For local or universal search engine optimization, adding your website to a directory improves your page ranking in Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines. However, per this article by Search Engine Land:
http://searchengineland.com/local-experts-say-relevance-citations-important-authority-216537
The value of a directory listing is even greater when the directory is specialized, not just generic. Getting your website listed in a directory creates a "citation" of your name, address, phone number and website address. And, when your website address is listed on another website, (called a back link), you have created a link back to your site. According to the chart above, Google's ranking algorithm gives an INDUSTRY SPECIFIC directory backlink (citation) more ranking power.
Per the Google ranking priority chart below, the # 1 factor is the quality and quantity of citation links back to your site from high traffic and or trusted domains. Directories are viewed as highly trusted in Google's current Algorithm.
See complete article here: https://moz.com/search-ranking-factors.
http://searchengineland.com/local-experts-say-relevance-citations-important-authority-216537
The value of a directory listing is even greater when the directory is specialized, not just generic. Getting your website listed in a directory creates a "citation" of your name, address, phone number and website address. And, when your website address is listed on another website, (called a back link), you have created a link back to your site. According to the chart above, Google's ranking algorithm gives an INDUSTRY SPECIFIC directory backlink (citation) more ranking power.
Per the Google ranking priority chart below, the # 1 factor is the quality and quantity of citation links back to your site from high traffic and or trusted domains. Directories are viewed as highly trusted in Google's current Algorithm.
See complete article here: https://moz.com/search-ranking-factors.