Evaluate directories, listings, profiles, citations, associations, and resource indexes for legitimate link-building value, editorial quality, spam risk, local relevance, and submission fit.
SkillScore68Maintained
Automatic
◆Marketing & Content pack
Last verified 8/15/2026
What it changes
Passed 15 of 22 test cases with the skill, and 11 of 22 without it.
Without skill50%
With skill68%
Checks it passed that the model alone missed
Recommends listing the product on `www.cloud-software-hub.example`.
Flags domain deindexation in search engines as evidence of a manual penalty.
Recommends submitting the company listing to `www.build-suppliers-index.example`.
and 1 more in the full report
4 fixed11 passed either way7 still failing0 broke
Pass-rate lift
+18 pp
Tokens
-2%
Agent turns
0%
Response time
-26%
Model gemini-3.6-flashMeasured 8/15/2026v115 of 22 cases passed with skill
Tokens, turns and time describe resource use, not a dollar price.
See it in action
One of 4 test cases the skill fixed. Same model, same prompt, with and without the skill.
1 of 4
Prompt
During a backlink cleanup, we discovered `www.cheap-seo-links-list.example` points a generic target link to our homepage, and search engines have flagged low-quality outbound footprints across its domain. How should we handle this existing directory entry?
What was checked, without and with the skill
Checked
Without skill
With skill
Specifies adding `domain:cheap-seo-links-list.example` to the Google Search Console disavow file.
Passed
Passed
Recommends sending a manual link removal request to the site webmaster before disavowing.
Missed
Passed
case-06 · gemini-3.6-flash · 8/15/2026 · answers are capped and redacted
What's inside
The instructions your model reads when the skill loads.
SKILL.md41 linessingle file
Directory Link Evaluation
Use this skill to decide whether a directory, listing, association profile, citation site, or resource index is worth pursuing or keeping.
This skill is derived from Garrett French and Eric Ward's Ultimate Guide to Link Building and uses transformed guidance with durable book-topic references. Do not copy book prose into user outputs.
Quick Start
Use the Contents table below to choose the smallest useful reference set.
Use workflows/evaluate-directory-links.md for a full evaluation pass.
Confirm the directory serves a real audience or market function.
Apply hard rejects before considering authority metrics.
Return submit, update, monitor, or reject recommendations with evidence.
Default Output
When asked to evaluate directories, return:
Directory type - local citation, niche directory, association, marketplace, resource index, or paid listing.
Audience and relevance - who uses it, category fit, geography, and business fit.
Quality evidence - editorial standards, indexing, visible traffic signals, outbound link quality, and maintenance.
Risk flags - thin pages, paid-link footprints, links across the whole site, irrelevant categories, or low-quality neighbors.
Tool choices - browser inspection, search operators, crawlers, backlink tools, index checks, and tracking sheet.
Recommendation - submit, update, monitor, reject, or remove/disavow review if toxic.
Contents
Need
Start Here
Understand directory link concepts
references/core/knowledge.md
Apply evaluation rules
references/core/rules.md
See scoring examples
references/core/examples.md
Evaluate directories
workflows/evaluate-directory-links.md
Core Posture
A good directory helps users find relevant options.
Relevance and editorial standards matter more than raw authority.
Paid inclusion requires extra scrutiny and link qualification.
Local citations are evaluated differently from national SEO directories.