How important are Directory submissions in SEO nowdays ?

Directory submissions are used extensively by SEO companies worldwide ( specially in india ) . How important these are after google Panda's, penguin's latest updates

Please let me know

Regards
Aditya

They can help you index your website faster, but don't expect ranking increase after submission.

Directory submission is still a good option, in that way google see your site is important if he make part from another sites, in another words any type of backlink is good.

jsmith250 said:

Directory submission is still a good option, in that way google see your site is important if he make part from another sites, in another words any type of backlink is good.

Click to expand...

But i believe submitting to 1000's of unknown directories where hardly any person would visit will make any difference to ranking . I am not sure if google would take links from all the directories also . What do you think

They are good links. But be careful because some directories will give backlinks with 100s of their internal pages then you will hit by penguine.

seochargers said:

But i believe submitting to 1000's of unknown directories where hardly any person would visit will make any difference to ranking . I am not sure if google would take links from all the directories also . What do you think

Click to expand...

He takes, but if is one of unknown directories Google take a little bit harder to see the link I guess....

It is also important to submit in the correct category with different titles and descriptions. The results are slow unless you go for paid directories

High quality directories that are relevant might help, but I never expect incredible SERP movement just from doing directory submissions.

I mean, really, what is this? 2008?

Skip the free submit to autoapprove dir's. Spend a few bux on paid inclusion internal categories with page rank. You get relevance and authority, the win win combination.

I heared some days ago that google deindexed plenty of web directories like he done before with junk article directories

Anything in important in a way for your SEO
I recommend you to do all types to get the best and the fastest results

Like:
-Article Directory
-Social Bookmarking
-Blogs
-Submit Rss
-Video Submission
-Expression Engine Submission
-PR Sites Submission
-Micro Blogs Submission
etc

There's no reason to avoid web directories but don't over do it and don't expect much from it. Optimization means taking every small win you can.

It's really important.

It'll help index your site and backlinks.

I think diversity and relevance is the key