Hi, I would like to know about listing a website/ business in a directory in multiple categories. Nornally some business can be listed in more than one category. In such cases if the busuiness is listed in more than one category it is suppose to be have more than one URL from the same directory. Will it affect the directory in way by the google counting it as duplicating the same data in different URL? or will it treat the same? Is it good for a directory to have same listings in multiple categories?
If the listing is mixed in with other listings within each category I doubt you'd have a problem. However where you are more likely to have issues is if the listing has a detail page. If that detail page has identical content but different URLs than I'd see that as duplicate content. To overcome that potential issue, with our script, can't speak for others, when a listing is linked to show in multiple categories the detail page is attached to the listing in the primary category then all other categories holding that same listing share that detail page, now there is only one detail page one one URL per listing no mater how many categories the listing is shown in. Personally I don't like it and will only place a listing in the single most appropriate category. However people do place listings in multiple categories and as far as I know are not having any issues.
I just checked my directory it is having only one URL per listing but listed in many categories. So, according to what you said, I hope it will not affect my directory. Did any other directory owners face any similar problem?