Definition of article directory
An article directory is an online platform that mainly hosts a collection of editorial articles. Users can submit articles they have written themselves via a web form, often in text form. Similar to Wikipedia, article directories enable websites to improve their ranking in the search results of search engines such as Google through backlinks.
Use of article directories
Article directories offer a variety of articles and contributions on different topics, which are usually organized by category. These platforms are used to provide users with relevant information on specific topics. Articles are usually submitted via a web form and often require approval by an editorial team before they are published. Article directories can be paid or free, with many based on the free submission model. Operators receive free content and in return receive one or two backlinks, while the server costs are financed by advertising.
Historical context of the article directories
In the late 1990s, when the Internet became more accessible to private users, searching for relevant information on specific topics proved challenging. Search engines were comparatively inefficient, and the emergence of article directories made it possible to provide targeted answers to user questions. Thanks to good rankings in the search results, article directories have become increasingly interesting for advertisers, especially in the area of search engine optimization (SEO).
Importance for search engine optimization
In the past, article directories were used as a simple method for building backlinks. The submission of articles enabled a reference to the original website through backlinks and thus improved its visibility. However, with Google’s Penguin update in 2012, many backlinks from article directories were devalued and some directories were removed from the index. As a result, article directories lost importance for link building and are rarely used today.
