{"id":1121,"date":"2020-08-26T11:16:54","date_gmt":"2020-08-26T11:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mb30.tetsua.xyz\/2020\/08\/26\/how-web-directories-impact-seo-in-2020\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T17:48:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T17:48:31","slug":"how-web-directories-impact-seo-in-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mb30.tetsua.xyz\/en\/how-web-directories-impact-seo-in-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"How Web Directories Impact SEO in 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Web directories were the core of searching websites even before Google appeared. Back then, there were not so many sites on the web, and basically you could find them via different directories, which mainly filtered the websites by their type or field of activity.<\/p>\n

But now, in 2020 when search engines took over the job, things have changed and most of the SEO experts don\u2019t recommend them as some don\u2019t help at all, some help a little, and many others are penalized.<\/p>\n

This article is about how helpful are web directories, in what circumstances, and their entire impact on SEO performance<\/p>\n

What do Web Directories mean?<\/h3>\n

To get started, we need to understand better what web directories are, something like an introduction. Even though the description won\u2019t be too long as it\u2019s almost obvious what web directories are, and how do they work, it\u2019s still worth mentioning that mainly web directories list websites. Back then, when they appeared, most of them provided free or really cheap services. The prices varied between $4-25 per listing, depending on what type of website you have, how far you have progressed, and how much you need a directory for building links. But the most important thing – a superficial analysis of how much you can pay them, in case they were managed and moderated manually<\/p>\n

When Web Directories Become Inefficient<\/h3>\n

It was enough though for search engines to identify that web directories aren\u2019t reliable enough and already started penalizing them for various reasons. Even though web directories were and still are the cheapest way to build links for any website, many of them are now automated, and not managed at all by humans, as it costs money. This is the way how spam got their way to and ruined the entire reputation of the web directories ecosystem.<\/p>\n

Google, for instance, decided to take down web directories and penalize websites that use the most untrustworthy ones, starting with Penguin 4.0 update. Unfairly for those websites that relied on web directories, the update assumingly decided to exclude from \u201cranking algorithm\u201d the importance of listing, and instead focuses on advertorials, blog posts, and other costly ways of how websites can grow organically. Did they do this to improve their ads system, or simply because web directories had a wrong impact on SEO, it is still a topic to be discussed in SEO forums and both options look legit<\/p>\n

Are Web Directories Still Efficient for SEO in 2020<\/h3>\n

In 2020, Web Directories might help some online businesses, while other businesses are implementing their link building based on them with no effect. It depends on many factors, such as<\/p>\n