(17)
Google has quietly dropped the Google Directory.
Now if you try to access it, you will get a message that Google has removed it because it is slow and not as fast as using Google search. Google writes:
Google Directory is no longer available.We believe that Web Search is the fastest way to find the information you need on the web.
If you prefer to browse a directory of the web, visit the Open Directory Project at dmoz.org
The Google Directory was one of the first added links to Google.com. Former Googler, Douglas Edwards's recent book described the directory addition as one of the first easy ways for Google to add more services to their site. The founders didn't think it was useful to have a directory on the site back then, but if they can make the directory easier and better to search - well, then they decided to add it.
Now Google feels it is not needed and has completely removed it, telling people to go to the Open Directory Project directly.
Here is what you see now on the Google Directory:
Here is what was there yesterday:
We use to cover the directory often enough, tracking directory updates and such, but haven't done so in years.
One SEO said in a WebmasterWorld thread, "Never happy to lose a decent link."
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
Comments:
Stockbridge Truslow
07/20/2011 12:53 pm
Strangely enough, I was doing a search this past weekend and, for the first time in years, Google presented me a category from the Google Directory as the #2 result for the search. I got a bit nostalgic and surfed around in there for about a half hour and felt quite sad about all the dead links. You're correct, though - the removal comes with mixed emotions.
Black Seo Guy
07/20/2011 01:19 pm
It just shows that the times are changing and the thing we used back in the day serves no purpose now. "Black Seo Guy "Signing Off"
meenakshi sharma
07/20/2011 01:37 pm
such a amaging
Meenakshi Sharma
07/20/2011 01:41 pm
google time are changing and the thing we used all person.
David Eaves
07/20/2011 05:07 pm
Hopefully it will stop ranking top for web directory now so my site will go 1 place higher.
Will Spencer
07/20/2011 05:32 pm
It's just sad that they still chose to redirect innocent surfers to DMOZ.
Martijn Oud
07/20/2011 05:41 pm
Fun fact: In Dutch the anchor tekst 'Web Search' is translated as 'The Internet'.
Dan Thies
07/20/2011 10:43 pm
"If you prefer to use a messed-up directory that we can't even trust ourselves, go have fun at DMOZ."
Yellow
07/20/2011 11:07 pm
I miss it. I used it every day, especially to access out of town and English language newspapers around the world.
partnership agreement
07/21/2011 08:42 am
Well It is quite Strange That Google has Killed Their own Directory!! This seems that Google is promoting DMOZ instead of their own directory!
SEO Services
07/21/2011 11:08 am
Rather than closing this directory, if Google has redesigned, then I am sure it's popularity will increase than it was before.
Colin
07/21/2011 11:41 am
DMOZ is a bit of a joke these days. Untransparent, unresponsive: Web.1998
TechTeria
08/07/2011 08:38 pm
A sad end to Google's another service.
Auctions
08/11/2011 02:04 am
Oh thats sad we had multiple links in Google dir. Not Happy :(
Gmaids
02/29/2012 10:32 pm
It's a shame they close it. It was useful. Sometimes you want to browse not search.
Johan Hedin
04/07/2012 05:37 am
directories are just the stone age of SEO and an old yellow page strategy in the past..
Dave
07/10/2012 01:43 pm
I wasn't even aware that the Google Directory was still around as recent as that! Seems like with the incredible search feature they had built, they'd have lost the use for the directory a long time ago. I never saw it as a convenient way of browsing for material.