OK. So I'm only going into day 4 now with www.FreeDeepLinks.com. It's a free non-reciprocal deep link directory, but ONLY for individual articles pages - the point is to create a directory of articles all across the Web as a service to readers in the long run. I guess it doesn't strike me as that hard of a concept. I thought the rules were laid out pretty clearly on the submission page. I thought the rules were laid out clearly enough anywhere I posted about the directory. The first few days were great; I only had to reject a few things. But I woke up this morning to a list of probably around 80-ish submissions, and I think only FIVE got approved. What the heck? They were all from different domains and such, so it's probably more than one person submitting them. Do people just not READ anymore? Pretty frustrating. Do you have the same problem with your own directories? What percentage would you say you end up having to deny?
I run a UK Business Directory and have reciently re-designed it. Before I put a map of the UK on the homepage I used to get loads of submissions every day from websites round the world even though it is a UK directory. I had UK in the header, in the homepage description, and even on the submissions page but still received loads of submissions from other countries. Now I have placed a map on the homepage the saying "a picture tells a thousand words" really does mean something. I now only get about one per day. Browsers just do not read. They only see what they want to see.
lol Right after I read your post, I had a submission from a UK directory (not an article page)... I thought maybe it was you. ... the big one seems to be web hosting sites adding their home pages or sales pages and such. It's just frustrating, because I know most of those submissions probably came from DP members, since it's the only webmaster-oriented place I've promoted it yet, and I just don't want to believe that that many people over here were too lazy to read simple instructions right in my posts ... they didn't even need to get to the site to read them. *sigh* I don't know. I just have a low threshold for ignorance when things are laid out pretty clearly... that, and it's still early so it's got me in a slightly foul mood. Hopefully it'll get better as the day goes on.
JH trust me, that is unfortunately normal around here. It's not that they don't read, but that they are hoping to sneak something in just to get backlinks. My new directory was going to charge a dollar for regular listings just to prevent that from happening. But I've decided to make it free for all instead and base listings on quality. Maybe you and me should start a database of spamming DP members. Unfortunately I already have about 8 regular members here who have intentionally tried to get something listed that shouldn't be. I think those people should be outed to avoid hassle for new directory owners. (The ones who truly try to create something other than some doorway page)
People will always misunderstand whatever instructions you give. The best thing is to install failsafe scripts so its impossible for them to get it wrong.
Is it possible that each time a new directory is advertised on DP that there are a few members that automatically add it to there submission tools. Just a thought!!
This is getting worse with time. Back in the day, people used to read entire manuals today they don’t even bother reading short tutorials or even simple bulleting instructions. btw, I submitted a few articles.
Mad4 - the problem is that the instructions they're ignoring would be pretty difficult to misunderstand - 1. NO Homepages, and 2. ONLY links to individual articles. So the problem is in what URLs they're submitting. I don't know a lot about scripts, but I'm not sure it would be possible to automatically eliminate a URL (such as to sales pages) by somehow determining it weren't an article. Blogmaster - lol that certainly sounds like an idea... It's frustrating for me with a niche directory. I can't even imagine how bad it must get for people running free general directories with having basic instructions ignored. I just got more submissions from someone I denied several links from. You'd think they'd get it after the first set of denial emails, right? Why waste their own time on it? I didn't note all of the domains before, but I searched for this one, and yep... DP member. ... Actually, looks like it's one person spamming by submitting multiple sites of theirs. I won't name names publicly, but man this is obnoxious. Jenn
Welcome to the club. About 60 - 90% never makes it. When i review 200 links, sometimes i approve 60-50 sites may be more, and some other days, spammy days, i approve only 30. A guideline on a directory is just decorative, nobody ever reads it, im sure dmoz receives the exact same spam as we receive, and it sucks big time, hope that one day all the DP spammers will be busted.
It is tough when you have to spend so much time to reject entries. Especially so when you have a niche directory and all types of sites submit to it. For example I run a webmaster related directory and I regularly get submissions from all sorts of websites including travel related, sports and what not. Probably one way you could limit this is to charge a submission fee. It may not be possible for all sites to charge but once established it may make more sense. Thinking out aloud how would a refundable fee work? That could weed out a lot of useless and irrelevant submissions.
That could be an idea for some sites... unfortunately the "free" aspect is one of my big "selling points" - plus I'm trying to get people to submit links to every article they have, and even in multiple categories when appropriate. I think if I tried charging anything in my case it would be a major turn off to the people I'm trying to appeal to the most - those with tons of links to submit.
Your directory is quite unique. I havent seen anything like this before. I really like it and I wish you the very best of luck.
Thank you. I haven't been able to find anything like yet either, so that's nice. Just sent out the press releases today and am going to be spending the night adding articles like crazy, so hopefully it'll help. It's already doing a few dollars a day in Adsense which certainly doesn't hurt matters. And despite my complaining about people not paying attention to rules, the rest of the day I've barely had to reject anything, so I think it was just that one bad apple submitting multiple sites. Jenn
I know exactly what you mean about people not reading. I have an animal and pet directory and commonly get submissions for gambling, gaming etc. And even with Directory Frog I am always getting submissions that do not even come close to following guidelines and quite often they do not continue to the payment.
Some see "free" and think anything goes. Best of luck with your new project - and thanks for adding our submissions.
Good luck Jenn, we are sure that with your steady hands at the wheel this new venture will be a great success
Thanks. I appreciate that, and I certainly hope so. For anyone who happened to see the old design when it was orange, darker green, and purple... any thoughts on the current colors? Are they an improvement? One person said the green was too light... do you think I should choose a darker shade? Just trying to get things a bit more in order cosmetically before the press releases go live (most on Wednesday I believe). Jenn