Building a DIR without using a database - Am I crazy?

Hi Folks,
I am building a new industry specific DIR which eventualy could include 10K links.
I want full control of SEO, and content to be very SE friendly.
I am planning on building the site by hand without using a database. (have about 600 links already done)
I am using MS Excel to keep track of listings (for my use.)
Any suggestions for me to make life easier?

Thanks
Smokey

 

Yes. Certifiable!

Yes. Use a friggin' database!

 

Uh... Maybe use a database?

When you say you are not using a database - does that mean you are storing all the data in a text file? If so, then no big deal.

If you are hand editing your directory.... Well, golly... It just seems like that is a monumental waste of time.

 

I am storing the data in a txt file and ms excel for my records, but entering the listings into the site by hand.

If I use a database the SE's will not index it as well, (Or am I wrong)
My selling point to potential advertisers will be my SERPS.
I know I can put a plain html page on top, but don't feel as confident in dealing with a DB site

(I am very inexperienced with DB's)

Thanks

 

Go to google and search for friendly urls then u will change your mind, using .htaccess you can make your urls more friendlier than if you do it by "hand"

 

Thanks Thiagoo, I will check it out

 

8 years ago when I first started building directories we did not use databases, just good old HTML and it was an incredible amount of work. It’s not very feasible or practical today.

 

Any suggestions on the easiest DB to use and integrate?
(Simple, just like me

 

Use phpld or esyndicat, will make your life a lot easier

 

You were all right!
I decided on Phpld, I am very happy so far.
Much easier and more uniform.
Thanks
Scott

 

I think its better if you dont' use a database.

It makes the directory more unique and much better then all the rest!

PM me the link and i will add my site 2!

 

If you plan on making your own directory, use MySQL as your backend.

End users dont care what's in the background. They only care for they can see.
If you get to be an extremely large dir using a txt based db... ur in for a lot of trouble and hassles.

 

Holy cow, I would never not use a database for stuff like this. Its kinda like asking someone to use a typewriter after they have used a word processor. The tools are freely available and you can use htaccess to produce seo friendly urls. I started to code my own directory, and I am using mysql.

 

I have an html (static pages) directory/web portal for the last 2 years, it's running on Dynamic HTML template, search engines always love to index html pages first, and we are free to change anything (meta tags, contents) accordingly. Site is in my Sig. "High Stuff - Web Portal"

So building a directory without database is not unbelievable, its realistic approach

 

If you prefer static html for your directory, there are scripts out there that automatically generate static html pages from mysql database. For example, cpLinks does that.

 

I've seen some pretty large static HTML directories... They're not very scalable.. If it grows to even a somewhat large proportion you'll get sick of constantly updating pages and uploading files as apposed to hitting "Approve" with a DB.. Just my $0.02

 

Nope, you are not... but you will drive others crazy...