Making a custom web directory
-
I am wondering if it is beneficial to launch a social bookmarking website based on Semantic Scuttle [http://semanticscuttle.sourceforge.net/demo] in order to gain inbound links. For the sake of example, say my industry is ebooks. I would of course add links to all of my products to the site. In addition, I would want to add links to competitors products to the site to make the site actually useful and not look like spam. On the face of it, is this a good idea?
Secondly, I of course wouldn't want to be helping out competitors, so would any of these actions be advisable?
- add nofollow links to all links except those pointing to my site.
- ads or featured listings pointing to my links.
- I make it so only voted on links are dofollow. Thus, competitors could actually get links from my site. Naturally, I would vote on all my submissions.
The idea of the site would actually be to provide a meaningful service. Once it's done I would want to get people linking to it.
Any advice? Thanks!
Edit: I added scenario #3 which I think is probably the best option, if this is even a good idea. I would also make some static content to really make this a good resource!
-
One more idea is if I write some code that says if a link on my site gains more than say 3 votes that it turns into a dofollow. Again, I plan on submitting links to competitors sites for any ebook I can find, so it sould actually be a helpful resource.
-
Google is usually quick to identify methods of manufacturing links.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Links from Directory Websites with NoFollow Tag
In reviewing our root domain links, I noticed that many of the directories (like Yellow Pages, Insider Pages, Merchant Circle, etc) that there are no follow codes included in the link to our website. Is this a common practice for these directories? Also, I wanted to confirm that this would not help in our link building strategies with any relevant "link juice." Below is a copy and pasted (with some extra characters that shouldn't have copy and pasted), but the key note here is the no follow tag that was included in this link to our site. Visit Website Thanks as always MOZ Community - cheers!
Link Building | | Leithmarketing0 -
Is directory submission still a valid practice?
Hi Guys, I have few doubts running in my mind on directory submission, do you think it is still a valid practice in link building?. If your answer is "YES", then please correct me.. How submitting to directories is a natural link practice? According to Google, links should not be purchased, it should to be created naturally, but if you see, a lot of high authority directories charging amount from people to index links, why Google not stopping those directories (I mean penalizing) and stopping the people who are trying to get indexed by paying. According to me directories holds only bunch of links to some external domains (I hope I am not wrong), then how submitting to them can bring rankings to me?. Sorry, if I sound stupid in any of my points, but expecting some good answers from you folks.. 🙂
Link Building | | HDDEPT0 -
Paid Directory Submissions
Hello, I recently submitted our main url to BOTW and Yahoo directory, Typically how long does it take for google to index these? Thanks!
Link Building | | TP_Marketing0 -
Can being on to many directories cause a penalty from Google?
If a URL is on hundreds of different directories would that be enough for Google to penalize a website?
Link Building | | PageOnePowerGang0 -
Back to Basics: Lets talk link directories :)
Hi, Ok, bit of a muddy subject for me because lots say it's a good method, great for getting things started and some say it's a complete waste of time and it's spammy. But I guess the difference between the two opinions is quality! I have stopped using directories but think it's time to add some diversity to my link profile. In the past I have used this - http://www.directorycritic.com/free-directory-list.html What are your thoughts on that list? Does it actually fall into the spammy category and I should be looking for a much higher quality list. Cheers
Link Building | | activitysuper0 -
Can changing our links page make our rankings drop through the floor?
Hi all, When I first started at my current job, most of the link building (aside from submitting to free directories left, right and centre) was replying to every spammy reciprocal email and adding them to our links page! Now we're all a bit wiser about such matters (thanks SEOMoz!), I want to get our links page turned into something actually useful. My plan was to get it neatly categorised, with recommendations, cut out unrelated links that would be useless to visitors and call it something like "Our Friends" I thought this might be useful for future link building efforts, but in its current state, it's a complete mess. However, I am worried about cutting out a lot of links if they have been reciprocal ones. Are the sort of sites that would be sending typical spammy link exchange emails for window installation in NY likely to notice our UK education site taking away their link six months later and take away ours? If they do, will losing links from these sites harm us? Perhaps more importantly, is my plan a terrible idea in the first place? Look forward to hearing from y'all!
Link Building | | TEFLScot0 -
How do paid directories like thomasnet.com do so well in the serps? Aren't the Panda updates supposed to be moving us away from this?
With all of the updates/changes to Google's algo, I assumed that paid listings & links like those on thomasnet.com would have less merit. Is this an incorrect assumption?
Link Building | | PropelMike0 -
Web directory links
Just wondering about this SEO company that promises submissions to 65 000 web directories?
Link Building | | jingliang3_rogers.com
Is this even possible? Are many of the links going to be low-quality or worthless? What do you guys think?0