Can a Thin Page Still Rank on a Pandalized Site?

[Pjman]

I'm wondering the general consensus here on this point.

If you have a Pandalized site and you spot a page that you would consider lower quality content yet it still ranks high, do you no index it?

Truth be told, the pages in question have a lot of value to users. They are just reviewed links to other sites (almost directory like). So G would identify them as lower quality. Should I noindex these pages?

[tedster]

Truth be told, the pages in question have a lot of value to users. They are just reviewed links to other sites (almost directory like).

Then these are not low quality pages, and the the evidence is that they still rank well, right? I certainly would not advise no-indexing or deleting pages that rank well and were designed to be of real service.

This kind of resource is sometimes called called a list of "curated" links. It's the curating that adds value. I'd also add that this is one kind of page that makes Panda a highly adventurous and challenging direction for Google to have taken.

[Pjman]

@tedster

Well put. That was my feeling.

Thanks for your input, it helps a great deal.

[Lenny2]

I'm of the opinion that "curating" links is actually now (or has been...) a very important on page seo "tactic." The reason I put tactic in parenthesis is because while I'm sure it can be spammed... it's actually a time consuming effort... maybe more so than spinning content.

Think of the web (like many have before) as an eco-system. If Google is a dominant force in the eco-system, a healthy Google has to balance itself. (if the tree is too large, it falls; if the heart beats to fast the rhythm may fail without the necessary movement of blood... life requires balance.)

What is Google predominant goal? Analyze the web and filter the #*$! and provide results that relevant and "good". By curating the web you are helping the balance the eco-system for Google. If you stick to your own resources... your own sites... your own content... without providing feedback on other services you aren't participating in the balancing of the eco-system...

Put another way... Why don't webmasters post links to other sources: fear; knowledge; greed... (among a zillion other reasons of course)

Fear:

Fear that you'll lose the customer. Fear that you'll lose your link juice. Fear that the resource isn't as good as you think it is... (for your customer.)

Knowledge:

You don't know about the other resources out there... and you don't have the time to figure them out.

Greed:

Why should you help out a fellow webmaster...

If you know anything about the philosophy of the "universe" you'll note that all philosophical and (even many religious teachings) preach enlightenment as getting fear/greed out of your life for personal growth.

If you know anything about Google, would you put it past them to sit around a conference table and say: "OK how can we make the search ALGORITHM into as organic, philosophical equation as is possible..."

And then there is knowledge. Obviously Google is looking to provide the most knowledgeable resources in their SERPs. How can you be knowledgeable about Santa Clause if you don't have links to a site about the North Pole... or links to passages of religious text... or to the latest shopping bonanza about this holiday?

...After all it works for Nature... why shouldn't it work for Google?

[Planet13]

I would also add that some of the pages I have seen with well curated links OUT also happen to have LOTS of inbound links, which APPEAR to be naturally acquired.

so a good outbound links page can be something of a link magnet.