Redirect link

do they count for PR?

[lachtzu]

Hi,
I'm trying to evaluate where to register my URL on various related-to-my-product directories and need to evaluate if the link will count towards PR for me.
In the case in point, the links are coded as a redirect (I think - here's the link code):

http://www.nichedirectory.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump.cgi?ID=ListedSiteID#

I tried typing this URL into Google, and it took me directly to the listed website - not a google listing, but directly to the website. The directory page where this link is found is indexed by google. So, will this link count for PR?

[takagi]

> So, will this link count for PR?
No, having a link like you describe, won't help to get a higher PR. On the other hand, if visitors to the directory click on a 'link' to your site, you still get extra visitors.

> ... it took me directly to the listed website.
It may look so to you, but you don't go directly to the listed website but indirectly. If it is handled very quickly, you won't notice it is not directly. But, if the site of the nichedirectory is down, and you enter the URL in your browser, you will not see the listed website.

[lachtzu]

thanks for the info - I definitely take into account whether a directory has value for me in terms of direct traffic referrals, but want to have a clear understanding of the PR factor when evaluating linking possibilities.

It's intersting to me to find a number of directories that use technologies (redirect links, javascript links, etc.) that won't help the PR of sites they link to. Is this likely a deliberate attempt to avoid, what's it called, diffusing PR, or are there simply lots of sites unaware of the effects of using these linking methods?

If they are avoiding diffusing PR (hopefully this isn't a violation of starting a new topic within a thread), does that mean they are trying to preserve PR for their own internal links?

[takagi]

I can only think of 2 reasons why this nichedirectory uses an indirect link:
1. They are afraid to lose PR
2. They want to track their visitors. What links are favorite? Do visitors stay long at that site (if they use cookies)? Etc.

The most likely reason is the first one (although a combination of 1 and 2 is also possible). Since they link indirectly, some other sites on the topic will not exchange links with them. So this policy is in some way also counterproductive. A nichedirectory can also get a high PR if they link directly by getting a good hub-like score [webmasterworld.com]. But of course it is up to them, how they want to link.