Timing is everything as my directory is nearing it's launch after a series of unfortunate delays. The niche is arts and crafts. All of my category pages have some on-topic content, but because they were being set-up during the Google PR update; it looks like only the home page was assigned any rank. I'm happy to have a PR 4 on the front page, particularly after watching some general directories take a huge PR hit. However, if you were to visit a directory in your niche where the front page was a PR4 and every other page was a whopping 0; would you invest your advertising dollars in it? Would you find a discussion on the situation on the About page as an explanation or an excuse?
If I were purchasing links or even swapping links, then I would want to see PR on the page I submit my link to. If it is a free submission, then PR4 on the homepage is a sign that perhaps one day the page I submit on will have some PR.
For me, no I wouldn't worry about it too much on a new directory. If it is free or rather inexpensive, I usually submit and assume that the PR will be there soon (assuming Google gets there act together).
The only concern I have when I see "home page only PR" is the possiblity that the directory owner is utilizing an expired or bought domain name and the PR isn't "earned" (if you get my drift). I'm seeing directories that are on expired domain names go PR0 this last update so I usually check the whois registration and archive.org before I'll consider buying a listing or waste my time submitting. Sounds like you're off to a good start and I'll watch for your launch as I have a few sites that may be a good fit in your niche directory. Are you considering the addition of quality deeplinks in your directory?
hmmmm yes I've seen a lot of PR5 go to PR0 after the last update and it makes me wonder why haven't they exchanged links with other high PR sites (to at least maintain their PR). I've also wondered if high PR sites gets more googlebot activity than low PR sites?
Thank you for all of your feedback. The domain is new - at least as far as my research indicates; so the PR is from my efforts. I am so disappointed that it's launch was delayed particularly after the vote of confidence from G, but such is life. Am also working on a few work-arounds for small problems with the script. To answer one of your questions; due to the nature of many craft related sites, I plan on accepting deep links, links from shops on Etsy and similar places, blogs, and from free hosts. I do plan on reviewing the non-TLD ones a little harder. I am planning on allowing folks to submit to more than one category as quite often crafty sites have content on multiple topics ie, someone may have on the same site crochet information and knitting information. We'll see how this goes to see if it is workable. So, no one said anything either way...should I mention on the site the launch date in relation to the PR update or just leave that alone?
I think googlebot activity comes before PR. What happens is that high googlebot activity means that you have many incomming links and that google has knowledge of your site. High activity also means google thinks you are with indexing. Googlebot activity increases are a good sign that pagerank may rise. That is my guess and my experience. While pagerank may possibly impact bot activity, I think it is that, that bot activity is a signal of future PR increase.
If I am spending money on advertising and directory submissions, I will most likely cater to those directories with traffic. You can find high PR directories with little to no traffic.
If the directory was cleanly designed and looked well maintained I would go right ahead and pay for inclusion. Its an investment.
I wouldn't submit to a PR0 page unless the category was new and I could see other categories are getting decent PR.