I ran into a link building article last week that has some information that was dated. So, lets run down all the deprecated link building strategies I can think of:

1. Reciprocal Link Exchanges – Traditional link swapping is now considered low-quality and if not entirely careful who you swap with – it can even lead to a dark road of penalties. Most modern link-building strategies focuses on earned backlinks, brand mentions, and editorially placed links.
2. Guest Books – LOL! These were abandoned long ago, as they quickly became spam magnets and lost credibility with both users and search engines. Why anyone would recommend this is beyond me.
3. Usenet – Obsolete. Usenet groups have been 100% replaced by forums, social media, and niche communities.
4. Awards Pages – No longer relevant, as they have been widely used-and-abused. Authority today is built through brand recognition, PR, expert contributions, on higher-than-mine PR pages.
5. Ecards – Yikes! Stay far way. The concept of branded electronic greeting cards faded with the rise of social media and messaging apps. Most of these pages are fully penalized by Google. Be sure to disavow any links from these sites.
6. Traditional Classified Ads in Newspapers – These have lost nearly all relevance, with digital alternatives like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, and niche advertising taking over. Additionally, Google is actively penalizing major sites for engaging in such behavior.
7. Mailing List Contributions – Email lists are still valuable for marketing, but getting links indexed from email list archives is no longer a a prime tactic. Google has tended to discount email lists in the algo for some time now. That said, many webmasters still engage in these platforms and contributions can lead to indirect linkage by other participants.

Those are the no-no’s,  so lets look at the ones that  are borderline but still working with a little help:

Still Applicable but Need Updated Tactics:

1. Directories – Large directories like Yahoo! Directory and DMOZ (Open Directory Project) are gone, but niche and high-quality directories (see below) and  local business directories can still be useful.

2.  Press Releases – These tend not to lead to any direct link accreditation, but they do help your brand get noticed by people who *do* link back to your story. Over the years, we have found press releases to be highly valuable in indirect link building.

3. Launching an Affiliate Program – Still valid, but success requires more than just launching a program. Affiliate expectations are for high commissions, transparency, and marketing support. Also, it sure seems like Google has had a ongoing nastiness bug against aff programs for some time. Third party cookies anyone? Bueller Bueller?

4. Contests & Giveaways – These still work great, but have all moved towards social media where virality is driven by engagement rather than participation. Ultimately, links backs are still valid from the participants.

5. Article Submission –  Low-quality article directories, no longer provide much of and SEO kick. Instead, guest blogging and publishing on authoritative platforms  are the modern equivalents. (Medium is killing it with backlinks now…)

6. Blogs – Blogging remains effective, but standalone personal blogs aren’t the traffic drivers they once were. Avoid blogger and the ilk. Blogs need to be integrated into a broader content offering, including video and social media.

7. Trade Shows & Conferences – Still very valid. A link from a trade show site is often a very high pr transfer. Where as virtual sites are a dime a dozen. Many of these are plant sites just for the page rank sales.

That is the news for updating your backlinking strategies. So lets take a look at what is still working and relevant today:

1. Newsletters – Email marketing remains one of the highest-ROI channels and is great at getting new urls out there. We often find that sending out a newsletter to a major list can get content indexed quicker (go figure). We have often been suspicious of urls passing through the gmail system.
2. Affiliate Programs – If well-managed, these can be powerful and  provide fresh backlinks. Give a bonus to affiliate who like with do follow and other unencumbered link methods.
3. Forums & Communities – Still valuable, but Googles positively Schizophrenic approach to UCG (they love it – they hate it) means that your-mileage-may-vary. Currently, links from Reddit are scoring.
4. Conferences & Trade Shows – Face-to-face networking remains effective at link building relationships.
5. Something New – The core idea of being an early mover on new platforms is still crucial (e.g., embracing AI-driven search, emerging social media platforms, and new content formats like short-form video and interactive media).

Wrap:

The principles of link building are still sound—marketers must continue exploring non-search-engine traffic sources—but the execution needs modernization.

A list of few other Directories:

Business & Software Directories:

• G2 – Focuses on user reviews and comparisons for business software.
• Capterra – Helps businesses find and compare software solutions.
• GetApp – Targets SMBs looking for software tools.
• Software Advice – Provides expert recommendations on business software.

Local Business Directories:

• Google Business Profile – Essential for local SEO and visibility in Google Maps.
• Yelp – Still a major player for local business visibility and customer reviews.
• BBB (Better Business Bureau) – Builds trust with consumers and ranks well in search.
• Angi (formerly Angie’s List) – Focuses on service-based businesses and home services.
• Nextdoor – Local business promotion within neighborhoods.

Professional & Industry-Specific Directories:

• Clutch – Ideal for agencies, B2B services, and digital firms.
• DesignRush – Focuses on digital agencies and marketing firms.
• Houzz – A directory for home improvement and design professionals.
• Avvo – A legal directory for attorneys and law firms.
• Zocdoc – Healthcare professionals and medical service providers.

E-commerce & Product Review Directories:

• Trustpilot – Consumer reviews across various industries.
• SiteJabber – Focuses on online businesses and e-commerce reputation.
• GoodFirms – A directory for software, IT services, and marketing firms.

Job & Business Service Directories:

• Glassdoor – Employee reviews and company insights.
• Indeed Company Pages – Business profiles with job listings.
• Crunchbase – Company directory focusing on startups, investors, and funding information.