It is defenetly not just about being a directory. They've just yesterday banned Text-Links-Ads too. They're going after the purchased links industry......
I think google is trying to scare everyone a little by penalizing some of the bigger players. The simply don't want people buying PR so I guess the idea is to scare all webmasters from submitting to the PR pimps. The end result being that you can't manipulate PR and therefore can't manipulate SERPs as much. I'm sure we are going to see a number of other methods like this over the next few weeks to try and discourage PR manipulation. Anyone that thinks google isn't working their a**es off to get this PR thing under control is completely clueless, it's the core of why their results were so accurate.
i think this is crazy, since how otherwise would you be able to work on link-building. Its one of the first things anyone will do will be to enlist yourself ina a directory
It won't get your site penalized, but you could still lose any PR boost you might have expected to get from being listed.
Ouch! That hit the spot, excuse me Matt but how is the Y! directory any less "paid" then others. That is discrimination Google not only values the Y! directory but they RECOMMEND paying for the listing... what hypocrisy. Guess what I am writing about now... Pr boost is irrelevant... but yeah any link value passed by that directory will be dropped so it could cause a loss of rankings.
I am not aware of Yahoo buying links in to boost their PR - in order to "sell" links based UPON that PR. Why is this so difficult to understand? I am also not aware of any directory being penalised just for being a directory that charges a review fee
Also these directories are penalized; Biz-Dir Big Web Links ewebpages Directory Dump Elegant Directory More info; http://sphinn.com/story/4415
Its the best practice some guys to go home some bad nonprofessional gyus who sell something which doesnt belongs to.....