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If I were starting a brand new site from scratch, the very first thing I'd do is list my site in directories.
Not just any directories, they have to be the right ones.
Directories do two things.
First, people still want to use them to find businesses they want to engage with.
So you can get qualified referral traffic for free.
And second, they signal to Google and AI assistants that your brand exists and is legitimate.
In fact, Yelp alone is mentioned in tens of thousands of Google AI overviews.
Start with the obvious ones.
Google Business Profile, Yelp, Apple Maps.
These are just the foundation.
The directories that really matter though are the ones that dominate your niche.
Like TripAdvisor for travel, Houzz for home design, and Avvo for law.
But these alone won't be enough because there are other directories that many people sleep on
that can drive both referral traffic and increase Google visibility.
And the best way to find them is to reverse engineer the common directories
AI-generated overview
Digital marketing expert from Ahrefs recommends directory listings as the primary strategy for new website traffic generation. The approach serves dual purposes: generating qualified referral traffic and establishing brand legitimacy signals for Google and AI assistants. The strategy involves three tiers: foundational directories (Google Business Profile, Yelp, Apple Maps), niche-specific directories (TripAdvisor for travel, Houzz for home design, Avvo for legal services), and competitor-identified directories discovered through backlink analysis. Yelp alone appears in tens of thousands of Google AI overviews, demonstrating directories' influence on AI-powered search results. The expert recommends using competitive analysis tools like Ahrefs' Site Explorer and Link Intersect feature to identify overlooked directories where competitors maintain listings, creating opportunities for visibility in platforms that drive both referral traffic and search engine recognition.
Yelp is mentioned in tens of thousands of Google AI overviews, demonstrating that directory listings directly influence how AI assistants surface business information.
Directory listings serve dual purposes for new websites: generating qualified referral traffic from users actively seeking services and signaling brand legitimacy to search engines and AI systems.
Niche-specific directories like TripAdvisor for travel, Houzz for home design, and Avvo for legal services provide more targeted value than general directories alone.
Competitor backlink analysis reveals overlooked directories that drive traffic, with the Link Intersect tool in Ahrefs identifying where multiple competitors have listings but the target site does not.
#ahrefs #seo