If I see folks advertising free directories with PR I almost never bother submitting anymore unless they are trusted members. Here is why: Most of these directories are on dropped domains and the buyer is just trying to build up traffic and dupe a few people into buying featured and/or monthly links so they can sell the directories at a huge profit. Here is a prime example: http://www.sitepoint.com/marketplace/auction/9162 Expenses: 3 dropped PR4 domains = $45 3 x free phpld v2.1 scripts = $0 3 x shared hosting (or free) = $0-$5 3 x threads announcing = $0 purchasing a sales thread on SP =$20 Total cost $65 Revenue A few folks duped into buying featured links = $45 A few folks duped into buying monthly links = $40 Selling the sites as "established directories" = $400 Total revenue = $485 Total profit = $420 Damage to directory industry as a whole = priceless, because everyone that bought a featured link got screwed, everyone that bought a site-wide got screwed, the people that wasted time submitting to the directory got screwed and last of all the new owner when he realises he could have got the same thing for $45 instead of $400 got screwed.
Your title is a bit misleading, what you describe aren't free but paid directories. But I do agree with what I think is your main point: don't buy links just on any directory. Do your research, how old is the domain, is it likely to stay up? etc. Don't pay unless you have good evidence the site will stay live.
The directories are free for regular submission, that is how they pad the traffic numbers to make it appear to be established.
Yes, I had also posted similar thing at my blog http://goodprlinks.com/reviews/2007-05-25/life-of-directories-on-expired-domain.html
There'll always be money-whores chasing the quick buck but there are also other good people out there building a business. Decided which is which takes a bit of time but is well worth it I think.
The violence of the Quick Buck Crew lately is overwhelming, I simple don't submit to free or banana price directories unless i know the owner.
There are so many dropped domains around it is sickening. A few days ago I've made a post wanting to purchase some links. Half of the offers I got were for dropped domains with "high PR". I just wished I could have done something other than sending a reply with harsh words and hoping they won't scam someone else. These members should be banned, no questions asked.
I'm glad your title said most free directories. My free niche directory is approaching it's first year aniversary. Unique template, unique concept, uncommon categories - hardly a QBC. I am days from launching another niche directory and it too will allow free submissions - if you were to count the many hours I've already spent designing the templates and setting up the categories $485 wouldn't even be close to breaking even. Again, hardly a QBC. I am wondering what is this attack on free directories the past few days. Both free and paid directories have their uses and I have seen many paid only directories that I wouldn't submit to even if they were free. Please don't assume and lump all free directories into one category - there are many of us running free directories that are far from being QBCs in quality or longevity. Just as there are quite a few paid directories that are not worth the file space they occupy.
I tend to agree with that in general, but the owner must mention that the directory is on an expired domain. The owner also should provide a detail promotion plan for the directory as well because starting a directory on an expired domain already gives a negative impression to others.
It's unfortunate that some are willing to buy a web site based on statistics from such a short period of time.
I understand this, and I do check backlinks of every single site I submit to. These had 0 backlinks in Google and none or 1-2 in Yahoo, so owners were obviously not promoting but trying to cash in on PR that will expire on the next update.
"I tend to agree with that in general, but the owner must mention that the directory is on an expired domain." - I don't have a problem with all 'dropped domains' as long as the owner is honest about it but that is not the case in 99% of the ads I have seen. Especially when the domain is viennaparty2001.net or something equally as silly.
I think yahoo backlinks are more important than google backlinks in checking the validity of a directory. New directories arent going to have many backlinks showing in google but if if they have many in yahoo its a good sign. Plus if they are free you have nothing to lose in submitting to any of them. Alot will get dropped but some might actually become established directories later. As far as paid directories, its best to check alexa rankings, but remember people legitimiate directory owners need to also pay for expenses they incure.
Yep, I agree. Quite sad actually, as they think it's the real deal. I'm sure I've done it before.. I don't mind submitting to free directories which are dropped names, but I find it quite annoying when they charge for submission. I mean, they could atleast wait untill PR update clears over so it doesn't look as shifty lol...
Honesty, Integrity, Transparency all values that must apply to Directories However these values are not in the The 'Quick Buck Crew' Directory Experts Guide The only value they care about is how many dollars they can screw out of anyone, anytime
Just to re-inforce the difference between Free directories and paid directories -- I am giving here a list of formerly PR5 free directories that I often used. Few days back I was shocked as many of them dropped thei PR by huge margin and some became PR0 Google is not looking at these free directories kindly --So I have stopped submitting my sites in free directories. Well -- I might get very few links --but the links would be quality and the new age Google is emphasising more on quality than quantity. -- To me there is no more use of numbers --( you might get some high quality free diretories like the Authority Abilogic here too) @ OP-- I never submit to those dropped domain directories -if I don't know the person. Rep for you --as you said what I have been planning to say for some time. 1. www.777media.com 2. addyoursitefreesubmit.com/ 3. aardvarkbusiness.net 4. Abilogic.com 5. funender.com 6. apexoo.com 7. bestbusinessdirectory.com 8. network-room.com 9. cyborginfo.com 10. data-spain.com 11. dhundo.com 12. dirdir.info/ became PR0 13. dir-submission.com 14. directory.portalit.net 15. directory-free.com 16. directoryforce.com 17. dir.ukwizz.com 18. http://josh.nu/ 18. dxpnet.com/riot/ 20. eurofind.biz 21. free-website-directory.com 22. top100vbulletin.com 23. gandalfdir.com 24. searchenginedev.com 25. infotiger.com 26. www.itzalist.com/ 27. ldmstudio.com 28. jamjaa.com 29. freewebsubmission.com 30. listingsca.com 31. londinium.com 32. megri.com/ 33. my-india.net 34. onebigindex.com 35. pedsters-planet.co.uk 36. http://www.axxasearch.com 37. www.pleaseretrieve.com/ 39. resourcehelp.com 40. search4i.com 41. SearchSight.com 42 http://71k.net/ 43 searchtheweb.com/ 44. searchwarp.com/ 45. singaporedirectory1.com 46. skoobe.biz 47. www.all-links.info 48 sgtsearch.com 49 shoula.com 50. submiturlhere.com 51. surfsafely.com 52. thetopsites.net 53. tsection.com 54 url.biz 55. www.red-links.com 56. zeezo.com 57. links4rank.com 58. elitezone.org/directory/ 59. consultant-directory.com 60. uudir.com 61. http://www.abcsubmission.com 62. www.blitzfind.net/
Yes you are correct... unfortunitly some people just dont get it as this is what they are about and the only way they know of how to make a buck Rather then invest for 1-2 years they are more interested making a few dollars today and burn people on the way out the door.... Well within the next few short months you will see that most of these owners will not be around as the web directory will have No choice but to be more then just a "link drop" and be able to offer all the new technology that google will be demanding to take websites within to the next level of their new algo. No thier wont be any FREE mods to help either thx malcolm
jhnrang are all those directories in your list PR0 right now? Some of them have been around a long time, I am going to double check some of them now. I am quite shocked if that is the case. Abilogic.com PR5 searchwarp.com PR5 network-room.com PR4 SearchSight.com PR5 Mmmm, these are just the first 4 I checked, maybe your page rank checking tool is broken. Here is another link to a QBC scammer bragging about how he sold 'one' featured link on DP" http://www.sitepoint.com/marketplace/auction/9180#comment70487