As promised, SEOmoz has new rates for premium membership today:
- Monthly Subscription - now $49/month
- 6 Month Membership - now $249 (15% off monthly rate)
- 1 Year Membership - now $399 (32% off monthly rate)
We've also got some very exciting new features for premium members. The first of these is the brainchild of Matt, who noted that a tiny bit of data about the SERPs could make for some great link discovery. The new tool - Juicy Link Finder - displays a list of URLs ranking in the top 50, 100, or 200 results, along with their age and the PageRank of the domain. It then links to a Google search for likely places to grab links on those domains - a brilliant addition.
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The next spiffy offering isn't a tool, but it's also an invaluable resource for link builders. One of the big problems I noticed in the sphere of SEO was this proliferation of two ideas, which are, in my opinion, dead wrong:
- Directory Link Building is Dead
- General Subject Directories Built for SEOs and PageRank are Valuable
I know these seem like conflicting opinions, but let me explain. Directory link building is not dead. There are thousands of resource lists on the web in industries of all shapes and sizes that link out to excellent websites from excellent domains. However, these sites are tough to find, tough to get into, and often extremely selective about who they accept, which makes them less attractive to those seeking link quantity over quality.
Likewise, those built-for-SEO-style directories that so many folks in the search world operate are typically pretty useless. If you run a few searches on domains like that, even the ones that have a PageRank of 4-7, you'll often find that the directory pages themselves rank at the tail end of the results, even for the exact words in their title tags - a very good sign that Google isn't giving them a lot of respect (and why should they?).
However, there's a desperate need for a true list of valuable directories and link building sources, and we've created one. Currently, we've got about 78 different sites listed, from Emily Chang's eHub (a great link for those in the Web 2.0 world) to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Libraries Recommended Websites. For each of these, we've listed our guess at the value of the links (from weak to exceptional), PageRank, & Inlinks to the domain and a direct link (where applicable) to the submission page. Much like our premium tips section, we plan to add new link sources every week to make the value even higher over time. You can check it out here - The SEOmoz Link Directory.
I believe that with these two additions, the value of link building related resources on SEOmoz has risen dramatically.
But, Rand, you promised to provide free tools and guides in concert with any premium material!
Yes, I know... And we're hard at work on it. We should have another very cool tool coming out next week that will be free to everyone, and we'll be working on a new free guide as well. It's a tough balancing act, but we certainly want to do our best to remain committed to providing high value free resources as well as premium services. After all, we want to earn the "moz" in SEOmoz :)
p.s. Matt hasn't quite updated the pricing yet, so you can still slip in at the old pricing for a few more hours.
Rand - The best news is in the comments. I see a lot more commenters with the premium badge. That means you are providing so much value that it is harder to resist. I had to bend too :-)
Congratulations!
Would be nice to create a directory of DMOZ editors as well :-)
The directory is pretty interesting especially as it hopefully will grow over time. It would be really helpful if ultimately you came up with categories that each directory is relevant for (e.g. music, autos, etc.). Nice additions!
inca - that is a good idea, particularly as it grows. I think we may try to incorporate that soon :)
https://www.seomoz.org/link-finder/index/5a2a7aabf5b708e41c1da9eb4e223c6b2bdc85f4
Rand isnt the juicy tool puuling 95% exact results from google.com?
Inca, I agree. I think it would be a great time saver to break out the directories into their appropriate categories, since some are specialized and thus won't be relevant to the site for which you're building links.
does it make me a loser that I couldn't wait for the announcement today about the new stuff?
I love the new tool - thanks guys. Premium membership is well worth it, even with the price hike.
Very nice. Kudos guys
I'm gonna see how long I can afford not to be a premium member. And lets just say I'll be signing up shortly just to see that juice box logo in full size. I love it!
Make sure you do it on time before this discount offer closes ;)
Oooh...Rand now you've got me teetering on the edge of buying a premium membership.
Just from the screenshot of the Link Directory it looks like your list goes far beyond anything currently out there (see strongest links) to look deeper into sites (e.g. Inc.com Recommended Start-Up Resources). Our company is a big fan of directories but always lokks at them first as a tool to drive traffic and secondly as a link.
Wow, nice tool. I am very seriously considering becoming a premium member. Oh how juicy it would be!
Link Directory:
Can the Directories be categorized into PAID & FREE Directories so it is easy for one to know which to submit. Also listing price on Paid directories may help know in which budget range they fall into.
Juicy Link Finder:
How about the tool pulling out the sites URL linking to the top ranking sites for that particular keyword, to which we can submit our site.
The Search and Go Directory is worth checking out. The PR runs deep into the inner pages and each main catergory has a lead-in with content about each subject. Further to this the url's are friendly and the site that the directory is housed in, takes a fair bit of traffic. The basis is quality over quantity. The philosophy is to create a directory that is sueful for visitors looking for quality products. The portal it is hosued in is still in beta and goes live in a few weeks. Following this a full blogging system will be attached for businesses.
Now rather than turn this post in a promotion for the Search and Go Directory (In some ways it is) it also highlilghts how a directory that is built with scalbale architecture can grow. This si no ordinary link directory msot of it's content is supported by articles and content.
Would this be considered for your directory list?
Thanks for all the new tools and benefits.
Rand, like I've mentioned before, bring on a Plantinum Membership. There are those of us that would pay $399/ month if it came with enough benefits (matermind group with you, monthly phone calls, etc).
You have a great product here, and have the ability to make a lot more from it.
Keep it up everyone!
great new juicy tools. Great job. I still think your membership rates are way too high and somehow that does not reflect well on the image that you have projected. Quite contrary in fact. Agreed, you are looking to provide premium content to your members but what about community building, free knowledge sharing, etc. that makes this Web 2.0 such a fun place to be in. The SEOmoz brand we see is community based but the rates you charge are highly commercial. That small community feel goes away. Pls. revisit your rates when you get a chance. If not, keep up the good work. Thanks,
I too felt membership fees was high previously but when you get newtools regularly then i think its really worth to stay updated with some fees.
Bob - We're going to do our best to continue to provide a ton of value completely for FREE on SEOmoz. The paid services, however, will almost certainly continue to get pricier as we dedicate resources towards them that require a true business model.
But don't worry, you can count on us to spit out great free stuff as well for many years to come.
Rand -- do you feel it would be helpfup by having a built in search mechanism within the Q and A page? The knowledge base is up to 139 entries and you can sort by category, date, or rating, but asking a duplicate or similar question will become more likely as this expands.
I guess you can expand the page to show 200 entries and do an 'on page' search, but at some point that will become a little more difficult.
(i'm about throw a question at your guys but want make sure it hasn't been covered)
Just an idea....
Bob -- I would have to say as an 'up-and-comer' in the world of SEO and SEM, the cost to maintain a premium membership is worth its 'weight in gold' and very valuable to someone like myself, who is in need of constant information to speed up the learning curve.
Being able to utilize the Q and A tool, and have Rand, Matt, Jeff, or Scott personally respond to situations and questions, when you are in need of quality, unbiased information is priceless. The tools and other premium features are additional 'icing on the cake', which add tremendous value to the $399 yearly. (that's one good night out on the town!)
I'll take the 1 year membership!
Years ago and for several years I submitted to hundreds, probably thousands of directories. It did work. I would add varied anchor text for long tail but relevant anchor text that was also relatively or absolutely non-competitive.
Invariably the site(s) in question would see serps improve for the anchor text in question in google. It did work. It was every tom, dick and harry directory under the sun. There was no effort at checking directory structure and value.
Then it stopped working in Google. It was around the time that commentary on the web suggested that directories were devalued. I don't recall the precise dates or around which google update.
Subsequent to that I heard from webmasters that directory submission of that ilk still had a positive effect in msn or yahoo. I don't know and didn't bother checking. The terms were long tail and not very active...and when you factored in the lower percentages of traffic those two engines generated it didn't seem worth the effort.
Rand, did you check each directory in the list in the same manner as you described subsequently vis a vis aviva?
BTW, from a different perspective, not to long ago I did some advanced link searching and uncovered a directory with higher relevance to my main business and site due to relevance, location, etc. (a regional directory).
I submitted and lo and behold it is a steady but small regular contributor to traffic. In fact more regular than the aggregate value of many of the hundreds or thousands that I submitted to....including some at the top of your list like DMZ.
Regardless of link juice or not...I'll always take the traffic from sources with relevance.
Dave
Three cheers for Matt!
Nice work on the new tools.
I'm extremely glad that I got my SEOmoz subscription (and that the exchange rate to £ is good :P)
Wow - Rand you read my mind - was just going to ask about Directories - I'm pretty impressed didn't realise ESP was part of the deal :)
Just got the premium membership today, talked my boss into getting it. I told him we would recover the investment really soon as we were going to find the best information. Already started reading the guides and checking some of the tools, so far so good... Thanks Matt for not updating the prices, got the good deal, he,he,he...
Just checked out the Juicy Link tool and was impressed. Thanks for more tools to help make our jobs easier!
I need to stock up on juice boxes for when I use the Juicy Link Finder...the logo makes me really thirsty.
The last link in your post - to the Link Directory - goes to the Juicy Link Finder instead. Just a heads-up.
Thanks for the great new tools!
"An SEO Tool For Easily Finding Links with Authority"
Is the real value with this type of tool to find, not only sites that have authority in your niche, but more importantly to find those sites that have helped build that authority, by linking to these 'gorilla' sites, and therefore providing an opportunity for link building?
Wow - that was wordy!
Agreed. Maybe we can rewrite it.
Can't wait to checkout the new tool. I like the icons you all come up with.
Those sweet icons are all Matt, all the time.
It's still the 18th - any chance of giving us hard working devotees who are out of the office the grandfathered price?
Cheers for the Juicy Link Finder! It is very valuable for me...
Juicy Link Finder is maybe the best tool on the internet to search links, for spanish market work perfect!!!
Thanks!
Rand i have some queries regarding the directory list, many directories are deep niche like "Cad" etc and i dont think they would help as we would expect general directories.
Also how can a Dmoz listing really help these days?
On what basis was this list made when some of the directories are low in PR/PS
There are many web directories which rank far more better than dmoz for many keywords.
Amit - the valuable directories are going to be very niche - general directories, with a few exceptions, are really not providing the same quality of ranking boost, so we're excluding most of those from lists like these.
Low PS/PR does NOT mean low value - I think that's a fairly obvious observation to anyone trolling through the SERPs and seeing very highly ranked sites with low PageRank. We're not using it as a primary indicator of value in any sense.
As for DMOZ - it's still a trusted directory link and due to its many copies on sites big and small, general and niche, it's probably one of only a handful of valuable general directories on the web.
I've used it a few times now..it is WAY better and WAY more valuable than I previously thought.
This is one hell of tool. By far the best one yet. Particularly when you use the technique mentioned in the Premium Member Tip sections.
This more than covers the cost of the annual membership.
Thanks for sharing the Juicy Link Finder program. I'm testing it out now.
edit: whoops, guess I should have read more closely about membership. Very tempting to join and try this program out.
What a pleasant surprise. Thanks!
Virtual Brainstorming is always cool and so I would describe your tools. Nice and thx!
These are some of the most kick ass tools I have ever seen. I am so glad I paid for my membership. If you keep this up you can count on many renewals from me. Just great!
We just became premium members this week (just squeaked in before the price change), and I'm delighted! I'm really looking forward to reviewing all those tips and starting to use the tools.
w00t w00t Premium Membership perks!!
Price increase leads to more quality resources ;)
Joined a day back with 1 year membership ;) and saved a lot already :)
How can i get my directory Gii Business Directory PS7 included in the list?
Amit - our process for finding valuable directories is to discover them from how they appear to be helping sites to rank and how well their individual pages fare at the engines. I'll try to investigate the quality of your directory on the .in version of Google, as I suspect that's where it would have the most relevance.
Thanks for the reply, You can directly check my directory in .com of google because it ranks healvily in com and #1 for any keyword in .in
All the listing pages do rank very quickly which is what you were expecting.