4 things in the directory world that bother me! (Link bait? nope!)

Apparently, whenever someone posts something controversial, it is link baiting (see point #1) but, Alas I am posting no link! Is that possible? Is that allowed? Maybe it's because free discussion is the point of forums such as DP.
I will probably get 15 red reps and maybe one green for posting this, but it bothers me, so I'll post it.
Note: I am not trying to make enemies or point out names. All names used in this post are examples that i came across, and I am not picking out names to start fights or hurt the credibility of anyone.
That said, I'll go on with the top 4 things that bother me in the directory world (believe me, there are more than 4 things that bother me)
1. Hype Words
Ok this really irks me, all these hype words.

• QBC (Quick Buck Crew): I wonder what percentages of the threads in the directory forum use these three annoying letters. Maybe we could come up with a better name for them, like: ASS-holes (Annoying, Spammy, Site holes). But really most of these so called QBC directories aren't even in fact QBC directories. Maybe they are just run by inexperienced webmasters. Maybe they are out there to just make a buck and then disappear. But if so, why did you submit to them in the first place? Oh maybe they had a shiny template, or maybe they paid $30,000 for a link on some popular bidding directory, so that means you must buy a link from them, right? I mean you just have to submit to all directories that buy links on big bid directories, or maybe you submitted to them because they had an alexa rank of 15,000 (because we all know that alexa rank is absolutely accurate, and that it means that this directory must be getting tons of targeted visitors that want to go to your site and buy your product).

• Quality Paid Link "Reviews": If I have ever heard BS this is it. Yes yes, some of these paid site reviews actually do review your site, and you are paying for that review. But let's face it (no matter how much we try and cover our asses) 95% of directories are selling you a chance for a link and maybe if you are lucky 30 seconds of looking over your site if it is half decent or not. 30 seconds is enough to review a site in it's entirety right? I mean there aren't any sub pages to review, right? Umm wrong, it takes someone with more than a pea brain and 30 seconds to actually review a website and decide if it is quality or not. On this note, everyone in the good old days said paid directories sold links. But now that Google is punishing paid links, everyone magically says that it's paid reviews. So back in the old days, your sites weren't getting reviewed? That's bull, the reviews didn't change, the name did. All to make this all so wonderful mystical god, Google, happy. Just wait until they use humans to check if it was just a name change or if directories legitimately are now just charging for reviews.

• Family Friendly: Ok, i just have to pick on alive here. Quote from alivedirectory's meta description tag "human edited web directory of quality, family-friendly, and spam-free sites" Ok, so it is family friendly right? Well let's take a look at: http://www.alivedirectory.com/Shopping/Clothing/ Hmm, some of those sites don't seem very family friendly to me. What about: http://www.alivedirectory.com/Entertainment/Gambling/ maybe it is just me, but I didn't know that gambling was legal for under 18 kids. Note, alive is certainly not the only directory that totes this "family friendly" tag. I am sure many of you will say, well none of those sites have nudity or sexual explicit content. But really, sites selling g-strings, "clothing options for a fun night on the town", and gambling. Are they really all that friendly to 5,6,7,13,15... year olds kids?

Not to mention the hype word of them all, Web 2.0. The biggest marketing gimmick (yes gimmick) is recent internet years
2. Directory "Gods"
This also is troublesome to me. Here you have the hard working (in some cases, harder working) "little" guys, that just get pushed around by the big guys with all the cash. I am not specifically pointing at Chris of mystikmedia, or Jeff of Aviva, or Rob known as an0n. But since when did Chris and Jeff get to be on a first name basis around here. I don't hear anyone else get called by their first name, even matt cutts, get's called matt cutts, or cutts. But no, Chris and Jeff are higher than even him, they are on a first name basis. After all they have all the money, all the power.
But not only do they get to be called by their first names (wonder what would happen if someone new posted "Who is Jeff and who is Chris" The whole forum would attack them) but they also get a little posse to stick up for them.
Such as these posts from around here:
"Directory Gods, Please Comment on my Plan"
"Wow Chris, mate you and your sites are cool "
"That's the most retarded article I have read in a while. Why would you judge the merits of Aviva based on it's "about us" page."
Must be nice to have a posse defend you no matter what. Maybe directory ownership has moved up a notch, maybe it should be called. "The Directory Religion" this new religion has many followers and many gods.

3. The directory "Circle"
Apparently it is bad karma if you do not accept in your directory every directory that accepts you in their directory.
See to me, the directory world lost the most valuable asset. 3rd party sources. AKA human visitors that aren't directory owners.
All directories are promoted towards other directory owners. It sickens me.
Like (again picking on alive, sorry mystik) alive and aviva. I am sure you will all say that these directories are great resources for non-webmaster visitors, and that these directories are not made for directory owners only. If that is true, then why the hell are their blogs all posts for fellow directory owners? I guess visitors don't read blogs anymore. Maybe visitors wish they were directory owners. This is the dumbest crap I have ever heard of in my life. Let's bring back the 3rd party visitor (You know, the 40 something year old female that just spends the day "browsing" the internet trying to find something interesting to read or something to buy)

4. Bidding "Directories"
These annoy me a heckuvalot. But at least there is possibility for 3rd party non-directory owners to click the links. I guess the next step for these bidding directories is to not be "bidding directories" anymore, but become "Bidding Reviewed Directories" because that will be so much better. Get real, trying to manipulate everything you touch makes me sick. If you are going to run a bidding directory, have the balls to say that submitters are buying a link on the site. Note: I am all for bidding directories, so long as they don't try and be fake about it.

Well that's it for my rant, I am sure I will see tons of negative posts, but hopefully I will see a few positive posts from some of the smaller guys. Because honestly, the person on here running the ad covered free directory just trying to stay alive and provide a quality resource for their visitors, they are just as important as those on a first name basis.
(note, maybe 1 in a million free directories provide a quality resource)

EDIT:
One more thing that bothers me:
posts like this:

(In the quote, the links aren't shown, but if you go to the post, you can see what I am talking about)

Sorry mystik, but using keyworded links on a forum is just web 1.0 D) and spammy. People need to learn better linking manners on DP.
You only link to your site if it provides a resource to others or is related to teh topic AND you don't try and keyword your links.

 

Everyone is entitled to opinions each to their own

By the way my name is Pete

Thats if anyone is in the least interested

 

I just had to quote that , seems like someone been writing retarded articles sheesh what a retard huh ?

they should be thrown out of speeding train, off the bridge and shot to death.

When will they learn not to write retarded articles about "about us " pages

 

Ok pete, your a nice guy. If I can remember I will call you Pete on these forums. (I call people by their first names if they are my friends or at least nice, not jsut because it's hip to do so)

Ooops, I forgot one more thing that bothers me.
Excessive linking.
I will update my post

 

Wow this thread has all the makings of a

Retards United Thread

What else will we see on the following posts

Thanks for the quote we can all be hip now

 

someone didn't eat their cookies today

 

Maybe I had too many cookies

 

Baah sorry i am just crazy about posting links its like my hobby or something i am obsessed , or shall i say possed by the link god.

 

I guess I can understand why some of those things annoy you but some I don't understand.

I agree that QBC is probably over-used and also used too quickly in some cases.

IMO, david, chris, jeff, pete and rob have all went out of their way to support new directories and offer valuable contributions to the directory community. I think using their first names is just a sign of friendliness and I don't find anything wrong with that. I do agree that sometimes there is some serious 'butt kissing' going on but hey it happens everywhere in life and is not a big deal.

My understanding is those two directories you mentioned get a lot of daily traffic and I don't think it is all webmaster and directory owners.

To me a bidding directory is pretty much a regular directory with an option to bid for home page promo space. I think a lot of the frustration concering these is that every flake and their grandmother owns one now

 

O O moderator is here now we are all in trouble, everyone hide ur posts.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 11 (11 members and 0 guests)
paidhosting, alpna, bobby9101, centime, dargre, jg123, LanceT22, MaryMary, Muneeb2Good, wayner, YIAM

 

Hi Bobby,

I started a discussion the other day about paid vs bidding directories. I personally don't see much of a difference between them..

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=457147

Also, I tend to put my name on every post I make. Why? I dunno, because I am friendly and suppose I want people to associate my directory with me, the owner. You do bring up some valid points, however, some seem a little "overboard" for me.

I do admire you for stating your opinions on what may be "controversial" topics.

Lance

 

Spamming a bit here also...

My name is Bruno but you should know that i think thx for selling me squidlink.com a year ago

BTW... Hi Pete!

You have a lot of good points there imho... I'll re-read the op 3 times before I post something longer around here.

 

@ bobby9101...you and I are nearly 100% in agreement. Yes, I am sure this thread will lead to the ever-so-familiar bashing/name calling and one sided, short minded discussion (if you can call it that). You and I both will probably receive red for going against the holy DP Directory forum grain here. The truth hurts to most of the clan here...so be prepared. Their bubble(s) will burst soon enough.

and thanks for your post. First one I've seen on here in a while that wasn't licking someone's ass or sharing the same cup of cool aid with the rest of the link farmers/link pimps. I left you some green!

tom

 

You have a lot of time on your hands

I will pick apart your points one by one.
Yes, I do believe that they have spent a lot of time on the directory industry and it is nice to recognize them, I am cool with that, it just gets to me when it gets to the butt kissing level.

About alive and aviva having lots of non-webmaster traffic.
no doubt, I agree with that, but they do gear themselves to sell to directory owners.

As I said, I am all for bidding directories, so long as they are honest about being a pay for link website. I am glad to see bidding directories ad categories, and not just alphabetical categories.

Alright Lance, I can sympathize and even empathize with you (I am in this world to make a couple of friends)
About bidding directories, it depends on the site. Some just list so much crap that there is no benefit for a visitor to visit the site. Others provide some decent listings. I touch on bid directories in my response to 'jg123'

I have no problem with you putting your name on posts, actually I like when posters do that. It seems more personal, my problem is with people that get their name plastered on billboards because their directory makes more money than yours or mine.

Glad to see ya Bruno. It hasn't been a year for squidlink yet right? Seems like it was yesterday when I sold that to you. Glad it is working out, we will have to share our directory ownership experiences sometime. (when I release my new directory)

 

Glad to see some people that are as crazy as me

 

wildweb I am not sure you agree 100% with bobby9101 is a real benefit for him. While bobby makes some good points and articulated his feeling well you just seem to be bitter. I am guessing you had one or two failed free directories in your recent past? Hope things get better for you.

 

nope jg...I'm not bitter in the least. I find it very entertaining in here. Once in a blue moon, a tid bit of information floats by that is useful and not just someone pimping their links.

As for my success and failures with directories...never had a failure and yes, all are still up and running, doing just fine. You want see me in here pimping them them though.

Now instead of turning this into a topic about me and my one post in agreement with another dp forum member, whom obviously has some commen sense (unlike some here)...please refrain from bashing me. Just give me a red rep...I'll be happy and so will you.

Thanks
tom

 

wildweb interestingly enough you are the only person so far in this thread that has resorted to name calling. I guess that pretty much sums it up. Red rep on it's way.

 

No matter how much I respect both of you, please take this elsewhere.

 

as I said...the truth hurts. Thanks for your contribution to my rainbow of colors. Feel free to encourage all your other Link Pimps to be as generous.

I'll refrain from posting anymore as I don't want to distract from one of the few worthwhile postings in this forum. Thanks again bobby!