bad directories

What are the bad directories and why are bad.

Reasons for being a bad directory:
-Ignoring paid submissions
-Removing paid submissions
-Hiding paid submission in deepest page possible.
-Ignoring complaints

Those are things you can't know before you submit, so such info is worth sharing.

 

More reasons I would suggest:

- Not listing submissions
- Taking too long to list submissions

 

I really don't like user unfriendly directories. The one's you have to wade through mountains of ads to find the submit url link. Then, you gotta fill out a ton of info only to find that they want a reciprocal or payment... argg!

Who would want to trade links with a directory anyways? Other than another directory.

 

Thanks for the reminders.
I just went thru and approved a few paid submission on businessplexus.com that I had let "slide" during the holidays.

 

From what I've seen, I think the directories that are "bad" (for alot of the reasons already stated) are those that are thrown onto the web without much thought by the owner as to how much time he will need to commit to it. I can certainly understand how alot of free submissions can pile up, if you are getting a couple hundred a day or more, but paid submissions? If I pay for a listing and someone can't list it in 2-3 days, then something is very wrong. Someone mentioned ignoring complaints. Unacceptable, in any business. If you can't email me back with some response, even one I might not like, then that is just plain unprofessional.

 

Any directory with those passcode images that are virtually unreadable ;-)

 

Directories that place a lot of emphasis on your email address in the blurb when your filling out the form,

or that require a valid email address because you will need to respond to an email for inclusion....

Bitter experience has taught me that these directories are often not what they seem...

Cheers,
Paz.

 

I added my website. Thanks!

 

I have a particular email address I use for directory submissions as I have learnt that they are not all as ethical with your email as they say they will be.

Unfortunately I don't know exactly which ones sold / used it for spam in the past.

 

gaming with robots.txt file is Xtremely bad.

 

I try to use a branded email address unique to the directory (or any site in which I submit an email)... so... dmoz would be dmoz@xxxxx You'll know really quickly who's spamming... I do the same with major companies... caught Discover Card selling my email address once this way...

 

This one pretty well tops my list. Hate having to enter the info twice because I put an l instead of an I.

 

I don't like when a directory is unclear about whether or not a recipricol link is required or if it's paid but lets me submit anyway.

I hate getting an inbox of "site rejected" notices and when I go back and look a bit more carefully, learn that they required a recip or payment. I dont like wasting my own time submitting 6 sites and I also feel bad wasting the directory reviewer's time! Recip required shouldn't be buried in some TOS, it should be right there on the form in big RED letters. Also if it's a paid directory, make it an automated paypal transaction with a "buy" button right on the form that brings you back to the site with a confirmation, it's only professional. I figured out how to get the paypal sandbox working in 30 minutes using their php example as a jumping point, if i can do it, so can you!

 

I thought it was just me. Thought I might be getting old.

Do they really need 7-12 character codes bouncing up and down, sideways...

I haven't done so in the past but I may start rating directories lower when they use unreasonably tough images.

 

I definitely dislike the use of image validation.

 

So CanadianEh, should we email everyone in our lists sending them a link to this post? Conform or be Rated!!!!!!

 

Not all image validation is bad, it's just the phpLinkDirectory one that gets on everyones nerves.

Other annoying directory things:

- Making you signup (I dont keep track of directory user/passwords so I just create a new account every time. It's well annoying)
- Not distingushing clearly if you have to add a recip link or not
- Putting a adsense link unit in place of where the "submit url" link would be. (one of the adsense kwds is often "submit link" or "add url"
- Scripts that you enter your domain and it spiders your meta data.

 

Not yet, but if we get enough feedback from directory submitters then maybe. As Google would say, it is just one of hundreds of factors.

I have added the image validation problem to my Directory Submitter Pet Peeves page. I had written the page before image validation became the rage.

 

Interesting observation, I hadn't noticed. Bummer, I'm in the middle of creating a niche directory, take a guess which script I was going to use. Hopefully that feature can be adjusted.

 

PHP link directory is a solid script, I've used it on a few dirs...and its easy to customize. You can disable image validation in the settings - no worries