I just made a post about how to get PR to categories in a directory. The topics I covered were pr sculpting, homepage tweaks, improving internal link structure, and of course backlinks. If anyone is interested in getting some PR to their directory's categories, please read: How to Get PR on Directory Categories I hope the info helps those that are interested...
Too much PR sculpting is a bad thing imo. A little is almost necessary. Good piece. Will make my roundup for Thursday.
You prolly been doing it for awhile, you just didn't know it. Its a common tactic and its to be used with caution.
I've never seen it called PR sculpting. I just call it a bit of common sense. Why index a page that no one should visit without visiting a different page first? Personally, I don't want a high-ranking submit page (PR or serps), I want a visitor to come to the homepage or a category page. I get enough spammy submissions without encouraging them. I see it as more of a usability issue and to a lesser degree copyright protection than one of PR exchange. I have begun putting noindex and nofollow on all of my Contact Us pages. Has absolutely nothing to do with directories or PR and everything to do with making spammers have to work a little harder. I also try to look at it from the point of someone doing a search. Ask yourself, would this make a good landing page or would a new visitor stay long enough to explore the rest of my site if this was the first page they saw? If the answer answer to either question is NO! then I consider noindexing it and putting nofollow on any pages that link to it. There was a piece on Cutt's blog not too long ago about them ignoring noindex and nofollow and their excuse (sorry, reason) was that the other search engines were doing it and that they wanted to not provide any less of a good experience for their searchers. The comments on that entry were decidedly against ignoring the directives but now I'm wondering if the premise was to prevent webmasters from 'sculpting PR'.
Nice read, thanks. But usually, there is no need to work for internal PR, you get the juice from Homepage PR
Being totally blunt and honest here, to the untrained eye your post looks like nothing more than a worrying advert for phpld as you mention it so many times in one post. I don't think you've done the script you mention any favours either, by openly confessing about its weakness, regardless of whether you can fix this or not, people simply don't want to buy something to fix. Isn't the topic of indexing and the way you can do it also something the minstrel pointed out on this forum a long time back when he was trying to evaluate the indexability of his directories? Perhaps you should have eased off the gas with what does seem to be over-promotion of it, sounded pretty worrying.
My post was not written to do phpLD any favors, it was written to give directory owners more control over their PR. Since I am not affiliated with phpLD, with the exception of being an end user, I see no problem helping out other directory owners. If during this process I publicly discuss the script's PR optimization/updating weaknesses, so be it. Their public forums list quite a few problems, which in most cases they correct. Since PR optimization is not a usability or security issue, it is up to the directory owner to correct if they so choose. If minstrel touched on this in the past, I have not read it. But from what I see, the topic should be discussed again. In every new directory I see, none of the PR optimization tweaks have been made. In fact, most do not even use SEO friendly URLs. I believe you are looking at my post from a directory script developers point of view because of your affiliation with phplynx. That's fine and to be expected, because every directory script developer wants to read only positive comments about their scripts and negative comments about their competitors scripts. But at the end of the day, most directory owners want to build their directories in such a way that is not only profitable but improves indexing. My post was written to help phpLD 3.x directory owners address those issues and give others an idea of the steps they can take to improve their inner PR.
I don't think you can blame anyone for thinking it was an over promoting of phpld as you over referenced it. Perhaps that's just your style of writing though. He did and it showed some good results, however I do agree that the subject hasn't been exhausted even if I think PR is a load of nonsense. Not at all, I encourage all feedback good or bad, you can't move forward without it. You posted about how to get PR in directory categories which looked a good topic. The problem with the post was the 8 references to the script in question, that pulled the thread down to be honest and put me off joining what looks a good forum. Oh; the red rep for daring to give an honest opinion never helped either, anonymous as usual..
First, I must address the red rep. I did not give you any rep. In fact, I green repped you recently and would be unable to provide you any rep. Please look in your CP to check if it is still listed/signed. You should know by now that I have green repped you multiple times because of your honesty and the contributions you make. This case would be no different. In fact, your post in this thread has allowed us to discuss some issues in finer detail. I see nothing wrong with that. Maybe it is my writing style that makes you think I was promoting phpLD. I did note that the script does have its weaknesses, and if I were promoting the script that is something I would not have said. Regardless, the split category mod I linked to in the post is for phpLD 3.x. Since that was the biggest factor for improving internal linking structure in my directory, it only made sense to reference phpLD. And I am the first to admit that I do not have extensive knowledge with any other directory script. Maybe my post would have been better if titled "Steps I am taking to improve my category PR." When it comes to directories, PR is far from nonsense. This would be a great area for competitor scripts to capitalize on (if not already). Category PR is a driving force behind featured listings. When my "Web Directories" category turned PR 3, the top level category was filled with featured listings shortly afterwards. After I approved the listings, it was then that I noticed the PR 3. The fact is that people do chase PR, and category PR will improve listings. I am sorry if the post offended you or left out an evaluation/method to deal with other scripts. The truth be known, I have no basis to judge other scripts because I do not use them. Common knowledge should prevail and most understand each directory script has its strengths and weaknesses. I'll green rep you when I'm able to make up for the red you received.
Yes it has, and its a good topic, the thing is, and I'm confident from speaking with you in the past, you don't take things personal, all I ever offer is constructive critisism, I won't always be right, I never pretend to be. The red rep idiots are people who aren't big enough to sign their sigs, I guess they're afraid to have some back. Anyway, back on track, I guess it probably was your style of writing and it did inadvertanly make phpld look bad, regardless of a fix being available. It was a good example to give though, and you did it pretty well.
I am glad we understand where each other is coming from. I was about ready to offer a $20 Paypal bounty for someone (Mod) to prove I did not give you red. Trust me, the thought of giving you red never crossed my mind. Actually I thought I was pretty fair in addressing the script, with the exception of updating the PR of existing listings. I always knew I would never be a good news reporter. What you see may be one of the reasons why.
lol, No worries Snowbird, I have a different style of writing that's all. Beleive it or not I do try to be as impartial as I can but sometimes its unavoidable. Just for info the loser who threw red at me was worth 5 which was about your level but I take your word for it and apologise if I looked as if I was blaming you. All is good.
With my post count I should have 10 repping power, so thank you for looking and confirming it was not me. I don't give out reds very often, and I certainly would not for your posts. All is good Jamie!
Cheers mate, there's some hullaballoo on another thread about some dimwit giving neg rep out. As one guy said, lets ignore that and move on.