Using Directory Submission Services

[webmonkey]

Creating backlinks in directories that are non-topical to your subject seems like a bad idea nowadays. I've heard that google is using some new type of algorithm that either ignores or penalties links that are not topical to the site. Is that true?

[kartik]

Yeah, thats what even i hear on many forums.

But as long as you are making a quick buck.. y care.

My suggestion... earn 10 $ from adlinks, use 5 $ on adwords...

There you go.. you make a profit and you are safe :)

[geline]

Perhaps it is ok if you are penalized but what if you are banned from google? That would be a great loss?

[kartik]

Google cant afford to ban good sites.

If you are actually worth the top position and there are not that good contenders then google is at loss.

Imagine you getting what you want in the first query itself on yahoo but you have to see through a couplea pages on google.

You will shift to yahoo later..

Google can throw around a little weight, but if it acts oversmart, It will be out of competition soon.

[MHJ]

There are positives and negatives to using directories. But keep in mind Google is always fickle with their rules

[geline]

There are positives and negatives to using directories. But keep in mind Google is always fickle with their rules

Oh, that's where we should be careful with coz if we're banned, then we're out!

[MHJ]

Yeah, if you get tossed out of the serach engine it is tough to get back in, but usually outright banning only occurs after committing severe TOS violations

[SweetCharity]

Backlinks should be from relevant sites. Remember, you're not just trying to get a higher SEO ranking (although that does play a part); you're also trying to get people to click on from the links. I know I've gotten more traffic from my backlinks than I have from Google searches, by a factor of ten.