What domain authority score should a directory have before I submit?

A Domain Rating (DR) or Domain Authority (DA) of 30 or above is a reasonable baseline for a directory worth submitting to. Directories with DR 50+ are high priority. Below DR 30, only submit if the directory has very strong topical relevance to your product's niche.

Does it matter whether a directory link is dofollow or nofollow?

Dofollow links pass more link equity and are generally more valuable for SEO. Nofollow links from respected directories still contribute through brand visibility and referral traffic, so they are not worthless. Prioritize dofollow where possible, but do not automatically skip quality nofollow directories.

How do I find which directories my competitors are listed on?

Use Ahrefs' Link Intersect tool or Moz's Link Explorer to see which domains link to your competitors but not to you. Filtering results to sites with 'directory' in the domain or a high number of outbound links can help isolate directory listings quickly.

How can I tell if a directory has real editorial standards?

Signs of genuine editorial review include a multi-day or multi-week approval timeline, specific submission guidelines, visible categories with curated content, and evidence that low-quality or off-topic sites are not listed. Instant approval is a red flag — if anyone can get in, the link is worth very little.

February 3, 2026·2 min read·Janu

How to Choose the Right Directories for Your SaaS

Not all directories are created equal. Here's how to evaluate which ones will actually move the needle for your SaaS product's SEO and brand visibility.

Picking the right directories is the difference between backlinks that build authority and links that do nothing. Here's how to make the call.

Start with Domain Authority

Use a tool like Ahrefs or Moz to check the Domain Rating (DR) or Domain Authority (DA) of any directory before submitting. As a rough guide:

DR 50 and above indicates strong authority and should be high priority.
DR 30 to 50 is a solid choice and generally worth the time to pursue.
Below DR 30 is only worth it if there is strong topical relevance to your niche.

Don't obsess over the number, but use it as a filter to cut through the noise.

Check for Dofollow vs. Nofollow Links

Some directories use nofollow links, which pass less link equity. That doesn't make them worthless. Referral traffic and brand mentions still matter, and for pure link equity, dofollow links are generally more valuable for SEO.

You can check link attributes with browser extensions like Ahrefs SEO Toolbar or by inspecting the page source.

Look at the Competition

Search for your top competitors in Google and see which directories they're listed on. Tools like Ahrefs' Link Intersect or Moz's Link Explorer make this easy. If three of your closest competitors are all listed on a particular directory, that's a strong signal it's worth pursuing.

Topical Relevance Is Underrated

A software review site like Capterra or G2 is more valuable for a SaaS product than a generic local business directory. Google weights relevance heavily when evaluating the quality of a link.

Look for directories that:

Specifically serve your industry or category
Have active user reviews or editorial content
Show up on the first page of Google for searches your customers make

Evaluate Editorial Standards

The best directories have real humans reviewing submissions. You can usually tell by:

Longer review timelines (days or weeks, not instant approval)
Clear submission guidelines
Evidence of rejected or curated listings

Instant-approval directories are a red flag. If anyone can get in, the link is worth very little.

Don't Ignore Traffic Potential

Some directories rank well for high-intent keywords. Being listed on a directory that ranks #1 for "best project management software" can drive real, converting traffic on top of any SEO benefit.

Check directories in SimilarWeb or Ahrefs to see estimated monthly visits before deciding where to invest your time.

Putting It All Together

The best approach combines a handful of high-authority general directories (like Crunchbase, Product Hunt, or BetaList) with a set of niche directories specific to your space. This gives you both the broad authority signals and the topical relevance that Google rewards.

If you'd rather skip the research entirely, we've already done the vetting. Effortless Backlinks submits your product to the directories that actually matter, so you don't have to.