In January 2010 I wrote a list of the best free online New Zealand directories. It’s time to update this list.
Some of the business directories I originally listed have disappeared, been abandoned, started charging, or became too complicated to work with.
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]
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?
Helpful?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s always nice having someone vet the best places to start building… good work!
You are quite welcome Daniel
Thanks for sharing Sheldon good to know. Some of these do not seem well used in New Zealand. Can it effect your ranking badly if you submit to too many directories?
Not at all. The more the better. The only downside is how much time they take to fill in.