Is This A Bad Idea?, making a directory and requiring a link? Options

[MCP]

I have created a directory on one of my sites, and I am thinking of requiring reciprocal links to be listed.

Do you think this is a bad idea? I figure it will help backlinks and trim down the amount of submissions (which is good).

[Jill]

It's not inherently evil or anything. I don't particularly care for that sort of thing, but it's no different than requiring payment.

Hard to keep track of though.

Jill

[Haystack]

I think that depends what the goal of your directory is. If it's to provide a list of the useful sites for your visitors, then requiring a link my work against you. However, if your goal is to create a directory of sites willing to link to you, you're right on target.

[MCP]

Cool, I have a little bot that can check my listings' sites to make sure my link is there whenever I tell it to, so maintenance isn't tough. And the links I add to the directory will be useful for sure, the ones that come in from the WWW won't be useless, but probably not as useful as the ones I hand pick that don't even submit.

I'm not into the reciprocal links thing either, but looking at it from the other end I can see it being helpful to my rankings. This might end up being a good thing.

[anthonyparsons.c...]

Well, I use a link directory for my SEO site, and it does help for getting some links that people may not want to give otherwise.

[amabaie]

Personally, I work on a pyramid process.

There are a very few sites so great that I want to link to just "because", and I don't ask for a link back.

There are plenty of sites I link to in exchange for a link back.

There are the vast majority of sites that I refuse to link to because they are off-topic or off-color, in most cases.

Optimal strategy is probably a mix of reciprocal and non-reciprocal linking, but it does depend on the purpose of the directory.

[qwerty]

This is just a personal preference, but I won't link to a directory. I just don't think that's what directories are for.

If you're talking about building a niche directory as opposed to a general one, I think you'll find that you'll derive a lot of benefits from it without requiring reciprocation. You'll be recognized as a hub, and you'll have pages and pages of keyword-rich copy. Getting a bunch of links into the directory would be nice, but you need to decide what's more important: the backlinks or the perceived authority of your directory. You're going to get a lot more sites submitting if you don't require a link back, and that's going to make for a more complete directory.

[OldWelshGuy]

I have a directory, no link reqired, no prssure to do so. I add pages to it as and when, I accept sites that are decent, and bin those that are not. I send out an email telling people they have been added, and ask them to tell others who might benefit to add their sites for free as well.

WHY?

Google & the rest of the bots keep coming back and back and back, I add a client site to it, and it gets spidered right away. For me that is a good enough payoff. we are getting hits to the directory, (although I just have it there as a hobby, an aid to spidering client sites, and eventually it will become a good resource). In the meantime, i pay for its existence, and it repays me with a gateway to the spiders, and some feeling of goodwill.

I think that you should clearly decide what you want a directory to be. In my case it is a directory simply for my locality, as well as other resources.

Personally I beleive that any restraint on inclusion other than quality and relevance is a bad thing in a resource site.

OWG

[anthonyparsons.c...]

Well, I work of one solid principle, that is, the web is built on links. The more links we have pointing around the web, the more the spiders are encouraged, the visitors we can obtain by targeting links, etc. I personally think it is all in the method in which you do it. I am not going to discourage linking itself, just the method in which people tend to fly away to achieve it at times.

[MCP]

My directory is actually a level down inside of an existing site, and it is a niche directory that is related to the site itself. It isn't trying ot be a directory as much as it is trying to be a good way to get bunched of resources, content, and backlinks.

[Debra]

I have created a directory on one of my sites, and I am thinking of requiring reciprocal links to be listed.

Do you think this is a bad idea? I figure it will help backlinks and trim down the amount of submissions (which is good).

Are the links coming off the directory true recip links? Meaning clean HTML links?

I find most directories produce dynamic URL's making it tough for the spiders to read and follow. Therefore IMO, it's not really a true one to one link swap.

It isn't trying ot be a directory as much as it is trying to be a good way to get bunched of resources, content, and backlinks

Hmmmn. Sounds like a directory to me!

Actually what it sounds like is a library or resource center. If you are uncomfortable with the "directory" moniker, change it!

[scolling]

I use the same approach - When some tries to add a link to my site, they must provide a link to the page where there's a backlink - then I check the page, and if it's not got an <a href > link in it to my site, they can't add the link the theirs.

This also has the benefit of preventing scripts from automatically adding links to our directory but is only used for link exchanges.

I also then use outbound links that are value add to the site content, and readers.

[awall19]

I generally do not like the idea of requiring reciprocal links. By doing so you virtually guarantee that the best sites will not get submitted.

The whole point of the web is the free flow of information. Generally I think the directory idea works best if you are willing to just give links to related sites. Also the people who do link to you are more likely to leave it if they are linking to you because you have a good site / are viewed as a good helpful person.

[mcanerin]

I'm working on a city directory right now, and my current plan (don't know how successful it will be) is a tiered system.

Anyone can submit a link for free (if it's on topic). If, however, you give a reciprocal link then I move you to the top of the list.

If you pay a small fee, then I check your site out thoroughly and you get a description, an icon beside your site if it belongs to the local BBB, Chanber of Commerce or has it's head office in the city. And you can appear in more than one category (if appropriate).

In short - it's free with no restrictions, but if you give a reciprocal link or pay then you get additional benifits and exposure. ie using the carrot rather than the stick.

I havn't launched it (under construction) yet so I have no idea how well this will work - what do you guys think?

Link: http://www.searchcalgary.ca/submit.htm

If you hate it please let me know, it's my first "from scratch" directory and I want to use it as a template for future ones, so I'd like to work out the bugs now. Naturally, if you think it's a good idea go ahead and steal it (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Ian

[MCP]

Not bad mcanerin, not bad at all. As a quick side note, some of the centered text I personally would left align, but that's just me.

It is usable and it isn't ugly. All in all I would say top marks, especially since it's your first "from scratch" directory.