Creating A Directory

What Impact From Adding Directory To Established Site?

[ortelius]

I have a older site that sells blue widgets -- does medium well in search engines. I want to add quality content, improve in the rankings. If I create a directory of all the different blue widget sites out there, and set it up as part of my original site, will it help me long term in search engines? Doesn't it change the focus of my site from a "blue widget" sales site to a "blue widget" hub site? And what is the SEM effect of that?

Thanks,

Ort

[Event_King]

Adding a proper directory (not pages filled with links)
will either make people think you're a directory and ditract from what the site is 'supposed to be' - or it'll just confuse the hell out of them.

One time someone asked me what my site was about and after my explanation - they replied "oh don't bother I don't understand what you mean", so better not make this site too complicated.

If it's a sales site, then keep it as that. If it's a portal, keep it like that. Don't mix and match different ideas, or you'll confuse people as to your site's purpose.

[ortelius]

Excellent points. I will have to think again about the directory idea. I have added a blog recently, which doesn't seem too off base, and I want to add a forum, because although it is a sales site, it is also a real niche type product, that people love to chat about. But your comments make me think a directory would be stretching too far.
I appreciate your thoughts.

Ort

[Event_King]

See you have 2 ideas that conflict and added to a sales site, it will look like you're trying to be 'everything'. Don't be everything as it will confuse.

If you want a forum, then fine. But keep the blog and forum seperate from the sales/product site, and you won't risk confusion.