The benefit of a directory over a search engine

People have come on here saying directories are dead and are no use and that everyone should do a google for what they want, but what about the poor quality of the results in these search engines.

I've been pretty quiet on the blog side of things recently for my own reasons but decided to share with all those directory owners out there a study we did on the abuse of semantics and why search engines will probably never beat a well managed directory for family friendly content.

Have a read of the blog in my sig or here and give me your views. Am I alone in thinking that a good general directory still has a lot to offer if managed right?

 

yeh i think directories will allways have a place

the problem is not very many of them are content based

my niche directories all have the option for the user to submit a blog article with deeplinks in which gets picked up more in the serps

I dont think ive ever searched for something and found a directory in the top 10 listings

There is a future for them but they need to change and be more niche related

Im gonna post on this forum about them soon and raise a few questions

 

Niche directories that are well managed and provide valuable content get indexed by the search engines. I know of several. In addition, directories that add content like you mentioned start building a community that use them. I'm guessing that in the long run google will try to kill the "junk" directories and all the "real" directory owners will benefit as a result.

 

Jamie that was an excellent article and I do beleive that directory may be the future because alot of them will keep out the garbage as I call it and yes I do agree alot of it comes thru when your looking for a specific topic or information on it

 

The problem with directories now is that they 99.9% of them are created by webmasters looking to make a quick buck or to try to promote other sites. This kills the organic nature of a directory. Most directories now are created by and then filled then by these types of webmasters. No quality or moderation.

I still think that niche, quality directories can be beneficial. You must have constant moderation and keep your quality standards high. The problem right now is that you are in the company of spammers and dirty webmasters so you need to separate yourself from that crowd.

 

Thanks for the kind words, the problem with people, and you can still see it from the small amount of replies is they still can't quite grasp the enourmous power the directory can still have, eyes don't lie, a human edited directory regardless of what niche its in has an advantage over search engines. Directories have a lot of legs in them if they follow the right model instead of creating garbage by following bad advice.

 

A good and informative article, as for only a few replies or those grasping the power, sometimes they wait for others to walk the unknown before venturing down the path and i would say there are many in the shadows that will step into the light and follow, even if that is done quietly so as not to attaract attention.

 

"human edited directory regardless of what niche its in has an advantage over search engines"

Says who? Human edited directories are going to have a bias; You might find a niche directory that you believe is superior to a search engine but I could look at that same niche directory and prefer search engines.

IMO the only way that a GOOD niche directory is better then a general search engine is if it has a good search. If you have to drill down through the information to find what you want or if its search isn't reliable it becomes useless.

 

now this is funny I got a red rep for this with just an x in the comment section but I still say its a good article

 

I think the article is okay, there are similar ones in article directories and search accuracy is something that needs to be addressed, but a general directory can't win this.

What you described as 'semantics' is actually keyword search, and is what Google uses heavily, perhaps a bit too much for my tastes. You used that word c***, okay I know what you meant but Google clearly didn't deliver what you wanted. When you keyed in that word, Google made a choice determined by it's basic program which is to base searches on each single or multiple words entered. Now it can either deliver the result for a type of bird or a male sexual organ, personally I think you typed in too few keywords to get an accurate search - but I also feel Google should be able to indentify this and either correct it or throw up more choices.

If I select the words Martial Art, although I have a certain one in mind, the engine is going to give me a mass of different info - probably way too much, but I did type words that make the engine select the info did I not! So if I enter Judo, then the result is more accurate because I narrowed it down, you have to help the engine give you what you want - it won't or can't think for you.

Personally, I don't think search engines are the best use when it comes to accuracy. Too much information and the way it's indexed just means it takes more time to find the perfect bit of info for one's needs. Directories index in a superior way by putting text into readable form before a website is reached, unfortunately they suck when it comes to producing mass results as many have small databases with almost no results to search.

A General directory is merely a list, and it isn't enough to prise searchers away from Google, mainly because Google is too widely accepted and trusted as some ultimate God. The only way to do this is to build a portal for a specific community, with tons of niche content, features, tools, user interaction and specialist industry information - where it does everything for that community and not just be a search tool.

Ofcourse this has been done and maxed out already, which is kind of a problem. I guess sometimes someone beats us to it, and it's usually a massive company with money to burn.

 

A good directory will always has its place, the problem is that all directories out there that want to have so many links and categorize them in a really bad way giving a really bad reputation for directories, Directories will always have the advantage of being human edited over search engines.

 

[QOUOTE=Event_KING]
I think the article is okay, there are similar ones in article directories and search accuracy is something that needs to be addressed, but a general directory can't win this.[/QUOTE]I'll take the okay from someone who thinks he knows it all as a positive, I've not seen an article on semantic manipulation and the way directories can benefit from this, can you point me to them, I'd be interested to read them. Post them here on open forum for all to share if you can.

Call it keywords, call it semantics, however you label it, the fact is its still wide open to manipulation and its the Achilles heal of all search engines using automatic means as they will never be able to defeat the manipulation of words by automated means without sacrifice.

I can't comment on the rest of your post as the forum software seems to be malfunctioning which prevents me from quoting you. Shame that as I really wanted to get into a meaty debate on one topic I really am passionate about.

@jminscoe; I got similar comments, I suppose that's the price you have to pay when a forum like this is full of kids who think they know it all but know naff all.

Hopefully as DownUnder commented, people who really do care and know about the directory industry, and not just think they do will come on board what could be a very good thread as this is one guaranteed strength directories have over the search engines whether they like it or not.

 

Talking of bad search results, just did search on Google for Computer Retailer and got the following for the first page of results:

PC World UK Computer Superstore - Buy cheap computers, laptops ...

Microdirect.co.uk is the UK leading retailer of quality computer ...

dabs.com - Laptops, Components, MP3 players, Software, Digital Cameras

Megatronics Group - Scotlands Largest Independent Computer Retailer

Computer Retailers in the Yahoo! Directory (I didn't ask for a computer directory - where is my retailer lol.)

Smart Computers - Sheffield´s Leading Independent Computer Retailer

The Office of Fair Trading: Computer retailer stops interest free ...

(Office of fair trading - you gotta be kidding me Mr Google.)

Buying a laptop PC
4.1 University of Exeter Student Laptop Purchase Scheme:

(Exeter Uni is NOT a Computer Retailer.)

....so we have 3 errors or bad searches for what are quite clear keywords hmmmm.

Google must need more than 2 keywords to perform a perfect search then. I
must agree with you Jamie, there's something to be said for SEOing websites these days. But shock, horror, Google allows the user to find mixed up results on a fairly basic search request, you know I found 3 directories and 2 shopping sites within 5 pages - wow. And a LOT of news sites hmmmm.



Ok, most of the results were indeed accurate, but about 10% aren't.

 

You've picked a weak topic Liam, even then it shows how random the results are, do your search using google.com instead of .co.uk and you'll find even more weird results. The only time you get exactly what you ask for with the keyword was in the adsense, which is slightly worrying. Just out of interest, and this is the primary concern for me, try a search for 'rubber toys' do it in google.com to see if you get the same results as me. (Ref Results 3.)

Why Rubber? Well I was looking for a bouncy ball for my nephew to make up an example. Look at the results, you'll see why I'm concerned with semantics and the weakness of search engines.

Someone commented on the blog that our directory was empty and therefore not likely to be worried about semantics, one of the reasons we're slow at filling the categories is having to wade through crap like this to make sure we NEVER spew out results like this. Empty can't offend.

 

If you are looking for a bouncy ball type bouncy ball. I would assume most people that type in "rubber toys" are looking for "rubber sex toys" anyway. If you want a good search you obviously have to be more specific.

 

using your words of bouncy ball here is what you get just on the first page and if its a young child under 8 none of these would be it

 

You know what assume makes don't you? An ass out of u and me! I assume nothing and was looking for exactly what I typed in, 'Rubber Balls', I'm playing at being the novice searcher here, its that mindset that a good directory owner should always take into account.

I take it you found the result I was referring to?

 

The problem is that manage a good directory takes much time. It is not a work for just one or two guys. Other problem is that a directory never would manage all the information that a search engine is able to.

 

This article is more gibberish seeking to give credence to the snake oil merchants flogging worthless listings in the pay for inclusion industry.

Yes what Jamie is saying is true, directories do have an advantage over search engines, because a real person is evaluating the site. But the reality is that few directories, and virtually none being promoted here even come close to fulfilling the goals alluded to in this article, that is a being resource that can be used to find the sites that you are looking for without accidentally bumping into undesirable sites.

One of the great advantages of a human directory is that an editor is able to create a list of best resources pertaining to a subject. However the vast majority of directories rely on user submissions either free or paid, with the former usually turning into the latter with time. As a result the directory is slanted towards those who are inclined to submit to a directory. This is why one of the biggest categories in Jamie’s directory is the SEO category.

Now I don’t have a problem with site promotion directories, that’s fine, they are what they are. However lets apply a dose of reality. They are for search engines, real people do not use them to find sites, they are for robots. The established comprehensive, landmark and authoritative sites are rarely listed for the simple reason that the owners of these resources do not need to be promoting themselves to site promotion directories.

The real reason that people are not going to bump into offensive sites using these directories is that no one uses them to search the web. Despite what the smoke and mirrors brigade that is the pay for inclusion directory industry tries to tell you, people generally do not use directories as their primary means for searching the Internet. And when they do use directories they almost never use the site promotion directories that feature prominently in this forum.

Since this article also seems to be a promotion exercise for the directory Jamies’s sig I sure he won’t mind me using it as an example. We see, proudly stated in the main regional page of the directory section

I couldn’t find any coffee shops listed in Alaska, nor bakeries in Budapest, let alone obscure results. I couldn’t actually find any sites listed anywhere in the regional section. Just like this article the gulf between what the majority of directories are pretending to be and what they actually are is massive.

Forget pompous articles about “semantic manipulation”. Go and build real directories that real people would use to find what they are looking for. Then people would really be able to find coffee shops in Alaska, and bakeries in Budapest.

When you type things like this Jamie do you assume the people reading it are stupid? Or have you become so deluded that you actually believe his drivel. The directory is eight (8) years old. Without content it is of no use to anybody, especially those humans you are so so afraid might bump into a rude word. Its like owning a car, keeping it the garage and never using it and telling people that you are a safe driver because you never have accidents.

 

That went a spoilt it for me, i drive sideways, all 8 cyl screaming through race exhaust, smoke flyin of the wheels and hang on as were in for one tough ride full of street muscle and charm.