I am considering purchasing phpld. They have two options: Link Back License - $30 and the Unbranded License - $80. The impression is that you are getting something more for the extra $50 when you purchase the unbranded license. My question is... What am I getting? Will having the link back to phpld penalize my site in the SERP's? Will it open me up to more spammy submissions? What am I getting for the extra $50?
The question is: Is it worth the $50? It's a link directory. All you do is post links. Why is that worth $50 to NOT have their link on my site?
It's about quality, you're showing that you're serious about your directory. You could start with the cheaper licence and then pay the difference to get the branding removed.
Actually there's a bit more to it. You find your niche and then create a unique category structure, you then begin populating each category with quality sites, meanwhile you're promoting and optimising your site, Oh and you find a unique template too, and then if you're lucky people will submit nice sites to your directory.
Nobody says that you have to but if you don't want to place attribute to script creator, then for $50 extra, you don't have to. As to if it's worth it, well... that's your call if you willing to pay more or not. Regardless of how much you're going to pay $30 or $80, you'll get the same script. fastreplies
All I'm really wondering is, will the search engines penalize me for having the link? I don't think people really care if there is a link there or not. As far as the niche... I found a niche where I can't find a directory for this niche. Mine, I believe, will be the first. If there is another directory out there for it, I haven't found it yet.
You mean like if Internet Police will put you in jail for linking to some site? I have to check on that subject with my lawyer and will get back to you as soon I hear from him. fastreplies
currently i am using link back version in future i can use the full version. I do not think it has any significant effect on the seo.
We often encourage people to start with the $30 license and then upgrade later once they feel they have a working business model. You can upgrade phpLD in a matter of seconds now by logging into your phpLD account and selecting the license from the drop down that you want to upgrade on your purchased products page. There is no difference other than the cost and the link back. As for google penalizing specific scripts, there have been public comments by google employees where they say they do not. What CAN get you penalized is making a cookie cutter site. I would advise against using the typical category dump. Instead, create your own unique category structure, and add your own unique content. In general, create a quality directory, and you'll increasingly be pleased with the results.
The one advantage to removing footer links like that for any software program you are using to run a site is if someone develops a hack for a particular version, you are slightly insulated from a random attack. For example, if you were using version 15.0.9.10 of XYZ script to run your site and that version is found to have some security flaw, people who take pleasure in destroying other people's work can search for "15.0.9.10 XYZ script" to find sites with the vulnerability. If you are building a niche site, I think the investment is worth it. While the site is a directory being run on a particular script, the niche is what's important in terms of SEO. To my way of thinking, a non-web-related niche shouldn't link back to the directory script site because the subject matter of the site has nothing to do with web-directory software. A niche no one already has a directory for? Didn't think there were any left. Good for you for finding one and good luck building your site.
Thanks for the helpful replies. I must recant my claim of finding a niche with no other directories. I found one other. When you say "the typical category dump" do you mean the spider option? I used that option and did an initial population of the directory using the google option but I was very selective. For example, only accepting 3 links out of 50 in some instances. As far as the link-back, it seems to me that google and other search engines know that it is not a vote for PHPLD and they probably disregard the link back. I would, the less variables you have in the equation the less complicated the equation.
No, they are not disregard copyright backlink. If that was true, dvduval wouldn't charge extra $50 to have that link removed. The name of his game is 'backlink or $50 more' if you don't want to build up his PR. fastreplies
I was reading WebProNews today and saw something interesting which confirms my belief that google disregards the link back. The exact quote is: You can find that quote here on the 6th level. Although the quote says discounting as opposed to my 'disregards' I believe that by now they disregard it entirely. This makes complete sense. Google knows what is up with websites. They know that the footer is where the obligatory link goes. The site owner isn't putting the link there because they feel the visitor will see it and use it but instead it is put there mainly for the search engines. Visitors don't care if you have the link-back on your site. Google doesn't give the link-back any credibility either. The only reason I could see to remove it is to avoid what YMC said. It keeps ne'er-do-wells from finding your site and hacking it. I've never found that to be a problem over the years so it is something I'm not worried about. So, I think I'll hold on to my money and let the site speak for itself, not the footer link since no one is listening to it anyway.
@steveinid, The backlink has two benefits - giving backlink to PHPLD main site (backlinks, even if they were nofollow, still hold some value in them) and promoting PHPLD to your directory visitor. PHPLD, of course, can do this on its own - dvduval's script is one of the most popular one, so he's got to have advertising budget to do so. Your "marketing effort" to promote PHPLD is valued at $50. Are you willing to pay for it by taking the unbranded PHPLD? if not, just take the branded script. Problem solved, case closed My http://www.accelerating.net automotive directory is still having a link back to PHPLD. Even the domain cost much more than the script itself, even compared to the unbranded PHPLD. I choose not to go for the unbranded version simply to give something back to dvduval's PHPLD for helping me establish a business. But then again, one thing means differently to many people. My 2 cents.
Don't get me wrong. I think phpld is a great script and I'm happy with my purchase. I would recommend it if asked. However, I don't think paying $50 to remove the copyright link is worth it. If it helps phplinkdirectory.com get some extra love from google doesn't matter to me. If it helps to promote the product makes no difference to me either since I'm happy with the product. I just don't believe the link is all that everyone makes it out to be. YMC made the only point on the matter that should be considered.
Thank you for your purchase steveind. We setup this system more than 5 years ago now, and we get a pretty good balance of purchases (link back and unbranded). We haven't changed anything as it seems to work well. What YMC pointed out is very important to us, and fortunately there have only been a couple of minor issues that were easily solved, never a major exploit in our script. The same thing can't be said about wordpress or even other directory scripts. That said, we are always watching for any reports, and take them very seriously.
It is about quality of the site and the domain authority, if you see that you will get your money's worth then I see no point in not investing. Otherwise look for more better options.