If there wasn't so much crap churned out on the search engines I'd lie down and hold my arms in the air saying 'I give up'. However Neb, I've just finished an article on the perils of search engines and the weakness's they are facing. Here's an inside look before I post it on the blog I've done. Hope you'll see that a carefully managed directory can indeed make it a searchable enviorenment. Thats' why we're taking so long re-reviewing our database, just like dmoz, there was a massive amount of crap that got through even our vigilant staff. Directories are not dead by a long shot.
Sorry Jamie but you have lost touch with reality, and have got caught up in the pay for inclusion fantasy. Your site never has been or likely will never be the "internet's primary Family Safe Searching system", you do not have an "army of volunteers". Back in 2000 the site was being promoted as "Safety in Searching" now 8 years later it still is a directory with mainly empty categories with only a few listing from webmasters who have forked out their hard earned money. Now you can build imaginary empires, thats fine, good luck to you. However when I see your pitch to webmasters to pay you for a listing I get angry. Your latest blog is title Scams and Shams!, I find that quite ironic.
Sure I have, I'm actually an undercover agent for the FBI. you can throw as much mud as you want, it won't bother me in the slightest. I'll repeat..... EMPTY CATEGORIES ARE FAR MORE ACCEPTABLE THAN ONES FULL OF CRAP. Has that got through to you yet? Spend more time being an editor it will maintain that warm fuzzy feeling of being someone which you clearly yearn for. Or have you perhaps been asked to come onto forums to do what your doing? Lost touch with reality, yep, I did at one time, I thought dmoz was something it isn't. Back to the ignore button you go.
Hi dude, Why only rely on the directory submissions to get the traffic to the site!! There are lot many ways which are legal and search engine friendly on which you can try your hands on. Try with the Social bookmarking first. It is the most common way to gain traffic and is also effective. Thanks, Ketunchy.
Please may I correct your post... Most directories send very little traffic. Sadly, the net is awash with clone directory sites, only set-up to collect link juice and PR, in the hope it will generate some $$$. In reality, such sites have carry little value from a traffic point-of-view. Build a (niche) directory that contains genuine, useful, authoritative information, your visitors will find your site sticky & will make use of the link resources you provide them.
Yes, with the explosion of worthless sites it is easy to forget that is still quite possible to make a site that is a useful resource, particularly in a niche area.
Quite true in most terms, but these don't deliver. I'll now tell you why they don't deliver: 1. They are full of webmasters sites only, so that's all you will get in traffic - useless if you own a proper company. 2. These directories are general in nature and most of the traffic will be untargeted and only 5% will be the desired traffic for you. 3. Because they are filled with webmasters fighting for free links, they hold little value, unless you don't mind freebie hunters at your site. 4. Most don't send any traffic at all. You want proof - no problem. This is from my AW stats package: www.websquash.com/ 1 visit (1.6 %) www.webmasterlead.com/ 1 visit (1.6 %) www.web-directories.ws 1 visit (1.6 %) www.businessseek.biz 1 visit (1.6 %) www.the-free-directory.co.uk 1 visit (1.6 %) www.freedir.co.uk/ 1 visit (1.6 %) www.kellysearch.co.uk 1 visit (1.6 %) www.zibb.com 1 visit (1.9 %) The only directory that sent me more was webcrawler at 3 clicks for last month. My above stats IS proof that the traffic sent by these directories is poor, the only good thing about general directories is it gives you a permanent link. If you are looking for traffic, the thing to use are specialist portal sites. Ofcourse the many directory owners will say Nay and that I'm wrong, but I listed with these so-called brilliant directories so that's how I know I'm right. Also I think AW stats is accurate plus it's easy to add it to your site and you'll soon see when you check directory clicks from it. Free doesn't exist anymore - EVERYBODY CHARGES The only thing left that's free is to link exchange, but even now that's being devalued and soon that will be useless. Nope - it's pay or die time! If I were to suggest a directory it would be http://www.web-directories.ws/ as it sent me the most clickthroughs with 7. But it's only 7 for an entire month which is still very bad. Welcome to the web!
He doesn't own Cantufind, it's not his site. Actually, I've not seen a site of Jamies yet come to think of it.
I'm pretty much in charge of phpLynx these days Liam, thought you were aware of this, everyone else is.
Intersting topic, but can agree, with a lot of that, a lot of people seem to be on the directories do not deliver visits in a direct form, but are they expected to ? a lot offer free or nickel n inclusion and act more in way to build links not deliver clicks, but alas people still complain. What is even funnier people build sites to generate income, then expect to list up for free, to gain extra return on their site, and the continue to complain when that does not happen. I must agree with EK in that these people need to understand your nickel n dime directory will give you some back end push, but if you want clicks that costs $ and the lovin must be shared.
Yah, directories won't give you a tidal wave of traffic that you might expect. But they have other uses.
They list in directories because many are free, and it's the 'free link' that is popular. Many that list in directories don't really know what their doing. For instance, if my business sell Sports Clothing, then I need to get Sports clothing buyers to my website. A clothing category in some unrelated directory won't do any good in terms of buyer delivery, it's just the wrong publication. The category might match - but the traffic will be low because clothing shoppers don't hit general directories for clothes. They tend to hit either shopping websites, clothing retailers or Dept Store websites. Clothes buyers won't use a General directory for this kind of search. Same applies for most industries, as each industry have their own specialist websites by now, and the buyers know these sites and use them all the time. So there's no need to use general directories anymore.
Oh. Thats odd. In another thread he was telling us all that my opinion on directories was invalid because I didn't actually own one myself.
Come on Downunder, you must admit the guy has a very good point. It's so obvious why all these directories saturate the web and it's not for the good of the searcher. I can understand the snake oil brethren attacking for his comments, but an outsider, a searcher who seeks information that these directories don't provide, won't find it funny or clever one tiny bit. Paying advertisers, and I mean real companies here, wouldn't touch these sites with a barge pole, they know the scams and guard against that, but the real issue is the snake oil person is targeting the only market that will buy from them - the fellow webmaster. The general directory industry killed itself a long time ago and I laugh every time I see another one pop up, as I know what will happen. Most of these script directories are empty - they have no sites listed - what is the point of that People really think they will make so much money from another directory, and the model hasn't worked in years. They will find out the hard way, and it's a shame when they could put the effort into something else that can do some good.
lol - yep Jamie said that to me too. Actually I own a number of portals on the web and have one of them in my profile, and I still get stupid requests to provide proof that I know what I'm doing. The attackers hate anybody who knows more than they do or are better than them. Yet I got a nasty post practically begging me for 'secrets' , so it shows exactly how desperate some are. The weird thing was that the guy (Not Jamie) insulted me first, then expected me to divulge my knowledge to him - really funny actually.
That's fair enough Jamie - I didn't know that, but a url in someone's profile isn't always obvious that the site belongs to them. Since you know my name is Liam, then you must be aware that I make in excess of 200k a year. Attacking me won't get you 200k a year or my help.
I really do not think you get an argument from me, your's along with nebuchadrezzar's comments ring so much truth it's not funny and i must agree with pretty well everything your saying. All i can say is there are a handful of people out there who are working hard to change the old ways and move into new ways, and i will say up front that I do not claim or even hint at succeeding at this but will with every effort do my best, and time will tell if it is right. On that rather than being closed off, i am open to any advice or ideas you may in the vain of I do not wish for the magic secrets but in general chat idea's that people could be looking at, listening to every angle and analysis of that information and it's importance is a good place to start. Then again i also agree that not much general help will be displayed here as to why would people really sit here and splurt out what they are going to do for all to copy and take free rides on ?
give me a break, if you were on 200K you would not be on here waffling on about a load of crap, and that's a fact.
Your insightful quote is fitting to many on the web, especially the crap bit - as the crap especially applies to the oh so many with empty directories with the claim that they are useful. How is something empty, useful. With bugger all to search, there is nothing for the user - end of argument. It's very sad that general directory owners place so much affection towards an empty shell with no value except the age-old serp/backlink chant, and never ending discussion that frequents forums these days. I think this has been written about thousands of times by now and people get the point of these posts - the job is done so why waste time constantly defending age-old posts and directories that noone truly cares about. In fact the conflict on forums often revolves around ego, thus you can see the real message and thinking behind the posts. That's the only impression these posts project, as a buyer of services they don't make me want to buy listings with these directories, and the owners end up looking like kids in some playground squabble. Do these directory owners think that creating another empty directory on the web will solve any problem - I don't think they care to be honest, but I do think they care about making money and not giving any sort of service - despite what they say on forums. It does make me angry when I find a new directory and the darn thing is empty and I mean totally empty! Just another day at the fake office eh...
Your office can't be fake surely? your on 200k a year ain't you. Agree with the empty categories comment, although you surely couldn't have been so stupid so as to be referring to cantufind could you? Just in case though and to make you look the tit you clearly act like, I'll point you to just one or two categories that aren't empty and subject to re-populating, there's lots of them quite full but not going to spoil your enjoyment browsing so will just give you a few totally random examples. Kitchen Worktops and Counters 10 Sites Full-Service Website Design 24 sites Garden Centers in Scotland 6 Sites Search Engine Optimization Firms 415 Sites Actuarial Science 7 Sites Nail Care in the United Kingdom 14 Sites Aircraft-and-Components/ 4 Sites Florists Associations 44 Sites Alternative Health Organisations 18 Sites The list could go on and on, but I think I've proved a point, and as each day passes with the old database being re-reviewed combined with the many daily submissions, its only going to get bigger. Perhaps then idiots like you who think they know it all will be forced to shut up instead of making themselves look complete fools as you constantly like doing. And before you try and throw in some pathetic little jibe like 'yeah but more are empty than full', yes there are, but we are working on it at a rate of knots and all content will be quality content. I hate making people look like tits but you don't half ask for it, honest you do.