AdityaSpeaks

Written on September 4, 2007 – 5:24 pm | by aditya |

Well, anybody who is a active member of any webmaster forum on the internet may be knowing that something called “Web directories” has become an increasingly popular business model (umm.. may be a increasingly popular quick money making tool) on the internet (somewhere like DigitalPoint Forums). Okay what actually a web directory is ? It can be guessed as “A Directory of Websites organized into categories”. But what I notice is that many web directories on the internet are not even close to the definition.

What people do it, get a domain and get a a script like phpLinkDirectory installed on it, then install a free (for the poor) or a custom theme (for the rich). Then take some previously made category structure SQL Dump and import it to the directory database. (Many are available free like example). Then go on to other web directories and buy some sitewide links from there or submit to other directories. The next PR update gives it a good PR or say a PR4 - 5 or may be 6. Then they term it as a quality web directory where webmasters can get their sites listed for say 25$ or say 50$.

Well but whats wrong with this ? I have noted down many negative points with this business model. They are -

1. They are usually meant for selling Link Juice or PageRank and have no other use (prohibited by google). Links can be purchased for advertising purposes, but this is juice trading.
2. Almost all directories have 80% same set of pages which highly resemble each other in terms of URL, Title Tags and content. Example see the following pages All with same title, url, and content-

http://www.linkrain.com/Recreation/Audio/
http://www.xwebdirectory.com/recreation/audio/
http://www.romow.com/Recreation/Audio/
http://www.bestofthewebs.com/recreation/audio/
http://www.muffo.org/Recreation/Audio/
http://www.centraldirectory.net/Recreation/Audio/

and about 2500 others

http://www.google.com/search?q=inurl…&start=70&sa=N

2. Most of the directories keep empty pages which have no content at all. Some pages have no listed sites and those pages which have sites listed are generally the web directory section only which also has copy paste descriptions making either no content or 1000 times duplicated content.

3. Many have traffic on the sites, but the traffic is usually from other web directory owners.

4. Directories mostly are not beneficial to non web masters.

5. They have a submit page which is linked from all the pages and it has paid options which clearly gives a impression that its selling link juice.

7. Many have traffic on the sites, but the traffic is usually from other web directory owners.

8. Most don’t stick to the main definition of a web directory. (If i am looking information on cricket, i must be able to find good cricket related websites going into Sports >> Cricket category)

Okay if this is wrong then whats right ? Whats a good web directory ?. Well there can be good directories as well. The signs and symptoms for a good web directory are -

1. They are meant for people to find good sites and not for webmasters to buy link juice.

2. They have atleast 10 best sites in every category.

3. They have a decent traffic of people who come to directory to search and find good websites.

4. The owners intension must not be to sell link juice or page rank.

5. The owners must spend time editing the directory. Add more links to the empty category to quality authority sites. Add articles and information, tools and resources, advertise on high traffic sites for traffic and not for juice.

6. Must be a good resource which could be useful to non webmasters also (infact mainly).

Guess What else ? It should be popular everywhere, not only Digitalpoint Forums