also create a unique title and description so that their listings are not disregarded by the leading search engines.  Web directories are still helpful providing the person submitting offers something more then a canned submission.

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