This list was updated in Oct 2011
Today I was asked for my secret list of the best free online New Zealand directories.
Since I just started giving away my Search Engine Optimisation ebook for free, I might as well share my list of NZ directories too.
The funny thing about free online directories is that they might be free to get a link on them back to your website, but it can cost you the most precious resource of all – TIME.
Some registration processes can take up to 30 minutes to work through.
Is the pay-back (in terms of a high quality back-link) justify the cost of your labour?
Sometimes it doesn’t.
But you’re in luck, my list is here to help.
Why is it important to add your website to these directories?
Because every link back to your website is an indication to Google that your website is important.
This search engine optimisation technique is often called “link-building” or “back-linking”.
The best place to start your link building is by using human edited directories because Google favours them.
List of The Best FREE Online NZ Directories (In Priority Order):
- Dmoz.org (New Zealand)
- Worldwide directory actually, but has 2-thumbs-up from Google, so put a link to your website here first (and it can take ages before it is approved so you might as well start the process now)
- Finda.co.nz
- In my opinion the very best online directory in New Zealand. An official Google partner. Automatic submission to Google Maps, UBD.co.nz & Wises.co.nz. Easy to use. Good looking profile pages
- NZS.com (“New Zealand Search”)
- Really good quality. Great looking graphics. Good profile pages.
- HotFrog.co.nz
- Impressive presence in Google.co.nz for a variety of searches.
- Zenbu.co.nz
- Very cool map-based business directory.
- Google Local Business Centre
- After your free Finda listing has placed a marker on Google Maps for you, “claim” your business using Google LBC and add more details about your business
- Yalwa.co.nz
- Global directory, with dedicated subdomains to New Zealand cities. Free text in the description field, you can add hyperlinks (this is rare)
- NZWebZ.co.nz
- Ok
- ZipLeaf.co.nz
- “In growing stages, clean/sharp graphics, up to date functions. Promising” – [Thanks to James for his review]
Quality Non-NZ Directories That ARE Worth Your Time:
Criteria For The Best NZ Directories:
To get on the official list above, the directory must meet most of these criteria:
- Does Google like it?
- Does the directory often appear in Google.co.nz Search Engine Results for a variety of NZ searches?
- How good are the directories own Search Engine Rankings?
- What SEO techniques does the directory use?
- Is the process of adding my website to the directory easy, intuitive and quick?
- Will it provide a clean hyperlink to my website?
- “No-follow” hyperlinks are of little use to us
- Redirection “tracker” hyperlinks are not as good
- Is the website approval time short?
- Are the other websites in the directory high quality? (Eg, have the webmasters let spammy websites through?)
- Can I specify my own anchor text for my hyperlink?
Other NZ Directories That ARE NOT Worth Your Time
- NZSearch.co.nz & SearchNZ.co.nz
- 5 years ago these directories were great because there was little else to choose from, but the web developers abandoned it long ago and it has slowly rotted away. Badly in need of an overhaul.
- PiperPat.co.nz
- Crude, old, but effective (Page Rank 6!). But I have had no response to my requests for additions for over 6 months.
- NZDirectory.co.nz
- Demands a reciprocal link
- “Clean/sharp graphics, up to date functions, PR 5 with a lots of categories with PR 4/3, Alexa rank isn’t too bad either” – [Thanks to James for his review]
- 2cu.co.nz
- Error at very end of process which deleted all my work
- DirectoryNZ.net
- Hideous
NZ Directories That Have Died
- NZPages.co.nz
- At the very end of the submission process you get a “Internal Server Error”
- MadeFromNewZealand.com
- Been “undergoing maintenance” for quite some time now
- SearchZone.co.nz
- Eternally “coming soon”
- WebLinks.NewZealand.co.nz
- Not accepting new links anymore
- AccessNZ.co.nz
- Not accepting new links anymore
- BizNZ.com
- Not free anymore
- LocalBuzz.co.nz
- Very slow to load. Often dies
Other NZ Directories I Haven’t Reviewed Yet
If you have used any of them, please write a short review of your own, in the comments below.
- Gopher.co.nz (Worth a closer look)
- SosNow.co.nz (For tradespeople)
- NZsbDirectory.co.nz (NZ Small Business Directory and Travel Guide)
- WebsiteDirectory.co.nz (looks ok, but asks for reciprocal link)
- NewZealandWebsites.com
- IndexNZ.com (Ghastly!)
- LinkNow.co.nz (Hideous)
- BizDirectoryNZ.com
- GoNZoz.com
- Go4NewZealandBusiness.com
- FindMe.net.nz
- FindItOnline.co.nz
- mKiwi.com
- Finden.co.nz
- ZoomIn.co.nz (map based directory)
List of NZ Directories You Have To Pay For:
For the sake of completeness I thought I better start a list of “paid-inclusion” directories too, so here it is.
{ 54 comments }
Thanks for the links Sheldon. Will check them out
Hi Sheldon. Good list. Thank you. Now I can cross check my extensive list to see if either of us has missed any. I’ll let you know if there are any to add.
@Jenny Wilmshurst
Yes please Jenny, that would be great, thank you!
Very nice list and good information, but I must ask what is wrong and makes these sites as you put it “poo” – http://www.zipleaf.co.nz and http://www.nzdirectory.co.nz , both sites are in the growing stages, have clean/sharp graphics, up to date functions, with nz directory being a PR 5 directory with a lot of it’s categories having PR 4/3 and their Alexa rank isn’t too bad either, seems promising to me?
You are right James, thank you for your input and bringing these issues to my attention. I have made the following changes:
Heading changed to remove “poo” (I spelt it wrong anyway).
Moved http://www.ZipLeaf.co.nz and http://www.NZDirectory.co.nz into the “best NZ directories” list, quoting you for evidence of their inclusion
You have helped make my blog article better James, and for that I thank you.
Hmm… interesting, reason why my comment was not approved please? You are aware I had made a valid point regarding this post and the mentioned websites. Last time I checked this was the whole concept of running a blog, although a so called ‘search engine expert’ who uses the term “poo” to describe a websites design and structure, as well as using that as a reason not to check back on a sites progress, does explain a lot. At least me and a few work partners here at Fairfax had a good laugh about it, keep trying is my advice.
Hi James, your first comment went into quarantine because it contained 2 hyperlinks. It is now visible. And even though your second comment is mildly insulting I will leave that visible too because I embrace alternative points of view.
Not a problem Sheldon, your welcome. Glad you had taken the points in to consideration and the time to view those websites, the list is looking good in my opinion. There is one other NZ search engine/directory which came to mind and that is http://www.mkiwi.com , although I haven’t seen much happening with this site over the passed couple of years, it also seems to have a lot of Google ads and functions implemented in to it, might be worth adding to the “Other NZ Directories” list, I’ll let you decide.
Excellent, thanks James.
Hi Sheldon,
thank you for the great list. I will definitely use some of them in the future.
I was wondering if you are interested in reviewing the Yalwa Business Directory for New Zealand? The URL is http://www.yalwa.co.nz/
Listings are SEO friendly and support links and html formatting. No backlinks required and it is also absolutely free to use.
Many thanks!
@Sarah
That’s a nice directory Sarah, I’ll add it to the list today, thanks!
great, thanks a lot Sheldon!
Very sad to see that my favourite directory Finda.co.nz has started putting huge, hideous ads smack in the middle of free listings
Very disappointed.
Yes, that is very disappointing !
Nice list, thanks, checking all of them right now.
Hey guys
Just used Gopher, easy and qiuck to use..
Will def use again.
@Fran
Ok, thanks Fran!
Another way to build quality back links to your website is through writing comments on other peoples blogs. Here is an excellent list of Kiwi blogs to get you started: http://www.kiwiology.co.nz
Thankyou for the great list
I found some more sites that seem ok..
http://www.limelight.co.nz
http://www.finden.co.nz/
& quite like this one: http://2cu.co.nz/
@Carolyn
Excellent, thank you Carolyn, I’ll check those out!
Great bunch of NZ search engine directories, I have done a bit of research and found a few other directories as well and once have spent time sifting through which are the better ones for SEO I can post up here too.
Thank you Mr Kirk, that would be great!
[http://2cu.co.nz is] Great – fast and intuitive.
@Bruce Thanks Bruce, I’ve taken a closer look today and I agree with you. I’ve moved them up the list.
Hi Sheldon,
I am currently adding my url to directories and have found you entries valuable, I signed up for your free ebook too! thanks
Awesome, thanks for the feedback Richard!
Sheldon . . . This is bloody AWESOME.
I am very new to this and have just built my first web site which I may add has been a fairly easy project using the Xara software. What you have done here has saved me many hours searching and researching. Much appreciated and again well done thank you.
Thanks Darryl! Now if you could return the favour and create a list for Australia that would be very helpful to me right now…
Thanks for the latest updates from you all. It is useful for us all to share what we learn.
Just a few notes to add in case they are useful for you:
* limelight[dot]co[dot]nz is a broken link
* kiwivoice.co.nz PageRank 3/10; a specific company’s listing on kiwivoice rank higher in Google’s SERPS than finda.co.nz and nzs.com (based on a listing made about 4 years ago); is a directory with a forum component. Looks underused but has potential for engagement.
Thanks Jenny!
Thanks for sharing good list its really helpful for me.
Hi Sheldon,
Excellent list. Saved me a lot of time sorting thru the poo lol.
I was wondering if you are interested in reviewing my dunedin directory called dunedin direct. It has a PR5 rating and is totally free and quick and easy to submit to.
Thanks John, I will take a look
Awesome!list very informative for me. Thanks for sharing good list …so keep it up
Just found this: List of Australian online directories
Hi
Tremendous! list very useful. Thanks for distribution good quality list
Glad to hear it Natasha!
Thank you so much. I just started this site, and am trying to learn how to optimize it myself. I have followed your free advice, and I have just googled at the bottom of page 2 for shops nz and on the top of page 4 for nz shops. I realize that will change, but I am oh so happy.
The site is only two weeks old.
Many thanks, Terry
Great to have your feedback Terry, thank you
Thanks Sheldon, really helpful list. Appreciated.
Good to hear
Thanks Sylvia
Newzealand Classified Flyers is a good place to look for the relevant advertisements that give information about various business deals in newzealand. The services provided by newzealand Classified Flyers helps in creating many new business opportunities.
Great stuff! Thanks Sheldon
Good to hear Brendon.
Cheers,
Sheldon.
Updates as of today:
MadeFromNewZealand.com down for upgrade
NZPages.co.nz got an error page on submitting ARRGGHH!
NZDirectory.co.nz is still free but requires a reciprocal link
Be sure to check the updated list of NZ online business directories (Oct 2011)
Have used Gopher, had a small hiccup (my fault), but they called me within 15-20 mins of my email and were incredibly friendly and helpful to me
thanks! kindly get back to me if you provide seo linking services to NZ directories and what will be your cost?
This is a specialized directory site, but a directory site after all. In 4 months since launch it has over 80 business listed and growing daily.
To list you have to produce or sell natural products and/or sell natural and/or organic products in New Zealand.
To list is free . We will even do the listing for you
ok, thanks Liz
Most of the directory links seem to work fine and are free but you get what you pay for I guess..
I found another site but more niche to my market (salon) but they got daily deals too, looks like it could be good if your business is in the spa, beauty, health area… pamperingpages.co.nz
ok, thanks Rob
Comments are turned off for this article because it’s out of date.
Go to the updated list: Updated list of Free NZ business directories [Oct 2011]