Keeping directories in Google

we all know they are being hit so .......

[IanTurner]

How do we keep a directory in Google these days, what criteria do we need to ensure its survival and what criteria are getting penalties.

Survival Qualities

Genuine User submitted content
No Empty Categories
Good Category Descriptions

These have been talked about for some time but in my experience do not seem to be enough on their own to ensure the survival of the site.

Ejection Features

Multiple Empty Cats
Numerous PPC Listings
DMOZ Clone
No Category Descriptions
Cloned Content generally from SERPs

No doubt there are more but I can't think of them off the top of my head.

So are these correct, can you keep a directory performing well in Google these days or are they doomed to drop in the listings as soon as they are found? (i.e. Is this a hand penalty for being a directory)

[pageoneresults]

When "added value services" become more important than the stuff it's added to (core product) - it's hard to define in exact terms.

Agreed. This is when site architecture comes into play. I firmly believe that the "core product" should always be "in your face". You can easily transition to a portal/vortal and still focus on your core product, directory listings. There is a happy medium. ;)

[suidas]

Claus! Yes, you. I'm been trying to sticky you since this thread opened. I get this:

status: Error: claus member StickyMail box full.
PREVIEW Mode : Message NOT sent. Continue editing.

Sticky me instead?

[suidas]

1. Can someone tell me what a vortal is? Vlease?

2. What are the effects—SE and not—of a directory showing you other sites in a frame, a la About.com. I don't do it myself, although for a special category few links I do something similar. Any ideas how search engines see such a thing? I'm wondering particularly what sort of URL that framset with top plus page should have.

[pageoneresults]

Vortal [webopedia.com]

Vortals typically provide news, research and statistics, discussions, newsletters, online tools, and many other services that educate users about a specific industry.

[claus]

Typically "Vortal" is used in the sense "vertical portal" meaning a portal focused on a specific niche, as opposed to the broad portals covering everything and then some like, say, Yahoo! and MSN. Answer to Q2 is in your sticky box ;)

On linking in a frameset: I don't see this as a plus strategy. If you need your site to be open it's much better to open links in a new window, and a disclaimer can be posted anywhere else.

For SE's there's the duplicate issue - you display pages from other sites on your URL, as part of a frameset. That's about as close to duplication as it can get.