Directory Backlinks: What They Are, Why They Still Work, and How to Get Them
A complete guide to directory backlinks: what they are, how they differ from other backlinks, why they still matter in 2026, and a step-by-step process for getting them. Includes common mistakes to avoid and a comparison to other link building methods.
You have heard that directory backlinks are dead. That is half true. The old approach, blasting your site to 5,000 low-quality directories, is dead and harmful. But getting listed on curated, high-authority directories? That still works, and it is one of the easiest backlinks you can build.
This guide covers what directory backlinks are, why they still matter, how to evaluate them, and exactly how to get them.
What Are Directory Backlinks?
A directory backlink is a link pointing to your website from a web directory. Web directories are organized lists of websites, grouped by category, curated by humans.
When you submit your site to a directory and it gets approved, the directory creates a profile or listing page for your product. That listing includes a link back to your site. That link is a directory backlink.
Directory backlinks differ from other backlink types in a few key ways:
- Guest post backlinks come from articles you write on other websites. They require content creation and editorial approval from the host site.
- Editorial backlinks come from other websites mentioning you naturally because your content is useful. You cannot directly control these.
- Directory backlinks come from listing your product on curated directory sites. You initiate the process by submitting your site.
Directory backlinks sit between guest posts and editorial links on the effort spectrum: less work than writing guest articles, more effort than earning natural mentions.
For a broader overview of what directory submissions are and how they fit into SEO, read our guide on what directory submission is.
Do Directory Backlinks Still Work in 2026?
The short answer: yes, with important caveats.
What changed. In 2012, Google's Penguin update targeted sites that built thousands of low-quality directory links. Many directories that accepted every submission for a fee were devalued or penalized. The SEO industry overcorrected and declared all directory links dead.
What actually happened. Google did not devalue all directory links. It devalued links from low-quality, spammy directories. Directories with editorial standards, real traffic, and legitimate curation still pass link equity.
Current SEO value. A single link from a DR 80+ directory like G2 or Product Hunt can meaningfully contribute to your domain authority. A profile with 30-50 diverse directory backlinks from DR 30+ sites builds a solid foundation, especially for new domains that have few links.
When they help:
- Your domain is new (under 1 year) with few existing backlinks
- You are targeting DR 30+ directories with editorial review
- You are building a diverse link profile alongside other link building methods
When they hurt:
- You submit to hundreds of low-quality directories with no editorial standards
- You use automated tools that create identical, spammy listings
- You focus exclusively on directory links and ignore other link building entirely
For more on why directory submissions still matter, see our post on why directory submissions still matter in 2026.
What Makes a Directory Backlink Valuable?
Not all directory backlinks are equal. Four factors determine the value of a directory link:
1. Domain authority of the directory (DR 30+ threshold).
The higher the directory's domain rating, the more link equity passes to your site. We recommend targeting directories with DR 30 or higher. Below this threshold, the SEO value of the link is minimal.
Use a free tool like Ahrefs' DR checker to verify a directory's authority before submitting.
2. Editorial review process.
Directories that review every submission manually provide higher-quality links than directories that auto-approve everything. If a directory approves your listing in 5 seconds, Google's algorithm knows the review process is not meaningful.
Look for directories that take days or weeks to approve submissions. That delay is a signal of quality.
3. Topical relevance.
A link from a SaaS directory to a SaaS product carries more weight than a link from a pet supply directory to a SaaS product. Relevance matters because Google evaluates the context of linking pages.
Prioritize directories in your industry: SaaS directories for software products, AI directories for AI tools, dev tool directories for developer products.
4. Dofollow status and traffic potential.
Dofollow links pass link equity directly. Nofollow links do not pass equity but can still drive real traffic. Most quality directories provide dofollow links, but some high-traffic platforms (Hacker News, Reddit) use nofollow.
If a directory has high traffic and relevant users, a nofollow link there can be more valuable than a dofollow link from a DR 40 directory nobody visits.
For a deeper dive into domain authority and how it works, see our domain authority guide for startups, or the practical route to increase domain authority for startups.
Types of Directory Backlinks
Directory backlinks come from several types of directories. Each type serves a different purpose in your link profile.
General Web Directories
These accept websites from any category. Examples include Jasmine Directory (DR 60+), Best of the Web (DR 70+), and Viesearch (DR 55+). They provide diverse link equity but less topical relevance than niche directories. Submit to 5-10 of these for link diversity.
Niche and Industry-Specific Directories
These focus on a specific industry or product type. SaaS directories, AI tool directories, and marketing tool directories fall into this category. They provide highly relevant links because the linking page content matches your product. Prioritize these over general directories.
Local Business Directories
Google Business Profile (DR 100), Yelp (DR 90+), and Bing Places (DR 85+) are essential for any business with a physical presence or local service area. Even if you are a fully remote SaaS company, a Google Business Profile listing provides a high-authority link.
Review Platforms
G2 (DR 91), Capterra (DR 90), and TrustRadius (DR 80+) combine directory listings with user reviews. These are especially valuable because they attract comparison shoppers who are close to making a purchase decision. The link plus the review content creates compounding value.
SaaS and Startup Directories
Product Hunt (DR 91), BetaList (DR 78), SaaSHub (DR 80+), and similar directories focus on software products and startups. These should be the first directories you target if you run a SaaS or startup. They provide the most relevant, highest-value links for your product.
AI Tool Directories
Futurepedia (DR 65+), There's An AI For That (DR 70+), and similar directories have grown significantly in 2025-2026. If your product uses AI in any way, these directories provide growing, targeted traffic alongside backlinks.
For a complete breakdown of backlink types, see our types of backlinks reference page.
How to Get Directory Backlinks (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Research and Vet Directories
Start with directories in your niche. For SaaS products, begin with Product Hunt, G2, Capterra, AlternativeTo, and SaaSHub. Verify each directory's DR using a free checker. Skip anything below DR 30.
Check whether the directory has real traffic. If it looks abandoned or spammy, move on.
Step 2: Prepare Your Submission Materials
Create a submission kit:
- Product name, URL, and tagline
- Short description (100-200 characters), used in listing previews
- Long description (200-500 characters), used on full profile pages
- Primary category and two backups
- Logo (250x250px minimum, PNG format)
- Screenshot or product image
- Founder name, bio, and company details
- Social media links
Having all materials ready before you start saves hours of back-and-forth.
Step 3: Submit and Track
Submit to 5-10 directories per session. Tailor your description for each batch, do not use the exact same description across all directories. Some directories flag identical descriptions as low quality.
Record every submission in a spreadsheet:
- Directory name
- Submission URL
- Date submitted
- Description used
- Approval status
- Follow-up date
Step 4: Follow Up on Pending Submissions
Check your spreadsheet weekly. If a directory has not approved your listing after 2-3 weeks, send a polite follow-up. Many directories have small teams and submissions get buried.
Directory Backlinks vs. Other Link Building Methods
| Method | Time per Link | Cost | DR Range | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directory submissions | 20-45 min | Free to €179 | 30-93 | Low |
| Guest posting | 4-8 hours | Free to $500+ | 40-90 | High |
| HARO / journalist outreach | 2-5 hours | Free | 50-95 | Medium |
| Broken link building | 1-3 hours | Free | 30-80 | Medium |
| Natural editorial links | Unpredictable | Free | Varies | Very high |
Directory backlinks are the lowest-effort entry point for link building. They should not be your only strategy, but they should be the first strategy you execute when launching a new product or site.
A balanced link profile includes directory links as a base layer, supplemented by guest posts, editorial mentions, and community-driven links over time. For solo founders managing link building alone, see our guide on how to build backlinks as a solo founder.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Submitting to low-quality directories. If a directory has no editorial review, accepts every submission instantly, or looks like it was built in 2005, skip it. These links provide no value and can hurt your profile.
Using automated tools. Tools that blast your site to thousands of directories create spammy, identical listings. Google can detect these patterns. The time you save is not worth the risk.
Identical descriptions across all directories. When Google sees the same description on 50 directory listings, it treats those links as low quality. Rewrite your description every 5-10 submissions.
Ignoring relevance. A link from a relevant SaaS directory is worth more than a link from a generic web directory. Prioritize directories where your target audience actually spends time.
Over-optimizing anchor text. Most directories use your product name as the anchor text, which is natural. Do not try to force keyword-rich anchor text into directory listings. Keep it natural.
Ready to Build Directory Backlinks Without the Hassle?
Building directory backlinks is straightforward but time-consuming. Submitting to 50 directories properly takes 15 to 30 hours of focused work. That is time most founders do not have.
That is exactly why we built Effortless Backlinks. We handle the entire process: research, vetting, tailored descriptions, category matching, submission, and tracking. Every listing is done manually by a real person.
- Starter plan, 25 directories, €79
- Growth plan, 50 directories, €119
- Premium plan, 100 directories, €179 (best value for comprehensive coverage)