Hello fellow directory owners, I would like to announce the creation of a directory union named the IWDAA or the International Web Directory Accreditation Association. IWDAA will provide platform for directory owners to have their directories accredited and to provide a level of standards for the directory community. Those that are interested in having their directory accredited will submit their site to a rigorous examination that will be carried out by a directory review committee. Sites that pass the accreditation test will receive an accreditation seal and certificate that they may put on their directory. Why Join? IWDAA members will be part of an elite group, that will set a high level of standards throughout the industry. Members will have a level of trust that visitors and search engines alike will come to trust. By displaying the accreditation seal on your website, you will inform visitors that your directory is a valuable resource and committed to excellency. Who Can Join? Anyone may submit their directory for accreditation, but a very small percentage will be accepted. Why will only a small percentage be accept? To ensure that only directories that provide a quality resource to visitors are accredited. What will the IWDAA do? The core committee will actively work on informing web users of the importance and the quality in which accredited directories provide. IWDAA will potentially negotiate with search engines to ensure that accredited directories will receive fair and proper treatment in the search engine index, and the IWDAA will partner with search engines in a dual partnership aimed to improve information availability towards web users. What is the current stage of the IWDAA? The IWDAA is in pre-release stage, currently the IWDAA is looking for qualified members for the core committee as well as ideas and support from all directory owners. If you are interested in the IWDAA, please send me a PM titled "IWDAA" and I will be glad to discuss this wonderful opportunity with you. Thank you, Bobby
Just a question would you accept ruthless dictators, liars, cheaters, and the likes ? Just an honest question.
If you are going to make an elite class of people to decide who has a good directory or not, aren't those the ones you would want on the board? lol Lance
Yes... that's why I asked to see what these standards are... When someone says... I am not sure how you can predict that: 1) Unless the standards already exists 2) Unless one of the standards is, "We will only accept 2% of the submissions" which doesn't really give the Association much credibility does it? Lance
Good point. Also would this be more of a FRIENDSHIP thingy or NEUTRAL. In this industry the FRIENDSHIP and POPULARITY survives more rather than those who strives hard. A set of real policy guidelines would be good to read first.
The word "International" is too much as there is no boundaries or no countries,states,cities in Web (WWW-World Wide Web)
I don't have a commitee yet, so I don't have set guidlines. Here are some loose guidlines that I personally believe are important. 1. Directory MUST be made with visitor in mind, sure almsot every directory is made to increase SERPS, but it still must be made for a visitor. 2. Directory must list only quality sites, and should have guidlines for for accepting and rejecting sites. 3. Directory may be free or paid, but if paid, must have a reasonable review fee. There will be more guidlines to come, especially when we can start a committee. One of the main points of the IWDAA is to increase web users awareness of directories. That would defeat the purpose wouldn't it? True, I can't be certain when i say that most directories will nto be approved, but from what I have seen in the directory world, most directories are made to make a little cash and provide some SERPs with no concern for visitors. This will be an unbiased group, we will probably have moer enemies than friends, but that's ok with me. So long as we can convince web users to utilize directories for information.
I think you have good intentions, but if this association ever gets big, it'll turn into another dmoz-like group of directories. Money + People = Corruption
Thank You. Besides that with things right now there would always be my special friends, families and the most popular. If there will be an antidote for that....
Nice purpose but surely would watch its progress and can give it a consideration when I see the guidelines. Good Luck.
Will it be registered and would legal documents and authenticity of the Union be available on request? although not a company i believe for something like this to be taken as seriously as it needs to be would involve more. If that extent can be reached would it cover the world? in which countries can it be recognised? If im getting carried away i apologise. But if its to be how i imagine i expect that there is more to setting up something like this. Who will regulate it?
Finally someone is starting an initiative that will be beneficial to all directory owners. I will send that PM shortly