What is a link submission (guide for 2025)

Are you considering link submission as a part of your digital marketing strategy?

To boost your search engine rankings and drive more traffic to your website, there are several strategies you can employ, including link submission.

But what is a link submission, and how can it help your website’s online presence?

In this article, we’ll explore the concept of link submission, its importance in digital marketing, and provide a comprehensive guide on how to effectively use it to boost your website’s online presence. 

What is a link submission?

Link submission is the process of submitting a website URL or link to various online directories, websites, and platforms with the aim of improving website visibility, traffic, and search engine rankings. 

In other words, it involves adding links to your website on other relevant and high-quality websites, directories, or forums to increase the authority and credibility of your site in the eyes of search engines.

Why is link submission important for SEO?

Search engines use complex algorithms to determine the relevance, authority, and credibility of a website. And links are one of the most important factors that search engines use to determine a website’s value

• Links are a top-ranking factor for Google

In a study conducted by Backlinko, they found that the number of domains linking to a page was one of the top ranking factors for Google. When a website has more high-quality links pointing to it, search engines consider it to be more valuable and trustworthy, and thus, improve its ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs).

• High-quality links can help you outrank your competitors

In a case study conducted by SEMrush, they found that building high-quality links helped a website outrank its competitors and achieve higher search engine rankings. 

• Link building can improve local SEO

In a study conducted by Moz, they found that link signals, including linking domain authority and the quality of inbound links, were important factors for local search engine rankings. 

It is worth noting that not all links are created equal. Search engines analyze the quality and relevance of links pointing to a website. Low-quality or irrelevant links can harm your website’s rankings instead of improving them. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on high-quality, relevant, and authoritative link submissions.

Types of link submissions

There are various types of link submissions that digital marketers can use to improve their website’s visibility and search engine rankings. Some of the most popular link submission techniques are:

• Directory submission: submitting a website URL to online directories, categorized by topic or niche.
• Article submission: submitting well-written and informative articles to article directories with a link to your website.
• Guest blogging: writing and publishing blog posts on other relevant and authoritative websites with links to your website.
• Forum posting: participating in relevant forums and discussion boards and adding links to your website.
• Blog commenting: leaving valuable and relevant comments on other blogs with links to your website.

How to submit a link

Submitting a link requires careful planning and execution to ensure the best results. Here are some essential steps to follow when submitting a link:

Step 1: Research high-quality websites that allow link submissions

The first step in submitting a link is to research relevant and high-quality directories or websites that allow link submissions. Look for directories and websites that are relevant to your niche or industry, and that have high domain authority and page authority.

Step 2: Prepare the link submission details

Once you have identified relevant and high-quality directories or websites, the next step is to prepare the link submission details. This includes your website URL, description, keywords, and anchor text. It’s important to use relevant keywords and anchor text that accurately describe your website and the content of the page you are linking to.

Step 3: Follow submission guidelines

When submitting a link, it’s important to follow the submission guidelines of the directory or website to ensure your link submission meets their requirements. This includes using the correct format for your website URL, description, and anchor text, and following any specific instructions or requirements provided by the directory or website.

Step 4: Monitor link submission results

After submitting a link, it’s important to monitor and track the results to analyze the effectiveness of your submission. This includes tracking the number of backlinks, monitoring your website’s search engine rankings, and analyzing the referral traffic generated from the link submission.

List of free link submission directories

There are numerous directories available online, both paid and free. Here are some popular free link submission directories:

1. Yelp – A platform for businesses to showcase their services and receive feedback from customers. It is particularly useful for restaurants and hospitality businesses.
2. Yellow Pages – One of the oldest and most trusted directories on the internet, Yellow Pages allows businesses to list their services and contact information in various categories.
3. Manta – A directory that offers businesses the opportunity to promote their services and receive customer reviews. It also includes a business search engine and a range of business resources.
4. Bing Places – A directory that enables businesses to list their services and contact details on Microsoft’s Bing search engine.
5. Google My Business – A directory that allows businesses to list their services and contact information on Google’s search engine and maps.
6. MapQuest – A directory that allows businesses to list their services and contact information on MapQuest’s maps and directions service.
7. FourSquare – A directory that allows businesses to list their services and contact information, as well as receive feedback from customers.
8. Superpages – A directory that enables businesses to list their services and contact information across a range of categories.
9. MerchantCircle – A directory that allows businesses to promote their services and receive customer feedback. It also provides a range of business resources and tools.
10. Whitepages – A directory that enables businesses to list their contact information and receive customer feedback.
11. Hotfrog – A directory that allows businesses to promote their services and list their contact information across a range of categories.
12. Citysearch – A directory that allows businesses to list their services and contact information, as well as receive feedback from customers. It is particularly useful for hospitality businesses.
13. ShowMeLocal – A directory that enables businesses to promote their services and list their contact information, as well as receive feedback from customers.
14. DexKnows – A directory that allows businesses to list their services and contact information, as well as receive feedback from customers.
15. Local.com – A directory that enables businesses to list their services and contact information across a range of categories.

It’s worth noting that some of these directories may have specific guidelines and requirements for submitting links. Additionally, while some of these directories offer free link submission options, they may also offer paid options with additional features and benefits.

Best link submission software

There are various software and tools available online that can help automate the link submission process, making it more efficient and effective. Some popular link submission software include:

•  GSA Search Engine Ranker – A tool that automates the process of building backlinks to your website. It generates backlinks from various sources, including directories, articles, and forums.
•  ScrapeBox – A tool that allows you to harvest and analyze URLs from various sources, including search engines, social media, and forums. It also includes features for automating the submission of links to directories and other sources.
•  Ultimate Demon – A tool that automates the process of building backlinks to your website. It generates backlinks from various sources, including directories, articles, and forums.
•  Magic Submitter – A tool that automates the process of building backlinks to your website. It generates backlinks from various sources, including directories, articles, and forums.
•  SEnuke XCR – A tool that automates the process of building backlinks to your website. It generates backlinks from various sources, including directories, articles, and forums. It also includes features for automating social media and video submissions.

Local SEO link submission: is it still necessary?

Directory submission can be particularly useful for local businesses to improve their local SEO rankings. 

Submitting a website to local directories and online maps such as Google My Business, Bing Places, and Yelp can help businesses appear on top of local search results when potential customers search for a specific product or service in their area. 

Therefore, directory submission is still an essential aspect of local SEO and can provide significant benefits to local businesses. 

Best practices for link submission

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when submitting links:

• Diversify link sources: submit links to a variety of relevant and high-quality websites to avoid being penalized by search engines for over-reliance on a single source.
• Avoid black hat techniques: avoid using unethical link-building tactics such as link farms or spamming as it can harm your website’s credibility and rankings.
• Prioritize quality over quantity: focus on getting high-quality, relevant, and authoritative links instead of a large number of low-quality links.
• Stay up-to-date with changes in search engine algorithms: keep an eye on updates to search engine algorithms and adjust your link-building strategy accordingly to avoid penalties.

Link submission is an essential aspect of digital marketing and SEO in 2025. It can help improve website visibility, traffic, and search engine rankings, but it requires careful planning and execution. 

By following the best practices mentioned in this guide and diversifying your link sources, you can achieve significant results and stay ahead of your competitors.

If you have any questions about link submission, we’d be happy to answer them during a free consultation.