Categorized Reciprocal Links Directory

solid future or latest "wheeze"?

[glengara]

Apparently the future for recip linking is the categorized reciprocal links directory, which allegedly can transform what looks like a set of spammy links pages into a valuable resource.

I don't see it myself, with G introducing the concept of "affiliation", the future value of recips seems at best unclear, while the value G may place on a small directory add-on seems mostly to come from having read the Hilltop Paper.

Never having liked recip linking, I'm biased, but some of the propagandists for this methodology have all the zeal I remember from the "Portals" of a couple of years ago.... ;-)

[martinibuster]

Regardless of it's alleged beneficial effects for SE rankings, I would rather be listed in a categorized link directory because:

• It's useful to the user
  People still like to link surf. Categorizing links by industry or whatever makes it easy to link surf. This is good for the website operator because it will help bring an interested surfer.

• Spread the link pop, baby!
  It forces the website owner to divide their recip pages instead of having one gigantic page-o-links.

  Ewww! Do people still do those anymore? Yes! Guess which sites I ask them to link to? heheh.

  If you want a quality linkback while offering a messy old recips page, I'm going to insist you accept as many of my weirdo websites as I can force onto you. I just picked up a handful of one-ways in this manner yesterday. heheheheh

• Look whose recip pages are in the serps!
  Hey, these pages are sometimes useful for picking up traffic. Not only that, but being in the top 3 for a particular business category makes your recip page that much more valuable and useful. It can give you an edge when negotiating links.

There's gotta' be some reasons not to do these kinds of directories. Let's hear some. Thumbs up or thumbs down? Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

[Rollo]

Do either of you use any link software, Arelis for example? I was wondering if hand built directories where superior to automated directories as far as search engines are concerned?

[robbo]

Yes,from my understanding it seems hand built is better.
Look what happened to Zeus built directories.If they've all got the same thumbprint then I suppose it's easier for Google to target them if lots of other sites from these systems are spamming.
Even if you're totally innocent yourself you could get penalized just by association.
Just my understanding from what I've read,but new to this so would be interested to hear from more experienced posters.

[martinibuster]

There's gotta' be some reasons not to do these kinds of directories. Let's hear some. Thumbs up or thumbs down? Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

[willybfriendly]

Being late to the party, I have never had a "links" page. I do have resources pages covering different aspects of the niche. These effectively become categorized recip links. (I also tend to use links in my content to other sites though.)

To me it just makes sense to do it this way.

I have gone so far as to break some of them out by geographic area.

That said, I am talking about presnting links as a usable resource for the visitor. I am seeing far too many automated "directories" whose only real purpose is game the SE's. Those serve little if any purpose, and, in the end they will only diminish the SEO value of more conservative links pages like what I have described.

WBF

[robotsdobetter]

From the way I look at it as a webmaster I don't like it because it seems spamming and you get very little traffic from it.

From the way I look at it as a surfer I never even look at them because most of the time they are used to get a better ranking in the search engines and have no useful resource in the directory.

I have tried Zeus just to see what it looked like (but I never had it open to my visitors or search engines) and really didn't care for it, just the way the directory was set up.

I have heard webmasters say that they have been kicked out for using software like this or that page with the links directory was dropped and I have seen it, so I would suggest from what I have (Not a lot to really back it up!) seen you can get kicked out for using it.

[glengara]

I agree with MBs rationale, given the choice between a CLD and a typical links page there's no contest.

However, (all WW members aside of course) we're not just talking valuable-viewer-resource here, there's work involved, so there must be at least the hope of some ROI.

Does categorisation alone have the power to transform a sow's ear?

[4eyes]

Arelis (much like Zeus) cam be made to produce pages that are exactly the smae as handbuilt.

I can't see any down side if you do directories sensibly. The worst I can see in the future is that might not work as well - can't see them becoming a negative.

Keep them useful to visitors and make sure there is no 'tell-tale' if you are using a link recip program.