Links page or a directory?

I notice alot of sites now incorporating a directory in their site, rather than a typical links page.

What do you prefer, and does in any sort of negative way to have a directory set up? I can see it making things very easy for link exchanges.

 

Categorising your links page into a niche directory is definately the best way to go. It makes things easier for yourself, and your visitors.

 

Does it devalue the links in any way? I wouldn't think that it would.

Question for those that are using this. Are you building links faster now?

 

Not from what I have seen. A link is a link.

I would imagine that it would. Webmasters would be more willing to exchange links with you, if you have a clean well structured link directory.

 

We find that link directories work much better (e.g. flexible, customizable, easier to manage, etc.) than just having a link page.

 

plus you are adding more pages to your website which increase your chances of targeting more keywords and being pulled in SERPs.

 

Exactly - Here is one of mine:

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/lma/directory/

 

IMO directory is much better than link pages in a way that it is much easier to maintain the links and more convenient for the user.

 

I agree, directories are much better. This is because ALL of your outbound links won't be on one main page, instead it would be in subsections, but your main page won't be penalized for outbound links, instead smaller pages would be penalized little by little, increasing your overall main page rating (as long as every page links to your home page).

Here is our directory:
http://www.cphosts.com/partners/partners.html

We even have a program to help automate the whole process!

 

I think its more reliable the link exchange, coz its permanet links and already has a PR.

 

If your going to be doing a lot of link exchanges, then multiple pages by categories is definately best.

 

Any recommendations for good directory software that is easy to use and doesnt cost a ton of money?

 

yeah directories seem to be way to go nowadays.

 

Php Link Directory - It's free and it works well.

 

I also think a proper directory works better. We have been using a links page for years, but it is has become too big to be an effective resource for our users. They are mostly business people who want to find things fast.

However, moving to a proper diredctory has been a very slow process. Right now we are playing with DMOZ and trying to work out how to incorporate what we have with what they have and how to allow people to add links to the master database.

 

I am giving site-sift a try.

Just need to decide whether to make it a sports only directory, or allow links to everything.
Or I could have two seperate directories.

 

FOR pure SEO, aren't multiple pages by category much better than link pages? Google is finding out about link exchanging (not sure about msn/y!), but I was thinking I'd do descriptions with url's in the middle in many seperate pages to try for the best value.

Heh, but its lot more work than a directory

 

check out the free directory (dudirectory) using my sql or access at http://www.duware.com/home/

I use this- Took just a little tweeking but works really great

 

Thanks for the insight. I now have a directory setup and running and I already like it better. Now I just need some pagerank on it, but thats the drawbacks of new pages

I used phplinkdirectory, and one of the admin over there helped me skin it once I had it up and running. Check it out and tell me what you think. Link is in my sig.