Specialized directories do offer some benefits, such as people who actually
use them can locate you. Local directories help by acting as citations
(equivalent of external links) but in the context of local SEO.

Doing directory submission for a website is a old strategy in SEO. Since a
few site may be free of approving our site in their directory and a few are
paid directories. Also the backlinks which we get in the deep directory are
not indexed by the search engines. So there is not necessary in submitting
our site in the page which does not cached or crawled by the search engines.

Instead we can update the site with fresh content. This is what PANDA update
says. The backlinks which are of low quality will be not shown and the site
which is ranking for low quality content will not rank any more.

It is better to get our site listed in free business listing websites. Please
don't waste your time in doing 1000's of directory submission which is of no
use. Pick out the best directory like Google, yahoo, bing, Dmoz and try to
get your site listed in those. This will be much more than enough.

Thanks

I heard with googles panda update they looked down on paid directories? Does
anyone have more insight on this.

Most of the web directories are either: a) paid b) require link back or c)
are very exclusive and takes ages to get into (see DMOZ)

I totally agree with you Rankedzilla. If the directories have no value it is
a waste of time submitting to them. If you really want to submit to
directories I would pay someone to submit your listing "by hand" to the most
important ones only.

You didn't mention what type of business you have. If you are a summer camp,
for example, you can list on a specialty directory like
http://www.signupforcamp.com. Another website for kids classes is
http://www.activityhero.com. Businesses can get a free listing on these sites
and generate more traffic to their website.

Web directories are very useful in SEO works. It will help you to promote your link to different search engines. While using it be careful about Page Rank and Alexa Rank. The higher the page and alexa rank the more it will be useful to your site.

Web directories are useful indeed and will help you boost and promote your business as they included on list. There are various types of it such as free directory, reciprocal link and paid one simply the paid one would take the greater advantages and exercise more features.

It depends on the quality of the Web Directory. Here are a few based on domain authority: Yahoo Directory- 100 (paid) Better Business Bureau- 97 (paid) ontoplist.com - 86 pegasusdirectory.com - 80

only those directories with moderation ( no spam ) take into alexa rank, PR and mamy many theme parties