Directory Editing - What's a Quality Payday Loan Website?

Discussion in 'Directories' started by onlinedude, Jul 28, 2007.

  1. #1
    Most payday loan websites seem quite similar. There are a few pages of content with simple topics like "What's a Payday Loan," "How a Payday Loan Can Benefit You," and "How Our Payday Loans Work."

    While these websites are pretty slick looking, there's not much content there, and what is there is simply designed to get the visitor to fill in the form to apply for a payday loan.

    Also, it is obviously quite difficult to rank for competitive terms in the payday loan market, so a lot of these types of websites seem to engage in link schemes that seem somewhat risky to me.

    I've been including payday loan websites in my directories up until now, but after seeing so many that look the same and also seeing the risky things they do, I'm starting to wonder whether most payday loan websites are appropriate for a quality directory.

    What are your thought on including payday loan sites in a quality directory?
     
    onlinedude, Jul 28, 2007 IP
  2. jhnrang

    jhnrang Notable Member

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    #2
    This niche along with Gambling niches are quite similiar.

    Few days back -- I had a gambling submissions -- PR5. Checked it --looked quite good. So approved in the appropriate category.

    The next day --another was submitted ( both featured) --different domain --but looked the same. What more -it had same template. I rejected it & refunded.

    These type of sites are so limited in scope for contents that -its quite difficult to define quality which is blurred.

    I usually look for different design-layout-site info ( I like old sites) -and also google to see if my peers have approved it:eek:.
     
    jhnrang, Jul 28, 2007 IP
  3. kiviniar

    kiviniar Notable Member

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    #3
    The only reservation i had was if they did not mention a direct mailing address and also if the site looked spammy by all means.

    Personally i have a few legit sites with just a few pages of content

    I do a quick footer scan and also see if they have a spammy link page..

    I guess checking for a google ban can also be done

    As long as these guys have a legit service going, i personally would not have any issue in listing them
     
    kiviniar, Jul 28, 2007 IP
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  4. dargre

    dargre Peon

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    #4
    Same here.
    Hundreds of loan related websites based on same schema, working in afiliate system or MFA.
    Have only 6 links in PR4 Loans category. Accept only those looking professional or with license no served on website.
     
    dargre, Jul 28, 2007 IP
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  5. CReed

    CReed Prominent Member

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    #5
    I tend to shy away from lead generation sites; but will consider sites from those that actually provide the loans directly to the consumer.

    We are slowly weeding out the affilaite lead generators that were listed in one of our directories that we acquired; I'm amazed at how many are associated. :rolleyes:
     
    CReed, Jul 28, 2007 IP
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  6. Obelia

    Obelia Notable Member

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    #6
    I don't list many in this category, and what I find is that often the business address of those submitted is identical to another one. So basically they're changing the title, text and design, but essentially they are offering exactly the same thing, because getting a loan is more about customer service and who you are dealing with, and far less about on-page content.
     
    Obelia, Jul 28, 2007 IP
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  7. bfarrell

    bfarrell Guest

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    #7
    I look for any reason to reject loan, insurance, pharmaceutical and the like. I try to run a very broad directory, accept most any site. But they need to be legit and standalone in my eye.

    If one of the above cannot show address, personal type info, biz registration/licenses, or in the case of pharmaceutical in particular I get redirected on the purchase- affiliate, not approved.

    There is just something very wrong with all of the vague sites collecting personal info or shipping meds with no accountability to me. Not to mention I would be over run with this stuff in short time.
     
    bfarrell, Jul 28, 2007 IP
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  8. onlinedude

    onlinedude Peon

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    #8
    Thanks everybody for their input!

    That's exactly the problem. It's not like you're going to find anything you haven't seen before, which makes it difficult to determine quality.

    The address idea is good, although it could just be a rented mailing address. Spammy link pages can always be added afterwards, which is what tends to worry me.

    License number is a good idea, although I can't really see this on any sites?

    That's another good idea - thanks! I'm noticing that a number of sites actually do contain a disclaimer stating that they aren't the one loaning the money. However, even the legitimate companies often seem to have many similar sites.

    Yes, that's very true. It's not like people actually want to spend hours reading about payday loans.
     
    onlinedude, Jul 28, 2007 IP
  9. an0n

    an0n Prominent Member

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    #9
    Jeff I liked this resource I have in DirectoryDump Business Directory.

    Payday Loans has some good info on it and also provides a phone number for customer service, fax, and collections, as well as a an address, contact form and hours of business.

    Hopefully that can provide you with some info.

    Rob
     
    an0n, Jul 28, 2007 IP
  10. onlinedude

    onlinedude Peon

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    #10
    Thank Rob! Good points. It does look like a business that's going to be around for a while.
     
    onlinedude, Jul 28, 2007 IP
  11. malcolm1

    malcolm1 Prominent Member

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    #11
    malcolm1, Jul 28, 2007 IP
  12. dargre

    dargre Peon

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    #12
    Yep, not so many websites have it.
    It's important in this business - a kind of company verification.
    There are: Finance Lender License, Consumer Loan License, Supervised Lender License, Regulated Lender License, etc.
    Also it's good to check if company shows address, phone, fax, etc.
    Gathering it all it's easier to decide what to do with the listing...
     
    dargre, Jul 28, 2007 IP
  13. malcolm1

    malcolm1 Prominent Member

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    #13
    these payday loan stores are threwout the USA and most are legit.
    I have a few close by from where i live so..

    But like anything always do check before sending any funds.. ;)

    thx
    malcolm
     
    malcolm1, Jul 28, 2007 IP
  14. CReed

    CReed Prominent Member

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    #14
    On a side note; I wouldn't look to dmoz for quality examples - lots of affiliate/lead generators, redirects and broken links. :p

    Nice titles also :rolleyes:

    I'm intrigued that anyone would submit the required information requested when the form is not on a secure server.
     
    CReed, Jul 28, 2007 IP
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  15. Blogspotter

    Blogspotter Notable Member

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    #15
    Hmmm.. My 1 cent.

    I think the payday loan sites aren't even trying to rank for the keywords by submitting in the QUALITY directories. I mean ranking need not be the primary objectives. For a Lead generating site, the main source of traffic is PPC advertising. And what they are doing, by submitting to QUALITY directories, is increasing the quality score of the landing page so that they don't have to bid higher for the keywords on Adwords. That is what I would have done.

    If Google thinks that a particular payday site has a low quality score, and you accept the site as a quality site, google instead of rasing the quality score of the landing page, might treat you as a site linking to bad sites?

    Just a thought....
    Sites that are build just to generate leads are not actually Quality sites IMHO.
    These sites are residues of 2001-03s.

    They r just trying to increase their quality score by getting good REVIEWED links. Review on your own peril :)
     
    Blogspotter, Jul 31, 2007 IP
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