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We recently showed in a poll results post that only 26% would buy a Yahoo Directory link.
But how important do these same users feel an ODP (dmoz.org) link is? I ran a poll a couple months ago asking what is the value of a DMOZ link and I asked it by asking...
If you lost a DMOZ link, would it have a major impact on your rankings?
87% of the almost 300 responses say no, it won't have a major impact on their Google rankings. Only 13% said it would have a major impact on their Google rankings.
Do these responses surprise you?
Please read my poll disclosure policy before jumping to any scientific conclusions.
Forum discussion continued at WebmasterWorld.
Note: This story was scheduled to be posted on this day, but was written earlier.
Comments:
Michael Cropper
10/02/2012 12:45 pm
While it is certainly interesting to see people's opinions on such matters, what would be a lot more useful would be actually test the value of these links from an SEO/rankings perspective and to see how much/if any referral traffic comes through.
Nick Ker
10/02/2012 03:03 pm
Plenty of sites do well without dmoz/ODP against competitors who do have one. Didn't Google/Cutts say that dmoz isn't that important anymore at some point in the last year or two? There used to be an added benefit of scraper directories using dmoz listings to populate their own directories. Of course, these were not really good links, but prior to penguin, they probably counted for something. Now, they may even be a problem for some sites. Dmoz listing is still on my list of things to tell new clients not to worry about when they come to me with a list of things some email scam told them they absolutely must have (like edu and gov links).
Alan
10/02/2012 08:00 pm
Why would any directory link be valuable? They are a 90's phenomenon and have no relevance in 2012. If Googles algorithm does give a directory link any extra benefit, it would only prove how archaic Googles algo must really be.
Vineet
10/03/2012 05:28 am
they are still preferred and i have seen sites that are performing well after all Google updates. these sites are misusing on-page factors by stuffing keywords in alt for images. they have made the whole content with keywords stuff and on this the whole content is given h1. yet the sites are ranking well with each update. also sites are having links from adults sites and some have link to adults site link on their site too. they have done reciprocal link exchange with thousands of unrelated directories and yet they are ranking. with each update Google is giving preferences to those who buy high PR based links and have junk as content.
W at Off-Road Finance
10/17/2012 12:52 am
My sites with dmoz links showed a notable improvement in traffic when I got them. Nothing tested post-penguin/panda, but I would say it's worth it if you can get it.