OutdoorMan - 2:00 pm on Nov 11, 2007 (gmt 0)

bouncybunny: I remember when I thought of directories as such an 'innocent' word. It was simply a useful source of information. LOL. Now it's a synonym for an MFA.

A directory is a website. A website can be a good or a bad resource. It's up to the individual behind every single website to decide whether or not he or she want to create a good or a bad website.

I don't believe that SE's like Google will punish or devalue directories, just because they are directories. However I do believe that SE's like Google eventualy will punish or devalue websites containing poor or low quality content.

No one likes crap websites or crap content. I know for a fact that don't and I strongly believe that Google don't like crap either.

My past, present and future strategy for building a quality directory is the following:

• Quality - Accept only links pointing at websites containing useful and relevant quality content.
  -- Do not accept links leading to off-topic crap websites (never!)
  
• Relevance - Links must be natural.
  -- Do not demand a reciprocal link or anything else in return for a listing.
  
• Pre-evaluate - Evaluate every suggested link before they get listed in the directory.
  -- Delete any link suggestion that don't submit to directory guidelines (period).
  
• Make unique reviews ahead of each listing (be critical and objective).
  -- Don't let anybody else write your content. Make your own content and make it unique.
  
• Re-evaluate - Evaluate existing links in the directory from time to time.
  -- Don't be nice. Stick by your directory guidelines and delete any link that needs to be deleted.
  
• Development - Keep on building a good and unique directory
  -- Don't wait arround for people to suggest useful links. Go find good and relevant links your self.