August 9th, 2007How hard is it to make a good directory?
I am spending some quality time into working on the promotion of my 17 sites and also some projects I created for my clients. I also have 2 serious SEO jobs right now so I try to build some good links to all these sites. I won’t go into much detail about how I TOTALLY HATE THIS, but we’ll chat a bit about the fact good directories are actually scarce. VERY if we’re discussing Romanian directories.
Many have nofollow on the links, or other weird redirects that won’t make your link have any value, except that of the time you lost forever in that useless junk they call a directory. So many ask for a reciprocal link (mandatory) as if I wanted to put 150 links on my sites so that I can get listed. If I do put a reciprocal I CHOSE what site I link to. Usually it’s something better than a 1000 links general directory with a PR2. That would index my page in a PR0 page so that I can know I wasted my space forever.
Years ago (God how time passes) I created an article on Wtricks (the forums) in which I’d detail what I consider to be a good directory and the things I would have in mind when creating one How to create a good directory.
If I was to make a very short list in here:
- I look at the theme (sorry, I am a snobbish designer after all)
- I like a clear navigation system.
- I want to submit my link for FREE, no account, no reciprocal
- I like a simple submission, I just don’t have enough time for all kinds of tricks
- Let me fill in as little details as possible. Let’s focus on my site and not on my personal life, ok?
- Index my site fast. Don’t make me wait for 3 months. You’re not DMOZ
- SEO friendly. If I see a nofollow on the links or a redirect I won’t even bother submit.
- Have some sites listed there. I dislike empty directories.
That would be it. And now .. let me get back into finding those 20 directories that are really OK. I have to promote some international projects too .. oh, the horror. Other lists of directories, checking them, leaving in the list only those accepting links for free, with no account, no reciprocal and transferring PR.
I should hire someone to do this crap …
Do you have an interesting blog post? Why not present it in the forums and allow us access to it?
August 9th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Great entry. I can certainly relate to this having been on both sides of the coin. Nothing bothers me more than no_follow tags! Unfortunately, much of my directory submission days are over. It just hasn’t been worth the time and small PR boost. I certainly don’t remember the last time I’ve seen real traffic pan out from a free directory submission, unless it was very niche specific.