6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Does Google take down "directory" sites?

by Joseph Then
5 replies
  • SEO
    • |
I heard from some SEO "experts" saying that Google will take a harder stance against sites that existed solely for directory listing.

For example, I build a site that lists plumbers in my region. I make money by getting the plumbers to pay me a monthly fees to get their contact listed in my site; hence; my site is a "directory" site.

So, do you think this is true? Is Google going to penalize such sites? Or are they just making these sites harder to rank?
#directory #google #sites
  • Profile picture of the author online only
    If it's niche targeted, without auto-approval, without low-quality sites and not spammed to death then your directory is worth being indexed and Google won't take it down.

    If you are planning to do the opposite(which I don't believe) then you might run into trouble
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8207486].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rakesh1600193
    Don't do unlimited submissions check alexa rank if it is below 50,000 submit your site, even do not think about nofollow.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8207503].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      You must be very, very selective. If you just say you
      will list any plumber if they pay, then there is no
      difference in you and what google thinks of paid links.
      You are basically selling links.

      They give yahoo a pass, maybe, as they feel yahoo is
      very selective. Maybe they are, maybe they're not.

      You cannot allow people to choose the link, description,
      anchor text, etc. That means you are indeed selling links.

      I don't believe a low level new directory accepting paid
      submissions would ever be considered anything other than
      a farm for paid links. How is google ever going to know
      how the selection process works, and if the selection
      process even matters? Who turns down money?

      And the kicker is, if you were a great plumber with a real
      business, you would not need to pay to be in the directory.
      Only people that need to pay would want to pay. So you
      get filled with junk sites that you are now linking to.

      Paul
      Signature

      If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8207561].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author tbtb123
    Most directories are spammy link farms, so getting backlinks from them will not only make positive SEO effect but it may actually get you penalties.
    Signature
    » Number 1 Source of High Quality SEO Domains! «
    100% Spam Free Domains! Without Manipulations! With Natural High PR Backlinks! Ideal For PBNs!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8207695].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author replicontimesheet
    Are you kidding? No Way...

    Then what do you think will happen to Larger directories like dmoz, Yahoo Directory, Capterra and other software directories?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8207926].message }}

Trending Topics