Are directories useful? If they contain link spam and accept anyone paying their price, then no. What is Google going to do? IMHO unless there is a big change in the way directory owners approach this industry they are going to have to no follow all directories.
Lohan, that's what I'm trying to say. Directory owners (especially the new ones) build directories just to make a quick buck. While some of them do review the sites, there are also some who click the approve button too fast just because of the money.
That's because You are only aware of those (and I admit they exist) that are promoting their directory on webmaster forums like these... You don't know others that are working in a more ethical way. In the better directories...those who are targetting their visitors, and not the search engines... I often discover websites listed that are really great. There is no way I would have discover those websites through the big G or others... So definitly...there is a future for quality directories.
The problem is that the genuine directory owners are a significant minority and a lot of the arguments on his forum concern the inclusion of questionable content in reputable directories. As things stand I don't see that Google has any option other than to devalue directories and that we should be planning for that rather than thinking this can continue indefinitely.
Evidently you are not a US citizen or reside in NY... The pic was off the twin towers in NY where over 5000 people lost thier lives and nobody wants to keep seeing it and reliving the horrors it brought... especially someone whom lives in the same state and could have lost family members or friends in that terrorist attack. thx malcolm
I get a huge kick out of the directory owners with English language directories that can barley communicate in English. How are they supposed to edit submissions?
Every directory owner should be able to use their own criteria for approvals, no matter what they are. Remember no matter how bad a site might be it is likely the major search engines have all indexed it.
I had a car dealership from "china" pay for a submission just recently and all text and graphics in chinease... It looked like a great site... But had to be refunded due to my inability to understand their language. Is thier a need for more directories in other languages? thx malcolm
I have directories in other languages and they have never been productive and quality editorial staffing is difficult to find.
Instant approval. Really, I do think less than 10% of directory owners uses 'abrypt' or can summarize a web site in a couple of sentence or less. So this means NO REVIEW ? Just accept the sites as long as they are paid ? No wonder theres a lot of junk.
May i ask... when you compare a language directory vs a niche directory which then has more of a responce? how much difference? just asking thx malcolm
I have never ventured into developing a niche directory so I could not give you an honest answer. I do well with cross-referencing general directories and stick to what I do best.
There's a lot of free junk getting around to , disguising itself as directories, but just collecting any links to further the other interests and they usually run in packs of 15 50 or 100 at a time.
The same way in that i believe that a "General directory" that has the same categories as a "niche" is just as powerful... The only difference being that the niche has less categories so the PR would be more abundant in the niche since the category numbers are much less... I have already added the most important niches in my general directories thx malcolm
Yeah, but once again, this can't stand up to referer/directory cloaking. I'm sorry, but automated algorithms are going to have to improve, because humans are just too easy. And right now, that's what directories operate off of. Name any directory, and I can get myself listed in it with a POS article. Possible exceptions being places like dmoz that are reviewed by too many eyes. I have a feeling this technique is going to take off soon.
Maybe a stupid question...but can you explain this please ? In my eyes a niche and a general can not have the same categories... but maybe I didn't understand your point
Free or Paid Junks; there are a lot of of them packs of 10, 50 100. Sad to say they are present here in this very forum 'trying to learn' as they state when they don't even apply of what is being learned. Learning SEO and having the site get on the TOP Spot for their keywords is their number 1 priority. Suffice to say learning to edit and adding resources is not on the list of priorities and this make it worse. I can point or have visited some sites with titles UN capitalized when it is supposed to be and descriptions of enormous stuff keywords while on their guidelines says different. I don't say mine directory is perfect as its fairly new and still trying my best to grow it as to be as 'usable' as possible. Maybe some owners can look into this matter and not bury their heads on SEO improvements neglecting one of the main thing a directory should supposed to have.
Ok, it's my stupid questions day but what is a POS article ? Depending on your answer... you can try so submit to my directory