I run most of my directories on phpLD script as its quite easy for a dumb webmaster like me to run. I want to completely remove the RECIPROCAL OPTION from my directories. How to do it? Do I just delete the code from submit.tpl? So it is more complicated than that? It seems Google is against reciprocal links. So I don't want that thing/option in any of my directories. Pls help.
Hello... I believe that matt cutts said something about the reciprocal option on plpld somewhere (i believe) so we removed it on some as it serves no purpose... Contact any of these coders... an0n, leopard, mikey, darge, silkysmooth and im sure they can do this thx malcolm
Where he (Matt Cutts)said about this? And also remove reciprocal input fields from submit.tpl ( one is radio button and other one is text box)
remove it from submit.tpl only simple as that If you have problems send me your submit.tpl and I will help you.
I believe (not sure) i read that in the google blog or on his personal blog not sure though as it claimed that this was also an issue that caused PR loss... thx malcolm
WWOW -- thanks to all of you for the overwhelming response to help me. Thats why I tell my real life pals that- my best pals live ONLINE. I thought so--but was never confident sure. Thanks for confirming it. I don't remember the thread URL-- but please check the December (first week) archive of http://googleblog.blogspot.com/ . There was a discussion which involved -- Jeff/Mikey/CReed regarding directories and Matt was livid with paid directories because he had the wrong notion ( after reviewing Aviva for couple of mins) directories were asking for links even after charging review fees. Never thought-- Matt of all the people in Google would be so stupid not to properly review even a sinlge site. So you can assume how Google takes actions against directories. Thanks a lot buddy. Yeah-- I too read it and have bben trying to find ways to revive my two premiere directories that got penalized.
I turned it off in the phpLD admin panel and removed the two boxes from the submit form. Google does not like link exchanges. Matt cutts wrote on that blog like you rightly said John, and said the forcing reciprocal links isn't a good idea. And of course, his staff will review directories. he can't do everything himself. hes the boss
Real life what's that anyways, i was also thinking the same, and just now deleted the reciprocal codes from the submit.tpl and everything's fine! Anyways, the reciprocal link was badly spammed from dynamic link farm pages!! so directories are better of without that option!
theirs a few steps that we will be implementing on our directories 1. remove recip option (submit page) 2. use "no follow" on our own network site thumbs (if applicable) Don't interlink with your other directories. 3. Make "sponsored links" only homepage and change name to anything BUT "sponsored". (may change from links to scrolling banners) 4. "Top Hits" REMOVE it completely or alternately use "No follow" on that page! These are just a few things that "may have" been issues with what happened to most directories and something to look into before requesting reclusion... just went threw a massive list of 2000 FREE directories and MOST that didnt have the issues mentioned above retained thier PR many still having internal PR also... If anyone has more please add so others can learn from previous mistakes thx malcolm
John, just so that you are aware - I had the reciprocal listing option removed long before any directories were reviewed and penalized. It's just one consideration as you work on moving forward.
Very shameless of my, but i wrote an article on the whole penalty thing, some stuff matt cutts said and things Jeff did that may have lead to Aviva getting unpenalised. http://www.talkdirectories.com/gene...iva-directory-no-longer-penalised-google.html
Thx mikey as you provided another KEY to this puzzle/riddle... Don't allow users to manipulate your directory system by gaining a higher PR backlink from "top hits" pages. We have seen that this is done VERY MUCH by site owners and a good reason to REMOVE it completely or alternately use "No follow" on that page! thx for sharing this... thx malcolm
matt cutts made the mistake in thinking jeffs dirs were forcing a recip link on any submissions but that was not the case I never did understand why the disable option for the recip never worked and u had to remove the code manually hope that fixe in the latest version at least I dunno if it actually makes that much of a difference to remove the option..I only do it because Im not interested in offering recip links ive removed the top hits on a few dirs also as its true as malcolm pointed out a lot of submitters are using this to get onto that well cached page and sometimes well PRd page
You can still use top hits/latest links. Just nofollow it and nofollow all the external links from it. Thats what I did.
gotta say I was surprised with two things with his postings on that google webmaster blog one that he actually did make such a big mistake and two that he went into detail on a public forum about a site
I have been following aviva and other directories that got burned by google. Learning quite a bit myself about directories. Have to since I decided to get back into directories (had only one left, and I kept it as it was making me money-bid directory). Here is Jeff and his blog posting about what he did to get aviva back on google and get most of his pr back. http://www.avivadirectory.com/downloadblog/?p=338