I admit I don't put much work into my directory, simply don't have the time, too busy working on other people's websites. However I can gauge how well my directory is doing by analising my stats, when untargeted unrelated keywords are displayed I know these are from my directory. This and this alone is of concern to me, having a search engine presence for my listings is my key aim. I do spend 1 day a month filtering my directory, this is a real pain, are submitted links live and do they fit with the theme of the directory. Put it this way I delete far more than I allow in. In conclusion, no one really knows the future for directories paid or unpaid, if we could look into the future we would be doing more useful things with our time. It is widely believed that changes are needed in the directory sector, my own opinion is simply rewording the product ain't gonna work. By working on my own directory I can see most directories are used by spam sites or link builders, this is a shame. Finally what a cracking thread, most of the time if you have a differing opinion in this place the tone is that of abuse, it is nice to read articulate well present opinions.
Looking into the future is created by the thoughts and actions of the directory owners today, as their decissions will be what creates the future. In that we now see many people moving towards alternate presentations, criteria and focus. Some of these calls will be right others may not turn out so well, but unless tried people will not know. I am not sure if many people will put up front what they have in mind for these changes, for myself i have gone gun shy on speaking out of school and will be running a WYSIWYG type set up, as there are many eyes and ears who very quickly copy / adopt any suggestions made. The positives for those wanting to make changes far outway the negatives in that those who just pump out useless directories will soon be left in the dark corner wondering what happened. What would be good is to hear from webmasters who use directories to list what they have loved and hated about directories in the past so that those designing the newer directories can lisyen and adopt suggestions made.
Very wise, I run a successful SEO service and over the years have found many people ask my opinion not out of curiosity but to use the ideas I have spent years perfecting. You are also right who is really going to give away the direction they intend to move in, being first to market in any business can be lucrative. My directory is simply used as another system of building backlinks for my site, in return I would like to deliver traffic to submission websites. So far this is working ok, but I understand I still have plenty of work to do. The fact my directory is not used to generate income it means whatever happens in the directory world it will not affect my business model. I still stand by my stance that I agree with the steps Google has taken too many directories appeared strong because of their homepage PR, however internally they were very weak. Some time back I did pay for a listing in the Alive directory and Bigweblinks, neither of these submissions were ever indexed by Google, so what did I pay for? The directories as yet have not generated 1 visitor to my site. In regards to visitors from directories the only one that delivers small but regular amounts of traffic to my website is indexplex, this is because I know the owner and have a homepage listing. That would lead me to believe that have lots of premium listings in directories will generate traffic, I doubt it would be as effective in regards to backlinks.
It goes well so far. IMO, I still think directory industry will positive in the future if the direcory owner offer a legitimate value with their directory. What direcory ower need to do is to make their directories more SEO friendly
Sorry YMC, i had misunderstood the points you had made previously, i see what you mean, some very strong and valid points you made there, i agree.
Blue, I agree with your point about the optimisation of directories, I did a sample check about a year ago and found even the top directories were very poor in regards to SEO. Many of them use generic tags, instead of page specific tags. There are many SEO issues for directories, here are a few. 1. Each page should be viewed as unique, to that extent it should have unique content and unique tags, the clever operators are then able to gel the tags and content together. 2. A page must have more words than the template or it will trip the duplicate content filter, directories that have pages with only a few entires struggle here 3. Web pages need unique relevant content, to that end directory pages need to display more than links and submission descriptions, something I need to do myself. 4. Dead links and links to bad neighbourhoods need to be wiped out 5. Directories need to link to other sources not just other directories, this is called not putting your eggs in one basket. As we know many directories have been devalued by Google, the problem has been made worse by directory owners building their backlinks through their peers websites. SEO, is something I know a lot about, I guess it should be as I work professionally in the field, my own site is listed on page 1 of Google for umpteen keywords, even my directory is listed on page 1 for my 2 preferred keywords http://www.google.co.uk/search?sour...T4SUNA_enDE256DE256&q=free+business+directory http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4SUNA_enDE256DE256&q=business+services+directory&meta= Sometime this year I plan to start my own SEO based forum, simply because I am sick of the amount of damaging dis-information that floats around forums.
I'd agree with Business Services It would be great if some one could make such a project where ppl should grant access before reaching information and having ability to post new one. But the question is: Who have time to do this?
I had thought it odd that you didn't agree with my earlier post. I always try to remember there are so many folks here who don't speak my southern accented American English.