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Directory Structure 102 - Category Taxonomy

Discussion in 'Directories' started by Bernard, Oct 27, 2007.

  1. #1
    Did you make your own category structure? Are your categories all aligned by subject or do you mix categories by type of site (forum/blog/directory/etc.)? Do you use symbolic categories? Do you believe that these are important questions?

    It is my hope that this thread will lead to further consideration amongst directory owners for quality and perception issues. I'll add my own comments on the questions after people have had a chance to respond.
     
    Bernard, Oct 27, 2007 IP
    Briant likes this.
  2. britishguy

    britishguy Prominent Member

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    #2
    Best to keep categories category specific
     
    britishguy, Oct 27, 2007 IP
  3. uttoransen

    uttoransen Prominent Member

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    #3
    yes, i make my own category structure, also in my threads i have always asked people to recommend categories for me, and i added those categories!:)
     
    uttoransen, Oct 27, 2007 IP
  4. adnan

    adnan Peon

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    #4
    Yea, pretty much made our own cats, by subject & mixed in some instances.
     
    adnan, Oct 27, 2007 IP
  5. mikey1090

    mikey1090 Moderator Staff

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    #5
    I use a custom structure, its the best way to do it.

    I use a mixture of subjects/sites. So blogs/directories/forums and also internet/arts/real estate. you get the idea;)
     
    mikey1090, Oct 27, 2007 IP
  6. DownUnder

    DownUnder Well-Known Member

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    #6
    I ask 2 main questions

    what is it = example = it is a forum
    what type is it = example = its an auto forum

    = Forums > automotive > name
     
    DownUnder, Oct 27, 2007 IP
  7. mikey1090

    mikey1090 Moderator Staff

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    #7
    Yeah. Then you have a category such as technology > autos

    inside autos a symbolic category called forums, which points to the forums section.
     
    mikey1090, Oct 28, 2007 IP
  8. DownUnder

    DownUnder Well-Known Member

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    #8
    Hi Mike not sure i understand but if you mean a ghost like

    Main : Forums > Auto > Title
    Ghost : Auto > Forums > Title

    then yes it does cover it.
     
    DownUnder, Oct 28, 2007 IP
  9. mikey1090

    mikey1090 Moderator Staff

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    #9
    No i mean this

    main = yoursite.com/forums/autos
    symbolic = yoursite.com/technology/autos then a category inside there that links back to yoursite.com/forums/autos

    Its called a symbolic category - basically links to another category to help users find similar categories, and imprives internal linking structure. In our example the forums category in autos links to the autos forums category.
     
    mikey1090, Oct 28, 2007 IP
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  10. DownUnder

    DownUnder Well-Known Member

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    #10
    Ok cheers Mike, appreciate your help with this, the way you have described it has helped me better understand some layout terms and idea's, Thanks.
     
    DownUnder, Oct 28, 2007 IP
  11. Bernard

    Bernard Well-Known Member

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    #11
    Some good responses here.

    One of my pet peeves about directories are "type" categories (forum, blog, directory) that are not topically focused. For example: Health > Chats and Forums

    While this kind of categoy is appropriate for some general topic health forums, directories with these kinds of categories often don't include the "type" categories under the more topically focused subcategories (like each individual health condition). These types of categories are not helpful to visitors looking for forums on specific subjects, they aren't helpful to webmasters who want to link to useful references on specific subjects and they aren't helpful to search engines looking for hubs of topical associations.

    *If* you are going to include "type" categories, they should be topically focused IMO!

    Symbolic categories are very much underused IMO. How many of you get upset when people don't submit listings to the correct category? Symbolic categories can eliminate duplicate and redundant categories and guide visitors to the correct category.

    For example:

    Business > Software
    Computer > Software
    Shopping > Software

    This is confusing! Better to pick one of them as the main category and use symbolic categories for the others to redirect to the main category - like so:

    Business > @Software (links to Shopping > Software > Business)
    Computer > @Software (links to Shopping > Software)
    Shopping > Software

    As mentioned, this is also good for improving the internal link structure of the directory.
     
    Bernard, Oct 29, 2007 IP
  12. DownUnder

    DownUnder Well-Known Member

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    #12
    Do an old timer a favour, can you point me to an example in a directory using this system, :) just need to cement in what i see. Thanks
     
    DownUnder, Oct 29, 2007 IP
  13. Bernard

    Bernard Well-Known Member

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    #13
    Bernard, Oct 29, 2007 IP
    DownUnder likes this.
  14. DownUnder

    DownUnder Well-Known Member

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    #14
    It brings a tear to my glass eye, the penny dropped with this, and what a magic system.

    green for you and Mikey, appreciate you helping out.
     
    DownUnder, Oct 30, 2007 IP
  15. Bernard

    Bernard Well-Known Member

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    #15
    Thanks! A response like that makes all the effort I put into these "directory structure 10#" threads worthwhile. :)
     
    Bernard, Oct 31, 2007 IP
  16. popotalk

    popotalk Notable Member

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    #16
    I'll show you a unique category structure and unique taxonomy in a few days. :)
     
    popotalk, Oct 31, 2007 IP
  17. Bernard

    Bernard Well-Known Member

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    #17
    Sounds great. :)
     
    Bernard, Oct 31, 2007 IP
  18. YMC

    YMC Well-Known Member

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    #18
    I think for the most part people who are seeking links as well as seeking sites to visit care more about the topic then the type of site it is.

    Following your example, if I were looking for an automotive forum, I would look for an automotive category before looking for a forum. Additionally, if I am looking for help with my ___(insert car name here)__ I would go to an automotive section before I went to a forums section (thinking as a site visitor who navigates via the menus rather than using search).

    This is part of the reason why I think the Shopping category is greatly overused. If I am looking to buy a car and I pick up my local phone directory, I won't find much if I look under shopping; but I'll find exactly what I need under Automobiles.

    Why with directories is it necessary to add another layer like this? If you want to separate the cars for sale from the informational sites, why not have:

    Automotive > Forums
    Automotive > Vehicles for Sale

    and if the category starts filling up enough

    Automotive > Vehicles for Sale > Toyotas, New
    Automotive > Vehicles for Sale > Toyotas, Pre-Owned
     
    YMC, Nov 6, 2007 IP
  19. DownUnder

    DownUnder Well-Known Member

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    #19
    Can only agree with that, i will also be following up on the help above with the symbolic catagory, this should cover most options.

    i will probably go with something like
    Directory > Forums > Automotive > Title
    then a symbolic somthing like
    Directory > automotive > @ forums
    which will redirect to the forums > automotive

    This is where it even gets more fun as i am about to list a directory that has a blog so see if this sounds right to list it once but list it as a directory but also list the blog ( advice appreciated )

    Directory > Web Directories > General > Title

    then to re direct the blog i need re direct the title not the catagory ? i hope

    Directory > Blog > Directories > @ Title

    the plan anyway, but i just plan to make it up as i go, if its wrong, chillout and fix the catagory before moving on.
     
    DownUnder, Nov 7, 2007 IP
  20. Bernard

    Bernard Well-Known Member

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    #20
    Agreed Michelle! :)

    DownUnder... I didn't understand what you are trying to do with the blog.
     
    Bernard, Nov 7, 2007 IP