Directories and Link exchanges for search engine optimisation?

[search.bfirst]

Are directories and link exchanges a waste of time for search engine optimisation?

[Robert W]

I wouldn't say they are a waste of time, any decent link is good for your site, but they are of limited use and I wouldn't suggest spending too much time on them. The best thing to do is to source high quality relevant links from related websites and making sure you have enough of these in place. It is not all about the number of links into a site but the quality and authority of those links. A few well placed, well thought out, links will have a much higher impact than a load of random directory listings.