Should I use keyword titles when submitting to directories?

If a directory is human edited, which most all paid ones are, as well as DMOZ, the editor will typically just change it to your business name. Yes, it's annoying to them, but you are always going to face that opposition. It's good for your site, but there is a time and place for it. I'm a gatekeeper on a paid directory and it's easy to see when people keyword stuff their directory title. Sometimes I'll give them a little credit and include their keywords as if it were a business name, but only if it makes sense and if it's short. Example, a foundation repair company called RFJP submits, I'll allow "RFJP Foundation Repair" as a title, although they may have just submitted the title "Foundation Repair Company," which isn't very useful since there are 10 of 1000s out there. Lower end, free, and even some paid (if you pay extra) will allow keyword-rich anchor text. You just have to find the ones that do. Generally keyword- rich anchor text is a good goal for any backlink. It can be overdone, and it doesn't look natural if you have 500 backlinks with the same phrases. Adding a buffer word and varying your anchor helps, as well as just getting natural links they may just include you company's name. From the directory's perspective, they don't like keyword stuffed titles and will typically change them, for your purposes, you can get a varied backlink portfolio of all types and it will help. It's fortunate for a business to actually have their keywords in the domain, instead of something that has to be branded. That's what SEO is about, balance between the user and the spiders.