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What if I wanted to submit www.example.com/subdirectory/ as my listing? Would this be added or disregarded? If I already have a root directory listing, could this potentially get my existing listing removed?
I see a lot of "human-edited" directories, but how many of these aren't really just "moderated" by humans? Would an automated submission be able to catch a submission for a site with subdirectory included in the URL?
It also seems reasonable to me that a directory can treat those who flout them as it wishes :).
Most human edited directories suffer from a terrible amount of unwanted submissions. It costs them resources which could have been better used to process submissions from the people who are willing to abide by the rules. I doubt if any directory will be willing to spell out exactly what its defences and countermeasures are; that would just help the spammers.
DMOZ has over 230,000 deep links to CNN.com and nearly 10,000 to IMDB.com for example.
This is unfair to a few, but in general, the directories with the loosest submission rules are the least value to be in - I am sure there are some exceptions to that, but look before you leap!
And never submit if a reciprocal link is demanded; you could easily end up in a very bad neighborhood. And there's enough directories that don't demand a reciprocal link.
And never submit if a reciprocal link is demanded; you could easily end up in a very bad neighborhood. And there's enough directories that don't demand a reciprocal link.
"And never submit. . . "? Let's not add to the FUD. That sweeping generalizationis only serves to add one more piece of rubbish to the already mountainous directory rubbish pile. There are directories that don't charge and in lieu of charging only ask for a recip that manage to do quite well for everyone involved.
I'll add to the observation that you would be wise to choose your "reciprocal link partners" circumspectly, looking for themed/focused directories (internally themed and themed to the subject matter of your website) that show signs of excercising editorial control - versus "take all comers" directories that sell their "SEO friendly" qualities yet otherwise cannot be found showing signs of life in the SERPs.
Reciprocity isn't the sine qua non of "bad neighborhood", though reciprocal linking schemes may often be found in bad neighborhoods, typically in the form of general take-all-comers links pages, link farms, linked website networks and the like. Those formats - I say designs - aren't the same as an on-topic directory asking for something of value - a link "endorsemnet" or "link acknowledgementt" - in return for something of value, i.e., a link in a directory that is intended to drive targeted (on theme) traffic.
The web started with links forming between topically related websites. Nothing is more natural than topically related websites linking to one another. That said, there may be other characteristics or evidence - footprints - that may suggest that the link exchanges are unnatural. Those links may be discounted but a discount is not the same as a reason for a penalty.
If you can get a link from a topically related, editorially controlled, unspammy and not "we're here to sell our SEO abilities", a directory that may send you targeted traffic (forget Pagerank, link juice, etc.) and all it costs you is a link "thank you" then take the link and give the link. If nothing else it's civil.
If Google can't distinguish civility from spam then, in time, Google will loose it's authority. I think it knows better already but a bit too much FUD has permeated the atmosphere and too many people are breathing it in too deeply.
[edited by: Webwork at 4:03 pm (utc) on May 10, 2007]
I noticed most directories insist any site submissions be root directory only (www.example.com).What if I wanted to submit www.example.com/subdirectory/ as my listing? Would this be added or disregarded? If I already have a root directory listing, could this potentially get my existing listing removed?
Most directories have submission guidelines, and these vary widely. There are even a handful which will only list deeplinks. However, a lot of general directories stick to the rule that they will only list the root url, unless you pay. It makes sense if you know how many people try to spam and abuse the system.
I've found that Quadrille is right about directories with loose submission guidelines. There are a few out there that seem to list all comers, but you will be amongst 40 other sites on page 253 of a deep category in a lot of these cases.
Your question was would directories penalise you for submitting sub directories?
The answer is it depends:
1, some may approve the link now, then latter, while checking thru links, delete your link
2, some directories have automated rejection of sub directory submissions
3, most directory owners would delete sub directory submissions on sight
4, Some chaps just approve everything,,,, not good!
