Link Building with Niche Directories

Before reading this, it is suggested that the previous articles on Link Building be read.

I hope that I have not given the impression that the process of building one way links to a site is done simply by using directories. Directories, however, are a very important tool that can be used to build one way links. I have never used a directory and expected massive amounts of traffic to be directed to my site. It would be nice, but the probability is against it.

The first three posts in the series dealt mainly with using General directories such as PixelHeadonline.com to build one way relevant links to your site. The next topic in this series, progresses toward the area of Niche Directories, which offer a way to build links to your site that have an even higher relevance.

What are Niche Directories?

Niche directories like general directories, are broken down into categories, however, unlike general directories, the categories all pertain to a certain niche market, such as real estate. What is your niche? More than likely, if you have any competition in your niche, there will be niche directories for your site to submit your site. Sadly, many of these tend to be reciprocal linking directories, which really don’t help us with building one way links.

Three-Way Linking Anyone?

However, do try three way linking with these reciprocal sites, that is see if they will give you a link if you give them a link to another site that you may have access to such as a directory or a blog with a similar topic. Some sites will allow three way linking some won’t…it does not hurt to ask. (Please drop me a comment and let me know if you like or dislike three way linking)

What sort of Niche has Potential for a Good Niche Directory?

Niche Markets that have a good amount of focused traffic have the ability to be good Niche Directories. I don’t believe there is a niche out there that a directory does not or can not be made. For example, a site I work with sells corn stoves( a stove that burns shelled dry corn for home heating purposes). Talk about a niche market, and there is a Corn Stove Niche Directory, for this market.

One of the most interesting niche directories I have come across, that Lizzie Bean introduced me to, is an Industrial Niche directory. The interesting thing about this directory is that all of the sub-categories have their own unique url, and not a sub domain page.

My point of using these two niche directory examples is that any niche can be a good niche market for a directory. If there is interest, then a niche directory should be able to exist for that market.

What makes a Good Niche Directory?

A good niche directory I feel should have many of the same characteristics as a good general directory to include:

• Not built in frames.
• Does not use “No Follow tags“.
• Edited for quality to insure submission guidelines are met.
• Set submission guidelines.
• Three to four submission methods to such as reciprocal, free, express, premium etc.
• Unique look, or at least attempt to alter the design template if a popular template is being utilized. The Corn Stove Niche directory uses the same template as Pixelheadonline.com(we have altered ours a bit).
• Insure that any page with a premium listing has back links to it.
• Never utilize redirects.
• Make contact information available somewhere on the site.
• Check to make sure that all links on the site work(do this regularly).
• Don’t make submission procedures too difficult or too easy. Validation codes need not be a mystery.

I can go on and list many more things that make up good directories, but it would probably be better if you want to find some that I give you a list. If you see one that you think belongs here drop me a comment and I will stop by and evaluate it. I may also break the list down in the future into sub-categories of different niche directory markets.

My Short Niche Directory list.

This will be another post, as I there are so many out there, but for two great resources on these visit directorycritic’s list of and http://info.vilesilencer.com/

Written by Pixelhead on March 23rd, 2007 with 12 comments.
Read more articles on Directories and Directory Submissions and Link Building and Marketing and Uncategorized. Several Mybloglog FavoritesI have been under the hood messing with the engine…