How To Avoid Troubles With Directories? Options

[Ast]

Hello guys.
Many of You own directories and, maybe some of You were facing problems caused by search engines - rejection (as it happened with Aviva), or just little PR increase. What one should and shouldn't do in ordrer to avoid the problems like this with web directories?

[Bagi Zoltán]

Hello guys.
Many of You own directories and, maybe some of You were facing problems caused by search engines - rejection (as it happened with Aviva), or just little PR increase. What one should and shouldn't do in ordrer to avoid the problems like this with web directories?

As far as I could experience those directories were penalized which sold paid links, with the aim of ranking improvement. Until you give links for free and avoid to become an FFA site with a strict quality based review your directory will be fine and popular.

[Jill]

What one should and shouldn't do in ordrer to avoid the problems like this with web directories?

Create a directory that is different from others already out there, which also provides value to those who might be seeking out the types of sites you list in your directory.

The directory itself must provide value and not be a place to purchase or trade links with people. Directories are for searchers looking for a nice clean organized list of websites sorted by topic, not for people who want to be listed in directories.

[Ast]

It's clear why search engines negatively treat the directories with paid listings only (though, what about botw.org и business.com?). But what about the free directories that provide paid listings also? Do search engines approve this? What do You think, Jill?

[Randy]

I'm not Jill, but my opinion is it's going to depend almost entirely upon the quality of the directory.

If it's crap directory it won't matter much whether it accepts paid, free or a combination. Conversely if it's a quality directory with a unique approach that only links out to quality sites it also won't matter much whether it accepts paid, free or a combination.

[discountdomains]

I'm interested to know what is left that meets Google's criteria.

Dmoz and Yahoo appear to be part of Google core of trust sites as they are mentioned in their guidelines.

BOTW and Business.com appear to be unaffected and have good quality thresholds but not all the sites they list are that good.

Beyond these and a few minor ones that maybe Google hasn't got around too yet everything else seems bombed.

Anyone point to others that are top tier?

[Jill]

What do You think, Jill?

Can't say as I've paid much attention to directories for the past 2 or 3 years so, so I don't have much opinion on it.