What are the chances that a paid directory will get banned from google? Should I switch my directory into a free one? I really don't want to be banned. Thanks in advance
Change the mission behind running a directory and G will be happy for you. Create a resource beneficial to the public and people and everyone and G will love u.
Saying you can't charge for a review / add / listing or whatever you want to call it in a directory is like saying newspapers and tv stations can't charge for their time and energy to advertise , it's rubbish. I'm not sure why people spend so much time worrying about google and what they do instead of worrying about their own business. Or is google a monopoly that will dictate what everyone does on the web ?
It doesn't take a genius to work out people submit to directories for the link benefit, if google are penalizing directories people wont submit, and so directorie owners worry about google..
If you make no money from the paid listings section anyway then remove it and remove the worry of being banned by google at the same time. Then just take the adsense money instead.
This is good advice, Google wants quality resources in its results, not spammy rubbish, it doesn't mind if you charge for a link/review, but if you do it wants you to put a nofollow attribute on the link. It doesn't want anyone selling links for SERPs purposes, which kinda takes the rug from under the feet of the paid links industry. I think the future will see more emphasis on links for advertising/traffic purposes rather than SERPs, and this is something Google can have no problem with.
I don't think this is quite correct. Google has no problem with directory masters charging to review sites. They base a sites serp's on the number of links a site gets and if these reviews are done correctly it can only benefit Google's results. Google has a problem with people using the tools it provides to add value where there is none. Link building done properly is a legitimate activity.
i think you're wrong. romow is paid directory. but not banned from google ? some directories are penalty from google. not ban.
I'd say minimal; i have a top ranking general directory (unleashed) and webmaster directory (voisd) both are paid and neither have been banned! Aviva and Alive did appear banned recently but that was simply an update in the rankings and search algo...
there are so many discussions about this topic and actually noone is sure about that issue! We do not know whether these dir. have been penalized for their paid feature or because they heavily buy links toward their dir. Some big dirs have been hit but why some other haven't!!
sabian1982 They never appeared to be banned, only penalized in the SERPs for certain keywords. A ban and a penalty are two very different things, sort of like being charged for 'drunk and disorderly' or 'changed for murder'. and as mentioned there has been no confirmation that there was even a penalty imposed.
Now you see who we have in directories business. Many can't even differ ban from filter, sandbox etc. Wonder if they know what is META TAG.
As long as you maintain editorial integrity and follow Google’s webmaster guidelines you have nothing to worry about from Google.
They were penalized, not banned. They should retrieve their position soon, I believe so, still it's only my thoughts.
I have not seen paid directories being Banned! They may be penalized... but not banned.. As for aviva... I guess they'll be back in business with Google soon....