Some people mentioned that Google may start penalizing the new link bid type directories. In my honest opinion, I see no reason for that. Basically, you have this directory and if a listing in Web Design is #1 or #9, should make no difference in the quality of the directory. I mean Google Directory lists sites according to Page Rank. Yahoo Directory has a sponsored listing option where you pay $50.00 p/month to be on page 1. We list sites by the order submitted. So basically, I just wanted to clear up the misconception that Google will start penalizing the link bid type directories. Matt Cutts blog post mainly outlines not to link to spammy sites and I think Google is gonna come hunting for the directories which do. But as far as a listing being #2 or #7, doesn't make directory low quality. I guess that sounds logical.
If the listed links are quality and relevancy matches, I think G will not penalize just because of bidding function in a directory. Ultimately, if a directory, whatever the form is, offering something good for G, it will be ok.
I think there are a couple of considerations whether it is a regular directory or a bidding directory: 1) If it has a high pagerank, how did it get that pagerank? Did it do so by buying the types of links that Matt Cutts warned about that may have gotten BlueFind in trouble? 2) Are you only charging for the review process or something more? If something more, will google put a filter on these sorts of links because they fit more into "paid advertising" versus "human reviewed sites"? If you have a high pagerank directory selling links, do they "flow pagerank"? Those are important questions worth careful consideration.
Well again, the directory could be free. I don't think Google is concerned about that. But the sites that you have listed, that could be a concern. Holy moly, I must have made like 50 posts today. I gotta get back to work
Ultimately, I don't think G knows what to do with bidding directory yet. In the future, G may give them a negative response, but if G starts to devalue bidding directory, it's possible to play with "words" to get away with the penalty. Instead of saying "bid", we can say, for example, "promotion". Keep the bidding concept but play with other words. Some directory owners didn't like to show the word "bid" or $ sign for this reason.
Yes, I am working on a model that I will be releasing shortly that should be popular, and a little more in line with what Matt Cutts is saying. It's really neat, and can't way to spill the beans. It should be as profitable as the bidding model (probably more).
Can u explain to me 1 logical reason why they may get a negative response from Google? I mean does it make ANY difference at all if your listing is #2 or #6
The main logical reason would be if you were buying pagerank from other sources and then reselling it. (ex. some have said BlueFind, which was affected, fit this model)
Well dvduval Showing a listing as #2 or #7, what does that have to do with pagerank? And Yahoo! Directory does it. I"m not really sure how the bid thing works but it seems like its just a matter of what position you list a listing. 1, 2, 5, 6 ............... So how does that act against Google's tos?
It's no big deal to show different positions, but bidding on the high pagerank homepage (or other high pr pages) might raise some eyebrows, because you are very much purchasing pagerank at that point. Understand this... 1 PR 7 link is worth probably 50,000 more than one PR 4 link, so there truly is a big difference in google's eyes.
Ok, so you acknowledge the fact that it makes no difference if you show a listing as #2 or #6 Alot of the other directories which are non bid, they sell links on the homepage as well.
I acknowledge that even directories that sell homepage links need to watch this issue closely. I've seen lots of examples of directories posting related links on their site that should be fine in google's eyes, but I can't even be sure of that.
And adding to my last response, I am sure of nothing, except the fact that we know a quality review process is seen as a good thing, and charging for links is a bad things. We are not charging for links, we are charging for the review. We are not charging for the position. We are charging for the review. That is the hard truth that seems pretty apparent, based on Matt's blog post. Can we charge for advertising? Absolutely! But that is different than a quality review, and google is interested in knowing the difference, especially when high PR is involved.
hmmmm Myself i see it as an added benifit and would sway me to throw a few extra bucks since the link is on a high PR homepage... BUT again Nobody BIDS $1000 for a PR7 link...thats basic Just Bragging Rights and a Show of Who I Am If i wanted my link on a pr7 site i can probably get it at $50 or less monthly if i were paying for it ... so you see what im saying... thats just my 2 cents as that is what it means to me... hense i see it as advertising PS im very interested to see your NEW version as well for phpld...im sure it will be a hit thx malcolm
So true. You can buy a PR 5 link for around $15-25 per month, a pr 6 for $20-75 per month and a PR 7 for around $100-300 per month. Now IF the link stays on the homepage, and IF the site stays a high pagerank, and IF google doesn't discount the link, you might have a good deal. There are a lot of IFs. When it comes to bidding directories a good study would be to compare which sites link to each other. That would give you a pretty good idea who was trading with who, purposely or not. There are just too many IFs right now, so you have to be careful. There is still a chance things will start to normalize, but from what I've seen so far, there are still a lot of IFs.
And so I started with my own PHPLD model http://www.all4seo.net This is PHP Link Directory. I'm full of doubts, however it's someting different and new for PHPLD. Still thinking how to make it 'little more in line with what Matt Cutts is saying'
That is going to do well Dargre. It is a blend of both phpLD and bidding, so your users have a choice of either model in one directory. Excellent work.
Not only a choice If you bid - you can also choose a category. So the link is both: under A-Z and under category as regular link!!!! And more juice: regular links in categories are sorted default by bids!!! All lifetime ! And all of course have fully integrated with Admin to make life easier Even some configuration: minimum first bid, minimum next bid, bids on front, bids for page, show CAPTCHA or not, add/not a link to categories, type of link in categories. Could do that much sooner but as some friends already know had some problems with my health (few days in clinic), and still can't walk