Old pipes is giving himself brain ache today but im just looking and thinking of a few things. In my directories theres detail pages, like link-12345.html, these of course being the detail pages for an individual listing in any particular category. These are just numbers though in the url, not relevant to the listing, doesn't tell the search engines much, the number being the ID number for the listing i understand, but that number to the search engines wont tell it anything, and every single one begins with link- This cant be good, i mean if you provide deeplinks like i do too on 2 of my directories, this is where those deeplinks are placed, on that detail page that is not very usefully named like link-12345.html For the paying submitters, lucky enough to have their details page actually indexed in google for example, this must have less benefit than desired with regards to what is in the url. detail/link-4954.html with the directory name in front of is just says to the search engine that this is a page from this directory but doesn't look like it helps in saying what its about. Sure the page content and meta tags will hold information but detail/link-4954.html cant be good. Also consider how many of us use scripts, and my directory and your directory and others will obviously have the same numbers, because thats how it works, yes they are on different url's but still the same ending to the url's, im not sure thats good.
Ive just been looking though at one directory compared to another, both using this improved detail page url but dont see what i hoped, which is possibly better indexing. It does improve on the urls that i was mentioning above, but doesn't look like directories using this have any benefit over those not showing these types of urls, on directories at least.
Mine look like this ... http://www.craftytips.com/Computer-Art-for-Crafters/Free-Downloadable-Images-for-Crafters-l770.html I thought all the scripts with mod-rewrite allowed for some modifications to the detail page URLs. Whether it helps with SEO or not, having the link title or website name in the URL is more readable and IMHO just looks better. I hate the bar character in front of the number but if I remember right that's a required quirk with the version of software I'm using.
From what i saw while checking today, it doesn't look like it helps enough, like i dont see significant difference for those with the better looking url, unfortunately. I know its better to have urls that look better to humans as well as looking better in the search engine results but as far as helping in other ways its not making a difference. Still trying to get my head around the impossible riddle that google set for us directory owners.
If I'm not mistaken, Dan from Virtual Solutions has a mod for it. mine looks like this: http://www.linkernel.com/Arts/Music/The-Rolling-Stones-2205.html
Since you guys are seeking info, let me shed a little light on this particular mod. Being that I was the one who originally created it, I am always constantly and consistently testing things and always looking for any issues that can or may occur with any MODs. This is an on going process that I never exhaust. Reasons I don't provide this MOD anymore and provide an alternative is: 1. people ripped off the idea and oif course try to claim it as theirs. 2. after it got ripped off, people provided it for free even though it's flawed a. I guess to annoy me or think they could hurt my business. b. Thinking they would be some sort of hero and that they will get backlinks for giving it, which we all know they won't. ha! suckers! Now... here are the URLs... Look at these two urls and tell me what's wrong? http://www.linkernel.com/Arts/Music/The-Rolling-Stones-2204.html http://www.linkernel.com/Arts/Music/The-Rolling-Stones-2205.html
Hi Rob, You worked on my directory and you know me. To be honest, I never knew it was your mod because VS has been advertising it as theirs... The thing is I just didn't know! Whatever be the case, you asked what wrong with the links mentioned above. Could you elaborate the issue? Thanks
Well, if it were my directory the listing for James Morrison would not have a link title of "The Rolling Stones" which probably would eliminate the point you are trying to make. (sorry Alistair, no offense intended) As to details pages and can they rank well with numbers in the URL, I can tell you the number 1 visited page on Crafty Tips, after the home page, is one of the details pages.
No offence taken! The mistake was on my part...and I do agree that numbers in the url is probably not the best thing to have...is this the flawed version of the mod that Rob mentioned? I'd like to have this fixed.
Yeah thanks, I already contacted Rob! I understand how frustrating it can be for him to see others literally steal his mods and advertise as their own. I have a lot of respect for Rob and I wonder is there a surefire way to prevent this kind of activity by recoder-re-sellers!
Problem fixed: Detail URL looks like this now: http://www.linkernel.com/coldplay-official-website.html I love that band Thanks Rob.
I am using a free mod to SEO my details page for one of my directories. Example: http://www.directorypro.biz/Automotive/Used-Cars-778.html