8 replies to this topic

[discountdomains]

Hi,

I know that PR is not related to SERP results, and previously I used to select Directory pages based on their relevency and if the page I was submitting to was itself in the Google index.

However google seems to have targeted directories and their internal pages now have no PR - but their home pages still do.

Has this targetting effected the value of the internal pages or not? I suspect that Google is trying to put people off buying listing as these equate to buying links and by knocking out the PR it puts surfers off.

Thanks

Clare

[Randy]

For something over a year now Google have been telling people who sell links to make sure they're clear in telling Google that they're paid links, Clare. If you don't tell them you risk having your site lose the ability to pass PageRank and lose trust with Google.

It's really no more complicated than that. They want you to tell them if/when you're selling links. If you choose not to follow their rules then they have ever right to think less of your site.

[discountdomains]

Randy,

Thanks - i realise that but my question was not about page rank / tool bar PR.

What I was asking is - if google removes toolbar PR from directory pages - does this also effect their value from a SERPS point of view in additional to the impact it has on PR / ability to pass PR.

ie is it still worth listing in directory pages that have no PR but are listed as pages in the google index - or have these pages been rendered useless completely.

The reason I ask is that there are directories I like and find professional that are not spammy and have human editors that have suffered in this way - but there is not much point if they are dead and burried.

Clare

[Ahmed]

First you shouldn't list a website in a directory if all you get in return is pagerank - its important that you get direct traffic and this is especially true if you pay to be included. Some directories have been selling pagerank for so long that they lose their toolbar PR and the ability to pass PR while others just lose the toolbar PR (I'm not entirely sure how this works though).

[Hannes]

For something over a year now Google have been telling people who sell links to make sure they're clear in telling Google that they're paid links, Clare. If you don't tell them you risk having your site lose the ability to pass PageRank and lose trust with Google.

It's really no more complicated than that. They want you to tell them if/when you're selling links. If you choose not to follow their rules then they have ever right to think less of your site.

Maybe a stupid question, but how do you ´tell´ Google that you are using paid links?

[Randy]

Read the blog post I linked to and you'll see that the easiest way is to nofollow those paid links.

[Jill]

Clare, I'm not sure if people know whether those pages get any other sort of penalty besides the ability to pass PR.

[Ast]

Hi,

I know that PR is not related to SERP results, and previously I used to select Directory pages based on their relevency and if the page I was submitting to was itself in the Google index.

However google seems to have targeted directories and their internal pages now have no PR - but their home pages still do.

Has this targetting effected the value of the internal pages or not? I suspect that Google is trying to put people off buying listing as these equate to buying links and by knocking out the PR it puts surfers off.

Thanks

Clare

discountdomains, You should keep in mind that directories may increase not only PR of Your site, but also its traffic. Popular and authoritative directories are being very frequently visited and appreciated by people. Some of the directories send regular RSS distributions and a lot of people subscribe to them.

[omahonydonnelly]

For years a link from the Yahoo Directory was a valuable link in Google's eyes -- now they are paid links, and a hefty amount, too. Since Yahoo's own SE is prominent and people don't seem to be using the Directory much, is that link still important? I think 'no', as we are not getting as much traffic as we used to, but has anyone noticed if Google is giving value to these links? Could it be the crack down on paid links, as well?