Link value shifted from votes to evidence: three rules for directory backlinks in 2026

sujingshen · x · 2026-09-09

Part two of the thread distills directory backlinks into three rules: (1) bulk directory submission is not a link strategy — auto-approved, all-niche, link-farm pages are named in Google's docs, and "290 free directories" packages likely buy an ignored link list or even an unnatural-links profile; (2) only submit to directories that would still have users if search engines vanished — skip no-review, instant-approval, gambling-adjacent listings; (3) link value has moved from votes to evidence: real clicks, consistent brand info, presence in trusted listings that search and AI answers can cite — not just another dofollow.

Related event: Directory Links and Navigation Sites Reassessed: From Votes to Evidence(5 posts)→

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