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I have been lobbying the government for years for them to provide just a simple links page to every site in the country ... but to no avail.
None of the directories on the internet even come close to representing every web site out their because, of course, they charge fees for links.
So, I decided that since nobody else was willing to do this for free ... I would! I have nearly completed the links list, which, of course includes my competition.
I have no concern about losing business to my competitors. Not to brag or anything, but my site is hands down the best one out there. I just feel that for the sake of my customers and all businesses in the country, I want to have a resource which has every single site in the country available on the internet.
Its a simple links page with company names which are hyperlinked to their index page. There are no descriptions other than "accurate" category headings. There are several hundred links on the page.
This is something which I feel is really important and a long time coming. I am not trying to steal anyone's thunder and I am not doing it for PR purposes. I am just really tired of having my site (and many, many others) listed under the wrong category or not listed at all. I refuse to pay for links and there is nowhere I can send my clients for a truly, comprehensive list of every web site belonging to a legitimate business "registered" in my country.
Before I upload the page for live viewing ... I'd like to hear the pros and cons for doing this. Your thoughts?
<Added>
I have checked each site on Google and removed links to pages which have been penalized or white barred with a notation which states:
The only web sites which won't be linked above are those which may be misbehaving or may have done something to incur the wrath of Google. Clean up your site of anything such as cloaking, hidden text, hidden links, etc. which are against Google's Guidelines and we'll be happy to link to your site!
There is a live link to Google's Webmaster Guidelines.
If you do it right (and it sounds like you have the ability to do it right), then the traffic you'll generate in general to all sites, and to your own as well, will offset any disadvantages you might face of losing the odd bit of traffic to a competitor. Also, it will give you good "white hat" public relations. If you keep the politics et al out of it, and keep it current, then you stand a good chance of blowing the other directories covering the same stuff out of the water. Word gets around quick about good link lists, and I have little doubt that many of the sites you list will provide links back to your list. You could see a rapid rise in Page Rank.
You could prolly even monetize it fairly successfully with an adsense account.
The only con I can see to creating a directory of this type is the time needed to compile and maintain it.
The pros are numerous: traffic, PR (public relations AND PageRank!), potential ad revenue, potential inclusion revenue...
Here are a few additional thoughts:
- Consider adding descriptions
- I'd break the pages down topically, and probably have fewer than 200 per page.
- Consider using some kind of directory management tool that makes it easy to submit new sites or submit changes to old ones.
- Start thinking about how you might generate revenue in the future:
* AdSense or other banner ads
* Paid inclusion for an expanded listing (e.g., better placement, address/phone, graphic, etc.)
* Text ads
Good luck, Liane!
But.... ;)
The only web sites which won't be linked above are those which may be misbehaving or may have done something to incur the wrath of Google. Clean up your site of anything such as cloaking, hidden text, hidden links, etc. which are against Google's Guidelines and we'll be happy to link to your site!
This alone could be a show stopper. For one, consider the maintenance aspect of it. Let's say they clean up the act just so they can get a listing with you. What's to stop them from reverting to their old techniques? Are you going to check on them occassionally?
It will never be monetized and I am not looking to make money for simply providing a link to "Rowena's Gift Emporium".
I thought about doing descriptions for each company with e:mail adresses, etc., but the problem with that is with more information comes a lot more maintenance! That wasn't the point. If someone wants to find all the hair salons or all restaurants, I am happy to provide the links ... but no more info than that.
I can check links (and their standing at Google) without too much fuss about once a month to reinstate those who have cleaned up their sites and remove any who have suddenly become naughty.
I think the idea of splitting the list into several pages has some merit rogerd. I think I'll do that. Thanks!
What I am mostly worried about is having my site perceived as a link farm, just because I am trying to do something I feel is long past due. Is this likely to happen?
The pejorative use of link farm usually refers to groups of links that are replicated multiple times on the web or other weirdly artificial linking schemes. These have been penalized when spotted by the SEs.
Some directories also seem to have been penalized, too, but in general they have been lower quality directories assembled mostly for SE performance. A directory like yours should be perfectly fine.
If all of a sudden, my site suffers, I guess I'll know what caused it and will remove them. It will certainly make an impact on the little guys who can't seem to get a link from the government, the Tourist Board or any other sites. Some of them aren't in any of the search engines which is pretty sad. They paid good money to have these sites designed and built ... not to mention the time required to develop the content, and they are not producing a darned thing.
Its a shame they have no support system from their own country or the Tourist Board. It really annoys me. Its ridiculous that a complete links list for the whole country hasn't existed for years. With a population of fewer than 25,000 people ... its really not an overwhlming task. A week or two more work finding all of them (in my spare time) and I should be done.
I hope this works out all 'round and I truly hope that others get the idea and start linking to deserving sites which could use a little help. I mean really ... what does it cost anyone to link to a good site?
I'm sick and tired of all the money grubbing that goes on for a simple link. Where would any of our sites be if someone hadn't provided links to our sites in the beginning? Isn't it how the web is supposed to work? Am I being naive or altruistic?
The only web sites which won't be linked above are those which may be misbehaving or may have done something to incur the wrath of Google. Clean up your site of anything such as cloaking, hidden text, hidden links, etc. which are against Google's Guidelines and we'll be happy to link to your site!
Better to say you simply reserve the right to accept or reject any listing.
That way you'll get some tools to monitor the sites for 404s, and there is zero chance you'll ever be penalized.
After all, the ODP is intended to be a comprehensive directory to the web, and it's data gets re-used by Google as well as a pile of other sites.
Plus, once you feel the directory is complete, you could resign as editor.
Am I being naive or altruistic?
Altruistic, at least... :) Liane, creating an income stream from this activity isn't evil... it's good business, and may help insure that you can devote enough time to it to keep the directory current, comprehensive, and appealing. Who knows, it might help pay for your next Pubcon airfare... :)
