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Looking for a directory script to solve the issue
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| Author Name |
Status |
Posted Time |
| Pamela Teipel |
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11/14/2008 8:53:53 PM |
| Author is Offline |
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I created a very simple niche directory in FrontPage. As the directory is very small, this meets all my needs with two exceptions.
The first is that it does not track recip. links to make sure that links back to the directory do not disappear.
The second is that I receive many requests to be added, but once the sites are added I never get the recip. link (so I have to go back and delete the sites). Huge waste of time.
Consequently, I'm looking for a directory script that will solve these two problems. Or, at least automate things so that less time is involved. I've had two recommendations: the snowboard script (also mentioned in this forum) and Duncan Carver's Link Management Assistant.
I would very much like any comments on which of these two would be most suitable. Also, any alternatives to these if someone knows of something better. Thanks in advance Pamela. 
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| Subject |
Author |
Status |
Date |
 Re: Looking for a directory script to solve the is
sue
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Mado Crazot |
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11/15/2008 2:36:30 AM |
The "snowboard"
script I'm assuming is Snowblind's. It's a non-reciprocal linking directory script.
You will find that you will get very few reciprocal lin
ks in your directory. The SEO community doesn't look favourably on reciprocal required dir
ectories. Of course, most directories will offer you a reciprocal link...
Post Comments |
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Re: Taken into consideration |
Pamela Teipel |
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11/15/2008 2:39:41 AM |
Has taken the name suggestion into consideration
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Re: I take your point |
Pamela Teipel |
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11/15/2008 2:50:24 AM |
| Mado, I take your point about non-reciprocal links. I’m probably making a lot of incorrect assumptions in my model.
I had hoped to create a niche directory (site related to France and living in France) that would be useful. However, in order for it to be useful, it needs to be relatively high up in the SERPs position. Otherwise almost nobody will ever see it.
I had hoped to build the SERPs postion based on reciprocal links. If this is not a reasonable model, then I see only two choices:
1) I could buy links in. However, as this is a hobby directory, I don’t want to go to a lot of expenditure. Also, while this seems to work well in the short term, I wonder if it is difficult to sustain in the long term (expenditure out balanced by expenditure in).
2) I could have a directory that is so authoritative (e.g. DMOZ like) that lots of sites link to it. While this is theoretically possible, I suspect it is not easy.
I guess my basic problem is that I don’t really understand the Directory model and the relative difficulty/benefits of the various options. Do you know of any posts/articles that provide a good overview?
Snowblind: I'm afraid I don't understand your comment. Could you elaborate?
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Re: That was on a humorous side |
Moshik Elippett |
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11/15/2008 2:53:44 AM |
That was on a humorous side I presume. He meant that he will consider changing his directory's/business name/nick from snowblind to snowboard .
Try phplinkdirectory.com. I use
it, but not sure how well it manages reciprocal links, as that's not what I use it for.
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Re: Thank you for your suggestion |
Pamela Teipel |
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11/15/2008 2:58:38 AM |
| Moosh, Thank you for your suggestion. After looking aroun
d for a while, I decided to go with your suggesti
on as phpLD does have a nice set of features and a
lso a lot of users (which indicates it will likel
y be around, supported and upgraded for some time
). I do have one problem with it (posted in anothe
r thread on this board), but that is due to my sp
ecial requirements. Overall, yours was a good sug
gestion.
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Re: You will get more traffic to your directory... |
Mado Crazot |
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11/15/2008 3:03:15 AM |
You will get more traffic to your directory by not requiring reciprocal links. There are various forums around which will allow solicitation of submitters. Meaning you can ask people to submit to your site. This forum happens to be one of those. This forum is another.
Also if it is a niche I can add it to my niche directory lists, you might obtain some traffic from there as well... (i don't list reciprocal directories however).
(1) and (2), the points you raised don't sound viable, as you said its a hobby, so why spend money, and getting a site to be like DMOZ takes dedication and a lot of time - it's not going to get authoritative if its a hobby.
I guess there's 4 main types:
1. Free submit
2. Reciprocal Required
3. Pay for inclusion
4. Editor-only (like DMOZ)
The benefits vary. Free submit will have the most traffic and the most submissions, the downside is you will also get the most junk submissions.
Reciprocal required has the benefit of a return link to your site, so you don't have to go looking for links. Problem here is that most people just don't want to have to submit and reciprocate, so traffic is generally small.
Pay for inclusion, costs money for a start so most people will baulk at submitting. The benefit for the submitter is usually deep linking, meaning they can submit pages other than just their top domain. The benefit for the directory owner is simple. money
The editor-style ones, in my opinion probably gain the least submission traffic of all, since most of their directory is handled via an editor-team, despite the fact that they might allow people to submit. Their benefit lies in that they are probably given the most credibility because they hand pick each and every site. Wiki-style directories lean in this direction too, though they also allow site owners to edit their own listings. The downside is its a slow process for bigger directories (DMOZ can take 12 months to get listed) and for smaller directories its difficult to encourage people to spend time listing their site on a directory that has no listings already.
Some directories have 3 of the 4 options as part of their makeup. So n
ot all directories can be pigeonholed into being "just a free directory"
for example.
It's a difficult decision to decide what model to take up. My suggestion would be to try and not be everything to everyone, because that generally winds up in offering nothing of value. Focus on what you want to achieve from the directory and try and go for a unique option.
Dan
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Post Comments |
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Re: Thank you very much for the advice |
Pamela Teipel |
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11/15/2008 3:04:26 AM |
Pamela, Thank you very much for the advice.
I would like to retain editorial control over submissions. It is time-consuming, but at least I can prevent garbage submissions from getting into the directory. I think this is particularly important for a niche directory, as I’ve found that a lot of unethical webmasters submit sites that have absolutely nothing to do with the subject of the directory, in the hope that it will slip through.
That being said, if a site is accepted, I would be happy to either get a reciprocal link or money (the money could be put towards the costs of further development of the site). However, I need the directory SW to manage this. As Snowblind’s script is not set up for reciprocal links, is there a script that you could recommend? I don’t mind paying a bit for a good script (e.g. $50) but don’t want to pay hundreds.
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Re: Looking for a directory script to solve the is
sue |
Remanan Chethayil |
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11/15/2008 2:55:36 AM |
I actually created a version of the script which allows fields for reciprocal linking. If you're interested check out http://www.snowblind-development.com/products.htm, or email me at contact@snowblind-development.com, and we can talk from there. The script is currently selling at $49.99. For this you get full after-purchase customer service, and added to our mailing list where you will be informed of the complete goings on with the script (updates, etc).
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Re: Thanks for your suggestion as well |
Pamela Teipel |
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11/15/2008 2:59:30 AM |
Remanan, Thanks for your suggestion as well. As it turned
out, I went with phpLD, but thanks for the suggest
ion.
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