How to Submit Your Website to Directories for Backlinks (Step by Step)

Why submit your site to directories

Directory submission is one of the oldest SEO tactics, and it still works when done right. A listing gives you a backlink, a permanent presence on a curated site, and a stream of relevant referral traffic. The mistake most people make is submitting once and forgetting about it.

This guide walks through the full process, from picking a directory to confirming your backlink is live. We start with ShowMySites because it combines a dofollow backlink from a DR68+ domain with a five-minute setup, which is the fastest win available.

Step 1: Pick the right directories

List 10 to 15 directories where your audience already browses. A SaaS tool belongs on SaaSHub and G2. A blog belongs on writing communities. Relevance matters more than raw domain authority, so choose directories that match your niche.

Check whether each directory passes a dofollow backlink. ShowMySites does. Mark those as high priority, because they help rankings directly rather than only sending traffic.

Step 2: Create your account

Sign up with a real email and a consistent username across platforms. A consistent identity builds trust and makes it easier for visitors to recognize your project. On ShowMySites, the signup takes under a minute and unlocks your listing form immediately.

Step 3: Write a clear listing

Your title should be your product or site name. The description should state the job you do in one sentence, then add a concrete example. "Schedules social posts across platforms" beats "powerful social media solution." Keep it specific and short.

Choose the single most accurate category. Mis-categorizing hurts discoverability more than it helps, because visitors browsing that category are not your buyers.

Step 4: Submit and confirm the backlink

After submission, wait for the listing to go live, then open the page and confirm your link appears. Right-click it, choose Inspect, and check the rel attribute. If there is no rel="nofollow", the link is dofollow and passes authority.

On ShowMySites the dofollow backlink is part of every listing, so this step is quick. On other directories, note the link type in your tracking sheet.

Step 5: Track every submission

Keep a simple table: directory name, submission date, listing URL, backlink type, and traffic seen. Review it monthly. The directories that send real visitors deserve deeper attention, while dead ones get dropped from your routine.

Tracking also prevents duplicate submissions, which waste time and can look spammy if a directory flags repeat entries.

Step 6: Refresh listings as you grow

Update your description when you ship a major feature. A stale listing undersells a product that moved on. Top creators on the leaderboard refresh listings regularly and earn more clicks over time.

Step 7: Expand beyond directories

Directories are the foundation, not the whole strategy. Once you have 10 to 15 listings, add guest posts, community profiles, and review sites. Each layer strengthens the link graph you started with directories.

For a wider plan, read our 50+ free backlink opportunities guide and the dofollow backlink guide.

Mistakes that sink your efforts

• Submitting to spammy directories that trigger Google filters.
• Using the same anchor text everywhere, which looks manipulative.
• Writing vague descriptions that no one clicks.
• Ignoring nofollow versus dofollow and missing the authority boost.
• Submitting once and never maintaining the listings.

A realistic 30-day plan

Week one: submit to ShowMySites and three other dofollow directories. Week two: add five nofollow but high-traffic directories. Week three: claim comparison pages on AlternativeTo and SaaSHub. Week four: review traffic and double down on what works.

By day 30 you have a live, tracked backlink profile and a habit you can keep. Consistency beats intensity, so aim for two submissions a week going forward rather than a one-time burst.

How long until you see results

Referral traffic from a directory can arrive the same week your listing goes live. SEO impact from a dofollow backlink takes longer, usually four to eight weeks before it shows in rankings, and several months to compound as you add more links.

Do not judge a submission by week-one silence. The value of a directory backlink is cumulative: each relevant link makes the next one stronger. Founders who submit steadily for six months see a clear authority lift that one-off blasts never produce.

Directory submission versus other link tactics

Directories are the lowest-friction link you can get, which makes them the right starting point when your profile is empty. Guest posting earns stronger topical links but takes far more time per placement. Communities build links slowly but add trust and feedback you cannot buy.

Use directories to lay the foundation, then layer the slower tactics on top. A site with ten directory links finds it easier to earn guest posts, because editors see an established, indexed presence rather than a bare domain. The order matters.