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A HighRankings Forum thread asks how does one distinguish between a good and bad web directory. Web directories are often the first step for many link building campaigns. The obvious directories that come to mind to submit to are dmoz.org and Yahoo's directory. But many people like Best of the Web as well.
The question is, how does an SEO or webmaster know which directories are quality and which are not. This gets more important when you are submitting to niche directories.
Here are just some points, off the top of my head, to look for when evaluating a directory.
- Age of directory
- Is the directory indexed
- Is your listing category in the directory indexed
- Number of links to the directory
- Domain age of directory
- Does directory require a link back
- PageRank of directory's home page
- PageRank of the category of your listing in your directory
- Design of directory
- How large is the directory
Again, these are just the things that came to my mind as I wrote this post. If you have more to add, please do.
Forum discussion at HighRankings Forum.
Comments:
James Matthews
03/26/2009 11:54 am
A good directory is like a good blog. It needs to have an old domain,nice linking structure. In addition directories are measured by how many and which links they reject. The more they reject the better they are.
Alan
03/27/2009 08:25 am
Is the Directory promoted via use of a blog or CMS to drive traffic to it as well? For example the use of articles around that niche with various links to the directory categories or listings. Are the pages static or dynamic? My leaning is towards static HTML pages generated from a Database. Clean Links or Redirects? Clean Links with Follow and Index are Number 1.
Scott
03/27/2009 07:56 pm
As a big fan of NCAA Basketball this expression is horribly over used, especially right now, but it applies here - does it pass the eye test? Certainly the above are all good points and should be part of a final and complete evaluation but on the surface - just look at the directory page you'll be on. Does it pass the eye test? Does it look like garbage? Ads everywhere, loosely or not at all related? 100s of links with little quality control, misspellings, etc.. If it doesn't pass the simple eye test you can save yourself time of checking the above good factors.
Carolyn
03/29/2009 05:44 am
A good directory is "ALIVE" with relevant data, news, events and interactivity. Of course, ease of use is key. Building one now so been doing a TON of research.
Aaliyah
07/13/2009 10:54 am
I'm asking what makes up the web. Can you put that on your website? I'm searching for my assignment. Thanks. Just my suggestion.
No Name
09/30/2009 09:25 am
But now a days Google penalized many directories for some other reason. But directories is always helpful in link building and also to increase the PR. So the submission has to be done to "good" directories.