If you were to rate a directory, what would you rate it on? (from a webmasters point of view) I'm thinkin... Site design PR Submission time Anyone got any others?
SEO Value = Do pages pass pagerank Are pages spiderable (and do not contain session ids) Are links SEF (do not contains redirects) Value 4 Money (Is the $24 submission fee worth it?) i think there are also a few more ive missed
Unique design, paid submissions, high quality websites listed, long time running directory, not to many listings on one page, a bit pagerank, lots of traffic, great customer service, quick and easy submission process, submission guidelines, faq, news, great search options for listings and categories.. .. Just to name a few..
thats why on my directory i try and fit the submissions into the closest matching category possible, even if it means creating a new category and putting them in alone, because this means more targetted traffic for the website owner plus 'more related' links to what the user is looking for another thing to consider is loading time (like any site) no one wants to wait while it loads. [EDIT \/] hehe you inspired me to write some guidelines for my directory
Exellent choice of running a directory imo. At the moment I have over 1000 categories to choose from. Thanks! Maby another tip for your directory, add metas keywords and descriptions and write small descriptions on every category pages.
i didnt realise it had no meta i also try to write a description for each category when i add it, depends what i think of at the time (ill also admit if it a new cat im adding i normally use the submission description for ideas on cat description
Some good points there, thanks guys Taking into consideration the points that came up, what would be your raking importance level 1-10? ie: 1. Cost 2. PR 3. Design etc etc. I just wanna see what people look for in dirs, and how you would rate them...
I don't get why masetek and angel_face are not looking into traffic, imo that's one of the main key issues when running a web directory. When a web directory drives traffic to their customers everybody wants to submit a website to your directory.
Rating of directory should be done on the bases of Information it provides, the reputation of sites listed in it, proper category and editor quality descriptions of sites listed
1. Traffic. Not many directories get you traffic. But if you find a directory that can send you trafic that's great. I'm still looking... 2. Link popularity. Static links, pages indexed by Google, directory PR, #of listings on each page, where your site will be placed. A top level listing is worth a lot more than the 85th page od travel sites on a directory like GoGuides or a listing at travel/accommodations/hotels/USA/New-York/Upstate/Syracuse. And don't forget the every page links that drain link popularity. If your category has 12 listings and the directory has 12 everypage links your site will actually be #25... 3. Organization. Some directories are a real mess. 4. Keywords. Some directories don't let you put your keywords in the link title.