Link Directories on SEO Sites

[WebRookie]

While searching for good link prospects I've run across many sites, in particular SEO companies, which include a link directory on their website.

The directories allow anyone to submit their link to it. Some are targeted to the topic of the website, but the majority are directories with categories that do not relate to the topic of the website.

I'm not comfortable with this senario as it seems to be an artificial means to increase their link popularity. Wonder what Google thinks of these type of mini-directories?

[jeremy goodrich]

If the linkage is created with the *purpose* of falsely inflating PageRank, then Google has said they have ways to automatically 'not count' these types of links.

If you are considering doing something similar, I'd say you should launch your own 'off topic' directory, and let it open to the public. One project I'm involved in is a vortal, and does pretty well...though no revenue is derived, it gets a decent number of google referrals.

[WebRookie]

Right, if I were to start up a site, it would be its own entity, topic-specific, etc. This seems to make much more sense to me and better content for the user.

[2_much]

Hey WebRookie, I've come across this too, however these sites are ranking well. Even though they're completely untheme'd, Google seems to like them.

My conclusion on this is that Google is giving points to outbound links and inbound links from different "areas" of the webmap.

We're now adding pages like these to some of our sites.

[jeremy goodrich]

That's true, I've seen several that rank well.

I guess my reason for not doing this is more personal since good old Google gave me the PR0...:(

Also, the reason I'd seperate it out is to have it more 'themed' as this is where I see things moving, though for the moment, any kind of interlinking will give you the boost, as 2_much mentioned.

[WebRookie]

I've noticed the sites I've seen are also ranking well. The good ranking would make more sense to me if the directory listings were all in a theme. As it is, these type of directories don't make sense regarding link popularity, with the ideal way of linking being those related to the topic of your website. This way, anyone can cook up a quick "all types" of links directory to boost ranking.

I'd really like to hear what GoogleGuy says about this type of linking.

[fathom]

If the linkage is created with the *purpose* of falsely inflating PageRank, then Google has said they have ways to automatically 'not count' these types of links.

If you are considering doing something similar, I'd say you should launch your own 'off topic' directory, and let it open to the public. One project I'm involved in is a vortal, and does pretty well...though no revenue is derived, it gets a decent number of google referrals.

I don't see how "outbound" and the topics of the "host" bear any difference. If the topic of the category is the same of the receiving site -- this isn't false inflation of PageRank.

In addition, uniques directories are a collect of very broad and completely unrelated hierarchy topics but the sub-directory structure can be very much on theme.

It is possible they are requesting a link from submitters (and these could be off-topic) depending on where the links go.

[edited by: fathom at 2:57 am (utc) on Oct. 18, 2002]

[WebRookie]

The links I have seen are off topic mostly, even though a few of the sub-directory sections are close to the topic of the site. They look more like a general directory of subject listings in a typical directory you see online.

[fathom]

hmmm... personally I wouldn't requested a link even as a SEO.