Getting links through link directories

Now that we have covered ideas and concepts surrounding link building and learned about how to measure your link building efforts, we will now to turn to the hard work: getting links.

A standard tool in the link builder's arsenal is to secure links through link directories. A link directory is a website that is wholly devoted to categorized lists of links to other websites. The Yahoo! directory and the Open Directory Project (DMOZ) are examples of large established directories, but there are tens of thousands of smaller general and niche directories throughout the world upon which free links are available simply by applying.

It should be noted that many SEO professionals turn their noses up at link directories. Link directories have a reputation as offering only low-value links with very low standards for admission. While it's true that some link directories are a bit trashy, the links are free for most directories, you can choose the anchor text, and...