 Competing With Directories For Web Position, non directory competing |
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High Rankings Search Engine Optimization Forum > Search Engine Optimization > SEM/SEO Resources and Advice  |
 Jan 11 2005, 04:26 PM
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#1
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HR 2  Group: Active Members Posts: 21 Joined: 11-January 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:05 PM From: Melrose, MA Member No.: 6,205  |
Hi, everybody. I'm new to the forum (and to forums in general), so I hope this question is in the right place.
The main keyword phrase that my non directory site is optimizing for is also the main keyword phrase for many directories. If my page rank is the same as that of a directory, and my site is optimized equally as well as that directory, will I be on a level playing field competing with that directory for web position, or are directories by nature more difficult to compete with than non-directory domains? To put it a different way: If most of the sites competing to be in the top 20 google listings for my keyword are directories, do I need bigger guns than if they were not directories? (Everything else being equal) Thanks. Paul (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) This post has been edited by pauldavidshea: Jan 11 2005, 05:52 PM |
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Jan 11 2005, 06:41 PM
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#2
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 HR 10  Group: Moderator Posts: 7,489 Joined: 24-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 02:05 PM From: Somerville, MA Member No.: 22 |
Welcome, Paul (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif)
Directories do have certain advantages: 1. A lot of sites link to them 2. Assuming they break things down into very specific categories and have good descriptions of the sites they list, they've got lots of keyword-rich content on the page. In the so-called "Florida" update a little over a year ago, a lot of people who were optimizing for competitive terms so their listings replaced by directories, and they concluded that directories were being given a boost by Google. I don't think there's any truth to that, myself. I just think they tend to contain good pages, and that makes them tough to beat. |
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Jan 11 2005, 06:55 PM
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#3
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HR 2 Group: Active Members Posts: 21 Joined: 11-January 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:05 PM From: Melrose, MA Member No.: 6,205 |
Thanks, Bob.. Its good to know that if I do the optimizing job well, my pr5 might have a chance of edging out a pr5 directory. Otherwise, I might have to stack my site with highr pr incomings to boost my own pr (which I don't intend to do). The choice is: do all the necessary work to optimize on this keyword phrase where equal pr ranked directories now rule (including a new url), or go after a key phrase with lighter competition.
Thanks again. Paul |
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Jan 11 2005, 09:11 PM
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#4
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 HR 7 Group: Moderator Posts: 1,980 Joined: 24-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 01:05 PM From: Minneapolis, MN Member No.: 16 |
Keep in mind that that PR is not really an integer, so while two sites may have the same PR, they're not really tied.
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 Jan 11 2005, 09:49 PM
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#5
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HR 2 Group: Active Members Posts: 21 Joined: 11-January 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:05 PM From: Melrose, MA Member No.: 6,205 |
QUOTE(Haystack @ Jan 11 2005, 10:11 PM) Keep in mind that that PR is not really an integer, so while two sites may have the same PR, they're not really tied.  So is the message that it is in fact more difficult to compete with directories for a search term position than to compete with a non-directory site? Will it require extra juice to compete, or should effective optimaization do the trick if in fact the pr is the same? Paul (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) |
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Jan 11 2005, 10:08 PM
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#6
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HR 7 Group: Moderator Posts: 1,980 Joined: 24-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 01:05 PM From: Minneapolis, MN Member No.: 16 |
Actually, this was separate from the directory vs. non-directory question. The point is that your site could be a 5.3223 while the site you're competing against is a 5.4322. It's not as concrete as an integer PR measurement.
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Jan 11 2005, 10:27 PM
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#7
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HR 2 Group: Active Members Posts: 21 Joined: 11-January 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:05 PM From: Melrose, MA Member No.: 6,205 |
QUOTE(Haystack @ Jan 11 2005, 11:08 PM) Actually, this was separate from the directory vs. non-directory question. The point is that your site could be a 5.3223 while the site you're competing against is a 5.4322. It's not as concrete as an integer PR measurement. AHA! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/eek.gif) Thanks for the clarification, Ed. Is there an available (free) tool for me to use that delivers pr ranking in integers? Paul |
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Jan 11 2005, 10:35 PM
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 High Rankings Advisor  Group: Admin Posts: 29,201 Joined: 21-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 02:05 PM From: Ashland, MA Member No.: 2 |
Not only that but your site could be a PR7 and still not beat a PR5 directory, or vice-versa.
PR has very, very little to do with how your site will rank. Fuggetabout it altogether. Don't forget about obtaining links to your site, but DO forget about PR. Wasted brain power to think about it. That said, I do in fact believe that directories seem to have an advantage over a straight commercial site these days. But I don't believe it will last much longer. |
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Jan 11 2005, 11:17 PM
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#9
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HR 2 Group: Active Members Posts: 21 Joined: 11-January 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:05 PM From: Melrose, MA Member No.: 6,205 |
QUOTE(Jill @ Jan 11 2005, 11:35 PM) Not only that but your site could be a PR7 and still not beat a PR5 directory, or vice-versa. PR has very, very little to do with how your site will rank. Fuggetabout it altogether. Don't forget about obtaining links to your site, but DO forget about PR. Wasted brain power to think about it. That said, I do in fact believe that directories seem to have an advantage over a straight commercial site these days. But I don't believe it will last much longer. ALLLLRIGHTY,THEN. Thanks, Jill. I'm gonna take 'em on! I'm gonna (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/kicking.gif) I'm gonna send them directories back to their proper categories! (Sure hope it works...). I checked out several of them for keyword placement, repetition, proximity and density, and I KNOW I can produce richer key content without sacrificing any quality. I guess we'll find out if they really DO have an edge. Nitty-Gritty was Hunkey Dorey. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup1.gif) Helped alot. Thanks again, Paul |
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Jan 11 2005, 11:20 PM
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#10
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HR 7 Group: Moderator Posts: 1,980 Joined: 24-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 01:05 PM From: Minneapolis, MN Member No.: 16 |
The Google Toolbar will give you integer values of PR, but it's not something to obsess over.
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Jan 11 2005, 11:39 PM
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#11
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HR 2 Group: Active Members Posts: 21 Joined: 11-January 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:05 PM From: Melrose, MA Member No.: 6,205 |
Thanks, Ed.. so what's one more thing to obsess over? What the heck.. I'll install it , put on my Google goggles, (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/eek.gif) giggle, (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/bubbly.gif) and take one more small step toward thinking that I might understand an iota of where Google's coming from. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/mf_Flush.gif)
G'night. Thanx. Paul |
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Jan 12 2005, 06:54 AM
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#12
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 Convert Me! Group: Admin Posts: 17,377 Joined: 17-August 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 01:05 PM Member No.: 551 |
Hi and welcome Paul ! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif)
An idea here, as it seems appropriate... Since these directories that all appear in your market are competitors but not really direct competitors, why not try to get your link included in as many of them as possible? Thinking like a search engine, if I saw that 15 of the Top 20 sites I list for a certain phrase all linked to a single site --using the same or similar phrase in the anchor text-- I would certainly give that single site a significant boost. In other words, if the sites I have chosen as Authority sites think xyz.com is a good resource, I would be inclined to believe them (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) It shouldn't be too difficult either, assuming these are real directories. That's what directories are there for after all, to categorize and link to other sites. So you have something of a built in Linking Campaign available to your site. |
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Jan 12 2005, 08:45 AM
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#13
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HR 2 Group: Active Members Posts: 21 Joined: 11-January 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:05 PM From: Melrose, MA Member No.: 6,205 |
Randy, I like the way you think. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/clapping.gif) Those directories are definately on the submission list, but the implied collective optimization "endorsement" aspect is almost dastardly. I love it! I'll also be using the key phrase we're in competition for EXACTLY as a URL.. (with one creative hyphen) so what's happening will be fairly evident to the effected directories. (Tee-hee-hee). :slap:
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