Should sub-PR5 directories charge inflated fees based on PR "prediction?

I don't own any directories, but I sure do give a lot of business to directory owners here at DP.

Lately, I have noticed a disturbing trend in which many owners of PR0-PR3 directories are charging completely unrealistic listing fees based on "PR prediction." Am I the only listing buyer who is uncomfortable with this trend? I am finding it more and more difficult to recognize legit offers and legit prices without having to run a million backlink/IP checks. As a general rule, wouldn't it be better for the industry if directory owners did not muddy the waters by charging PR5 prices for a PR2 site "that is predicted to be PR5"? Why not wait to raise prices until one's directory ACTUALLY INCREASES in PR? Is patience in short supply? Is it just greed? I'd like to know, because I don't think this "prediction" stuff is good for anyone--owners or buyers. Plus, the so-called "prediction" tends to be from competely unreliable, unproven tools, anyway. If a buyer trusts a directory owner's statements about "prediction," the directory may not even go up in PR. In fact, the PR may even decrease. Is this the stock market or the SEO industry? I want to advertise, not speculate.

 

well this is the best thing you should do ...

if you dont like the price (pass)

absolutely no use of paying a price based on PR Prediction.

What basis are they using ?? Iwebtool ?? which is not accurate..

i dont think anyone can predict your PR with a good 90% confidence level with the exception of the outlier (Google) who can predict it 100% !


absolutely no point ... i just pass on the sites where the owner says well my prediction is Pr 5..


but i am not saying there are not good directories which are pr 3 ....

there are some very nice directories at pr 4 and pr 3 which are high in search engine ranking ... so you would have to check the detail pages of the sites and how well they are ranked

 

Directories are over-rated, try linkbaiting as it is cheaper, faster, and much more likely to bring the results you are seeking.

 

Why not wait for then to have PR and traffic to actually submit! on a free market people can ask any price they wish for the goods/services, and you are free to buy it or not.

 

Yes, I understand how a free economy works.

What I'm saying is that it's not good for the industry. I can't be the only buyer who's getting closer and closer to completeing boycotting any directory that charges based on prediction.

 

Well I disagree with you I think it’s good for the industry

- Increases the mortality rate of directories, so only really good ones will survive
- Changes the skewed market perception that a quality directory is an easy/cheap thing to create and maintain
- You will find less populated categories to submit

 

I would agree with that.

I think what you are seeing though, especially if it is from a reputable member is people making large investments in marketing and promotion of their new directories with the intention of getting a high page rank and good traffic.

If it is from someone that is unknown perhaps they see the prices of some of the bigger players and assume they can get those prices for a listing too.

 

Charging on a prediction is ridiculous. If a PR5 site with comparable PS is charging less go with them. There are so many dir's to choose from go with fair prices for what you are getting today...

 

The industry has a whole mass of naive, incompetent, fortune tellers, who believe tools that forecast this and that

However until the market wakes up they will continue to reap the benefits of this complete and total B/S

Most of the PR this PS (not all) predictors are apprentice 'Snake Oil Salesman'

Just pass this stuff is boring and these directories should be ignored

 

Thats the mistake of a buyer if he submits a link considering the PR prediction..

But if the member is a reputed directory owner, we can still submit.. E.g. bigweblinks.com got many submissions when it was PR0

 

Yes, I definitely know which directory owners to trust, regarding whether or not they will do what's necessary to get and maintain significant PR.

How much was the fee at bigweblinks.com when it was PR0? I highly doubt it was the current $49.90.

I'm referring more to the newbie directory owners who buy a few links and believe that some untrustworthy, online tool justifies their completely unrealistic fees.

 

I think it was the same $49.90..
Thats not all, it received, $ 500+ bids - all because of heavy promotion from Chris.

 

If you haven't done your homework, I guess you really can't say much about how a directory owner runs his/her directory.

Did you check;

# of total backlinks
# of indexed pages
# of backlinks from high PR
Rankings in G

Smarter buyers often buy links on PR0 though it may sound strange. It's because the price is usually low . Furthermore, if you do busiensses often here at DP, you should try to know who they are, not just their domain PR with Google toolbar. I often steal good deals and enjoy PR3, PR4 links later on.

As for predicting thing, you can use the tool to get a rough idea, but you still need to check on their backlinks.

This thread may be helpful:

tips for buying links

 

OP, this is great advice. I have seen you comment before on my threads in the Directory section where you question my pricing.

In my case (not speaking for all), my directory was purchased and revamped after the last pagerank snapshot so all categories are new, etc and have 0 Pagerank.

If you would look at the factors above and compare it to PR5 and PR6 directories (Many of which have much fewer backlinks), you'd be pleasantly surprised at the lower prices of a directory that has over 134,000+ backlinks in Yahoo!. You should also check some of the sites strength as well. I can guarantee that they will be increasing come early August.

P.S. I never announce threads based on prediction tools. I let the submitters decide and if you take a look at my new listings, they like seem to like what they see.

 

While there is no trusted prediction tool how could it is even possible to charge based on PR prediction?? That is what google is after!

 

I don't like the idea of charging based on some unreliable PR prediction tools but there are directory owners who put big $$$$ in their new directories and I'll be surprised if they let you in for a PR0 fee. It is better to wait for the PR update