Low quality directories may not be worth the time to submit it. They may not pass PageRank, impart link reputation or send traffic to your site. However, every once in a while, you’ll be pleasantly surprised when a quick, free submission results in a Google backlink and , hopefully, a little boost in the rankings.

While none of these indicators by themselves is an absolute sign of a low quality directory, they are all elements that Matt Cutts describes as being undesirable. Since he’s the anti-spam man at Google, you can bet his team is working on ways to reduce the influence of  sites with these characteristics in the algorithm.

1. Re-directed expired domains point at it. These may have been purchased for their links and PageRank.
2. WhoIs is private. Most people don’t have anything to hide from view.
3. Its owner owns other low quality directories.
4. Requires a reciprocal link.
5. There are spammy domains, adult sites, gambling sites, etc in the directory.
6. No website is included without payment, but any website that pays can get in.
7. It has links from other low quality directories.