Submitting links in Local Business Directories

Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions Facebook & G+ community.

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  Michael Martinez: It`s hard to be sure of what a business directory is. Anyone can put up a Website that collects your information and call itself a business directory.
  
  If you`re promoting a walk-in business with a Google My Business listing you do need what are called "citations" from well-known local business directories. I don`t know what the major business directories in Pakistan would be.
  
  In my opinion you should avoid paying for a listing on any Website that promotes itself as "SEO friendly" or that promises to help with your SEO.
  
  Directory links in general are widely abused for backlinks that are only intended to influence search results - and that violates search engine guidelines. Most of the old SEO link building directories are gone now but I still see a few promoted every year.
  
  The best kinds of links in general are earned from bloggers, forum discussions, and social media. These are legitimate mentions by real people, and they may or may not influence search results. You want to build visibility, name recognition, and public trust in your content and any products or services you sell.
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  Faraz Ahmed: Thank you very much for your valuable comment :)
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  Faraz Ahmed: Michael Martinez
  Can we submit an eCommerce shopping website in "Google My Business"? Or only those businesses should be submitted in GMB that have physical addresses?
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  Faraz Ahmed: Michael Martinez
  And which type of websites should be submit or listed in Business Directories?
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  Michael Martinez: Faraz Ahmed "Or only those businesses should be submitted in GMB that have physical addresses?"
  
  I`m not sure if an ecommerce site can be submitted to GMB but that`s not my area of expertise. There are other members of the group who can answer your question.