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We're using some automated software to build the directory, however I've done research on the software and already plan to comb throuhg every generated page, and strip it of anything that might tip google off to the pages being automated.
What are people thoughts on Google's reception of such link directories. Is this going to get us banned? Do we need to ban the spiders from the pages? If we ban the spiders isn't that going to make any reciprocal partners not want to trade links? Should we stay away from putting a directory up link this at all? What tips do people have that we can use to not tick off google?
Is this going to get us banned?
Do we need to ban the spiders from the pages?
If we ban the spiders isn't that going to make any reciprocal partners not want to trade links?
Should we stay away from putting a directory up link this at all?
What tips do people have that we can use to not tick off google?
IMHO automation has huge risks. and if you ban spiders, googlebot won't see the links so no PR will be passed, so what's the benefit to have a link there unless they are just looking for traffic? Good luck in you efforts!
Forget the robots. Put in the extra work and it will improve things like you have no idea.
I have found that if you are good to Google, Google will be good to you.
What is ODP apart from being a links directory!
Properly programmed links directories make life heaps easier - autoemailing, links checking for dead links and whether they still link to you, storing contact details for the partners...
While it is good to place external links throughout your site, directory pages also give great value to your everyday visitors.
Note the following:
- you should see examples of Google caching and assigning PR to similar pages
- you should customise it enough with your site look and feel.
- don't link back to the directory program creator on every page, a dead giveaway
- dont use the same database for a number of links directories unless you are very good at randomising the information. Googles dup filter is exceptional.
Then everyday SEO for your directory pages - gives great value to your recip links partners, as they become themed pages, and the links are from your "authority site".
- file names equal/based on page title
- page titles equal to that pages links theme
- first words of the page with the search phrase/pages keywords in it.
- efficient use of text links to assign PR and link text value to the pages - give the pages enough PR that people will get value from the pages, just like you would like to receive value from theirs.
If you are careful, you should have no problems.
We are talking about automated links directory software and NOT a directory. How can you put the ODP in this? You don't have to trade links with them to get in the directory.
Such a directory is certainly spammy, but why should google 'ban' you for a reciprocal links directory?
I don't say it will help your rankings either.
Like any tool, link management tools can be used or misused. If you're linking to every site under the sun, unrelated to your topic area, then yes, you are running a higher risk of encountering a penalty.
If, instead, you use it as I do, to find and maintain linking partnerships with relevant sites, ensuring you spend no leass time optimizing your linkpages then you do any other form of content page on your site, then I doubt you would ever have a problem.
In fact, during the few times that google inadvertantly (due to the "dropped index page" glitch or whatever reason) temporarily "lost" my site, I still received over 1000 TARGETED visitors per day from my link partners alone.
So many people today overlook the actual value of potential visitors from link trades, as opposed to simply acquiring links as a commodity, that it amazes me (with the upheaval over the last year) that some of them stay in business.
Voting is a bit of a pain. That's how it works in the world, and it is very good for Google to try to discern that understanding of value when it comes to linking.
Plus the traffic is great.
Everything you described sounds perfectly reasonable.
If I were you, I would take t2dman's expert advice on how to make good link directories, webfusions' long experience in using the software, robotsdobetter's hint of unwise use of banning robots and martinibuster's re-assertion that topic link directories work fantastically.
RobinL, you have all the answeres to your questions. Next step is "To proceed with whatever the hunch tells you"
I'm not keen on directory building software but that is only because it is difficult to get software that works exactly the way you want it to.
having a site that liberally links outward I think is crucial. link outward because your visitors would find the link useful. that should be the only consideration.
i believe that google is/will be very good at spotting organic linking patterns. and is/will reward sites appropriately.
sit2510, How is that not wise to suggest not allowing robots to spider something? What really is unwise is the use of Automated software like that!
What a crock. I've used link management software for over 4 years ona site that has been in the top ten of a VERY competitive SERP (15+ Million sites) for every month of those 4 years, and have NEVER had a problem with it.
The people that use this type of software are lazy, it's not that hard to use HTML, Now is it? Automated software is a other way for lazy people to not do nothing! No one said it was easy work to start a site.
sit2510, How is that not wise to suggest not allowing robots to spider something? What really is unwise is the use of Automated software like that!What a crock. I've used link management software for over 4 years ona site that has been in the top ten of a VERY competitive SERP (15+ Million sites) for every month of those 4 years, and have NEVER had a problem with it.
You just have not been found by Google and you will.
Yawn. I'm on pins and needles.
Used properly, there is nothing wrong with building as much or as little automation as you want (or are knowledgeable enough) to use.
If you think the only "real" way to build a site is manually...then you are, quite simply, behind the times. Those of us who run TRULY successful enterprises (i.e. more then the handful of pages a manually updated site contains) use these available tools respsonsibly and within google guidelines.
One of the reasons I can sleep at night is because I KNOW that my site can stand the scrutiny of an actual human reviewer from Google or any other search engine.
As far as being lazy....I prefer to work smarter, not harder. If a little automation properly deployed on my site can shave even 30 mintutes off my work day, while violating NO acceptable practices, I'll use it everytime.
The people that use this type of software are lazy, it's not that hard to use HTML,
The less time I spend writing HTML or any other kind of code, the more time I can spend playing the trombone and samba dancing. Build as much automation into your sites as you can - if you are going to have 1000 or even 100 links it's much better to have it all in some kind of DB or CMS that you can manage without wasting time which can better spend doing something else.
i hope you are creating that html with notepad and not some software like dreamweaver. Dreamweaver is for people that are lazy. It not that hard to hand code is it?
Yawn. I'm on pins and needles.Used properly, there is nothing wrong with building as much or as little automation as you want (or are knowledgeable enough) to use.
If you think the only "real" way to build a site is manually...then you are, quite simply, behind the times. Those of us who run TRULY successful enterprises (i.e. more then the handful of pages a manually updated site contains) use these available tools respsonsibly and within google guidelines.
One of the reasons I can sleep at night is because I KNOW that my site can stand the scrutiny of an actual human reviewer from Google or any other search engine.
As far as being lazy....I prefer to work smarter, not harder. If a little automation properly deployed on my site can shave even 30 mintutes off my work day, while violating NO acceptable practices, I'll use it everytime.
I have a number of link directories. The links are found by me. I enter the information (category, description, URL, etc.) into a database which outputs HTML pages. The HTML is clean but not spammy. Sometimes I spider the site and cull dead links. No reciprocation is required for me to include the site, nor will it change my description; I do email people to ask.
Does anyone think there's anything wrong with this?
As far as being lazy....I prefer to work smarter, not harder. If a little automation properly deployed on my site can shave even 30 mintutes off my work day, while violating NO acceptable practices, I'll use it everytime
Quite right too, nothing at all wrong with that attitude.
I have a number of link directories. The links are found by me. I enter the information (category, description, URL, etc.) into a database which outputs HTML pages. Does anyone think there's anything wrong with this?
Nope.
Umm, how do you think Google crawls the web? A hell of a lot of automation going on there with some manual intervention, just as the rest of the smart guys & gals around here work I would think.
