Member Avatar for acrylic

Is it possible to appear as spammy, or automated with a few manual submissions every other day? Is there a point where your penalized instead of helped, from PR and search results. I just don't want to take it too far.

  • 10 Contributors
  • 9 Replies
  • 226 Views
  • 5 Years Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by movielinks

Dani AI

Generated

Short answer for : manual directory submissions by themselves rarely trigger a penalty — automation and low‑quality, manipulative linking patterns are the risk. Google’s spam rules call out automated link creation and low‑quality directory/bookmark links as examples of “link spam,” and recent link‑spam work (SpamBrain / December 2022 update) was explicitly designed to neutralize unnatural link signals at scale. (developers.google.com)

Practical approach (build quality, not volume): prefer human‑edited, niche or local directories (chamber of commerce, industry associations, reputable local listings) and make sure listings are accurate and complete (consistent NAP). Avoid site‑wide footer links, reciprocal “link to me” pages, identical exact‑match anchor text, or submitting en masse from scripts — ’s point about automation remains the single biggest red flag. If a listing is paid or an ad, mark it appropriately (rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow") so it won’t look like a link scheme. For local businesses, structured citations still help prominence when they’re accurate and from trusted sources. (developers.google.com)

How to manage it (simple workflow): keep a spreadsheet of submissions and approval dates; stagger entries so link velocity looks natural; favor 1–2 high‑value listings over dozens of low‑quality ones; include directory work as a small part of a wider outreach/PR/content strategy that earns editorial links. Use Google Search Console to watch for manual actions or unusual backlink spikes, and only use the Disavow tool in true problem cases (manual action or links you cannot get removed) after attempting removal. Treat directory submissions as a safe, minor tactic when they’re selective and monitored — not as a volume play. (developers.google.com)

Recommended Answers

All 9 Replies

Member Avatar for willbl

i think it is hard to get penalised by manually submitting to directories. it is when the process is automated and your link appears hundreds of times in the space of day that you need to worry!

Member Avatar for TopDogger

100 in a month should be okay. The search engines probably won't pick up all 100 within a month.

I suspect that within the next 6 months directory submissions will be worthless with Google. They keep eliminating the weight given to links that they feel are not created naturally, like link exchanges and site-wide advertising links.

Directories currently work well, but they are an easy target for Google to focus on.

Member Avatar for jewboy

I don't think you will get penalized, however I also don't believe, IMHO, that there are 100 quality directories out there worth submitting to.

Member Avatar for Mr.'BackUp'

I think it's true to say that especially in Google, your links will only have impact and therefore PR if the links have relevancy. Also many directories are PR 0 - so submitting to too many of them wouldn't be a good idea. I have also read that linking alogrithms work on a Bell curve, so up to a point, 'more' non-quality links may make your strategy 'less' effective.

Member Avatar for sarika_mosaic

Hi All

I don't think submitting to 100 directories in a month is spam. I do 200 submissions every month. It is OK as long as you don't keep on submitting to same directory over and over. The best way is to keep a track record of the directories you are submitting and keep checking so that you don't submit to that again. Although some directories do not mind taking duplicate submissions.

Member Avatar for fromthe5

I try for 10 a day and I feel that I'm still way under the radar.

your links will only have impact and therefore PR if the links have relevancy.

Mr. Backup can you define what you mean by "relevancy" there?

Also many directories are PR 0 - so submitting to too many of them wouldn't be a good idea.

Not true. All IBLs are worth something, and there's no such thing as too many links. Everybody started out with a PR 0. That doesn't mean that they won't go up. The directory isn't of much value to the owner if it doesn't ultimately get a good PR. It might be a good idea to get in to a directory before the PR gets high enough to allow the owner to start charging for submission.

Member Avatar for winaltdell

No, cause you do it manually, 100 submission is not spammy and you are not sure that all directory sites approve your links.

Member Avatar for Ben Norman

It would be better to do 10-20 better quality links if you can get these. If you continue, it is unlikely to hurt your website.

Member Avatar for movielinks

Is it possible to appear as spammy, or automated with a few manual submissions every other day? Is there a point where your penalized instead of helped, from PR and search results. I just don't want to take it too far.

100 submission in a month should be okay, Infact any reasonable and logical amount of submission is acceptable in google unless it doesn't seems unnatural

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.