How to Build Advanced Tiered Links for 2026
Free backlinks still work in 2026, but just from websites with real traffic and editorial requirements., Locafy's organization directory site research, and the named platforms Ahrefs and Backlinko point to in their own link building guides.
Moz's DA and Ahrefs' DR are various scoring systems, and third-party quotes drift over time, so re-check anything you're about to invest real time on. A few rules before you start sending: Most of the websites below are nofollow (Google Company Profile, Yelp, Reddit, Pinterest, and almost every social platform are nofollow by default).
Below that, a listing hardly ever gets crawled frequently enough to matter, and it's more likely to sit beside spam. Directory sites cross-reference NAP (name, address, phone) information. Inconsistent details throughout listings actively injure local SEO instead of helping it. The websites because section below reject submissions that read like an ad.
Most are nofollow, however they're still worth declaring because they establish NAP consistency, which Google and Bing both use as a regional ranking signal, and due to the fact that a declared Google Business Profile or Bing Places listing reveals up directly in map and regional search results despite link value. SiteURLReported DAFollowNotesGoogle Business for local/map visibility, not optionalBing Placesbingplaces.com93NofollowBing's equivalent, faster approval than GoogleApple Organization Apple Maps and Siri business resultsFacebook Business Pagefacebook.com96NofollowAlso works as an evaluation and messaging channelLinkedIn Business Pagelinkedin.com98-99NofollowB2B-relevant, functions as a trustworthiness signalYelpyelp.com93Nofollow (partial complimentary)Free standard profile, paid tiers add featuresBetter Business Bureau (BBB)bbb.org91NofollowFree accredited-status application, regional prices uses for accreditation itselfFoursquarefoursquare.com92NofollowStill indexed by other map apps that license its dataYellowPages.comyellowpages.com88Nofollow (partial totally free)Legacy directory, still gets genuine search trafficSuperpagessuperpages.com82NofollowFree basic listingMapQuestmapquest.com88NofollowFree business listing tied to map dataMantamanta.com72NofollowFree tier, SMB-focusedAngi (formerly Angie's List)angi.com91VariesBest for home services, some categories need paid membershipNextdoor Businessnextdoor.com91Nofollow (partial free)Hyperlocal, strong for neighborhood-facing businessesCitysearchcitysearch.com72NofollowFree listingHotfroghotfrog.com60NofollowFree, instant approvalChamber of Commerce (regional chapter)chamberofcommerce.com66VariesMembership charge normally uses, however the directory listing itself is often includedLocal.comlocal.com62NofollowFree basic listingShowMeLocalshowmelocal.com52NofollowFree, instant listingEZLocalezlocal.com52NofollowFree fundamental tierUSCity.netuscity.net46NofollowCity-organized directoryBrownbook.netbrownbook.net64DofollowOne of the couple of free directory sites that stays dofollowCylexcylex.com62NofollowFree listing across many regionsiBeginibegin.com45NofollowFree, Canada/US focusedTupalotupalo.com54NofollowFree, includes review functionalitySpoke.comspoke.com58NofollowFree fundamental company profileData Axle (InfoUSA)dataaxle.com76N/ AFeeds information to lots of downstream directory sites and GPS systems Source for the directory-tier information: Locafy's organization directory list.
LPM versus link qualityMastering Advanced SEO Links for 2026
These matter more for a SaaS or app than a general company directory does, because the traffic is buyers actively comparing tools. SiteURLReported DR/DACategoryNotesProduct Huntproducthunt.com90+Introduce directoryFree launch, ranking is time-boxed to launch dayCrunchbasecrunchbase.com92Company profileFree standard business profile, greatly indexedAngelList (Wellfound)wellfound.com80+Startup/talent directoryFree listing, doubles as an employing channelCapterracapterra.com85+Software application evaluation directoryFree basic profile, part of Gartner Digital MarketsGetAppgetapp.com80+Software application directorySister site to Capterra, same parent (Gartner)Software Advicesoftwareadvice.com80+Software directoryAlso Gartner-owned, totally free fundamental listingG2g2.com90+Software evaluation directoryFree profile, evaluates bring the most SEO and trust weightAlternativeToalternativeto.net80+Contrast directoryHigh purchaser intent, users are actively browsing for a swapSaaSHubsaashub.com60+SaaS directoryFree listing, smaller sized but pertinent trafficStackSharestackshare.io70+Tech stack directoryFree, developer-facing audienceIndie Hackersindiehackers.com80+Start-up communityFree profile plus a real discussion communityStartupStashstartupstash.com60+Curated startup directoryFree listing optionFuturepediafuturepedia.io60+AI tool directoryRelevant specifically for AI-powered products Source for this area: cross-referenced from several 2026 SaaS-directory roundups (MarketingLad, GetIntel, LaunchDirectories) that separately noted the very same core set of platforms.
The link usually lives in your author bio or profile, not the article body, so the SEO worth is smaller sized per link, but the platforms themselves have enormous domain authority and frequently outrank a new site for its own name in search results page. SiteURLReported DAFollowWhat you publishMediummedium.com95NofollowFull posts, profile bio linkWordPress.comwordpress.com95NofollowFree hosted blogBloggerblogger.com94NofollowFree hosted blog site, Google-ownedGitHub website hosting, genuinely dofollowSlideShareslideshare.net95NofollowPresentation/ deck submits with a linked profileNotion (public page)notion.so94NofollowPublic docs/pages, indexable if shared publiclyGravatargravatar.com94NofollowProfile tied to your e-mail, reveals up any place Gravatar is usedSoundCloudsoundcloud.com94NofollowAudio uploads with profile link Source: BacklinkForMe's totally free backlink sites page.
They're on this list anyhow since they still drive referral clicks, help brand-new material get indexed faster, and (for Pinterest and Reddit specifically) can send meaningful direct traffic when a post actually resonates in an appropriate subreddit or board. SiteURLReported DAFollowPinterestpinterest.com94-97NofollowRedditreddit. com91-94NofollowX (Twitter)x.com99NofollowInstagraminstagram.com98NofollowDiigodiigo.com78NofollowMix (previously StumbleUpon)mix.com73NofollowScoop.itscoop.it72NofollowInstapaperinstapaper.com74NofollowBizSugarbizsugar.com65NofollowFolkdfolkd.com62NofollowFlipboardflipboard.com90+NofollowRaindrop.ioraindrop.io60+Nofollow Note: Pocket was shut down by Mozilla in July 2025 and Delicious has been chosen years.
