Directory Questions

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Joined: Oct 06, 2002

# Posts: 50

Posted: 09/13/2004 12:35 pm

I have three questions:
I was refused for the ODP because their are so many sites that are in competition and selling the same stuff with the same manufacturer info that it is considered "not listable".

1. If I re-write the descriptions which would be very difficult, as people want to know the make, model, features etc. that I don't know what I can change. I had this in mind while building the site and did change as much as possible w/o losing the basic description. Would they re-consider my site? We had quite a "row" in their forum about it so I shut up and decided to let it go until I checked about a rewrite.

2. Is the $300 for Yahoo worth it? It's just a PR6 link with about 50 sites sharing it? Does the "directory factor" have anything to do with the quality of the link compared to any other PR6 link? I hate to spend the $$ but if there's a ROI then I will do so immediately.

I have submitted to directories for the past couple of weeks until my fingers are numb. The only paid one so far was bluefind, which I thought was a bargain. I edit in about 5-6 decent directories so I was included in those a long time ago, but am wondering if there are any other paid ones that deliver more ROI than spending the money on PPC?

3. What would you suggest as "essential" PAID directory listings? I need traffic and Google laid me to waste in the Florida update so I'm trying to pick up some credibility with them and other SE's through directory listings.

Thank you!
CZ

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bhartzer

Administrator

Joined: Jun 08, 2000

# Posts: 7027

Website

Posted: 09/13/2004 01:28 pm

I know ODP can be frustrating. And I'm not sure whether or not the $300 for a Yahoo! Directory listing is worth it for you. You might consider it at a later date, though.

To get good rankings, you don't necessarily need an ODP or a Yahoo! ranking. You do, however, need links to your site in order to survive. Directories aren't necessarily the answer, though.

Depending on your industry (you don't mention which industry you're in), there may be other ways to get good links, including trade magazine sites. You might also consider contacting some non-profit organizations, as they will sometimes give you a link if you donate to them. Press releases work wonders, too.

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Joined: Oct 06, 2002

# Posts: 50

Posted: 09/13/2004 01:53 pm

Thanks for your advice bhartzer!

That seems to be an opinion shared by a lot of people lately (regarding the Yahoo! link). The site I am trying to "push" is in my profile and sells personal and home security weapons, alarms etc. (a tough market). But, pre-FLA when every search term I had was in the top 1-5 on Google I was able to earn a substantial income on that little site. Now that I'm relegated to page 2 & beyond of the Google results...it just pays for it's overhead.

I appreciate your input!

Chuck

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Quadrille

Insider

Joined: Nov 15, 2000

# Posts: 796

Website

Posted: 09/14/2004 04:30 am

Check the sites that are listed in ODP - see if you can develop your to be as good.

It's possible, for example, that you could add significant new information - reviews, history, whatever, to cross ODP's elusive "uniquity" barrier.

Check out the competition; if you can do better than them, there's hope. But if your site really is a straight affiliate, then better to cut your losses.

Do search for specialized directories as well as genral ones; they'll often send you more visitors, and may provide more valuable links.

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Joined: Oct 06, 2002

# Posts: 50

Posted: 09/14/2004 11:31 am

Thanks for responding Quadrille!
Actually, I work with a dropship company on this website, that does sell cookie cutter websites. Mine is carrying these products but was made completely by myself with it's own distinct layout and product presentations are different although the text to describe the items and the items themselves are carried by their affliates. It looks nothing ike their affiliate sites and I have no affiliate stuff in my code.

This stuff relly sells if you get a litle traffic. I had another site optimized and used the same techniques as the "SEO" did on my other site. It had two listings for every search terms and none under #4-5 on Google searches with 100's of thousands of pages competing. Fla update wiped it out and have been tossed to the back of the pile.

I can't get any links. I use Aerilis to find the links and then send emails (canned, but each is tweaked to the prospect's site). I have PR4 on my link page (hand coded..white hat..no tricks) with about 15-20 links outbound. What a sweet trade for these webmasters but I've sent 100's of emails out and got 3 links..same PR as mine but with more links on their pages, so I'm losing ground. Tried Link Market and was inundated with 100's of requests by PR0 to PR4 sites and every one to a man/woman was using Linksmanager or some automated system. What a joke it looks like when you open a links page and there is a smalll directory - PR4 and the subsections have PR0. AS IF!!!

Thanks for your post, what do you think? My site in question is in my profile,

Chuck

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g1smd

Moderator

Joined: Jul 28, 2002

# Posts: 9980

Website

Posted: 09/18/2004 08:28 am

>> Actually, I work with a dropship company on this website <<

That is the real problem. Your site is just a "front-door" to a drop ship company. They have thousands of front doors (that may look the same, or may look different) and the ODP is not in the business of listing those sorts of sites.

>> Mine is carrying these products but was made completely by myself with it's own distinct layout and product presentations are different although the text to describe the items and the items themselves are carried by their affliates. It looks nothing ike their affiliate sites and I have no affiliate stuff in my code. <<

What the site looks like is not a factor in an ODP listing. It is the actual content of the site, and the intent of the owner (as in generating leads for someone else, etc).

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Joined: Oct 06, 2002

# Posts: 50

Posted: 09/18/2004 08:55 am

I agree g1smd,
I was trying to generate leads for me. I have let go on the ODP & have added my URL to every directory in the lists that can be found around the forum. No use crying over spilled milk. I'll sure get busy doing what I can do. In fact I have been working on adding a little more content every few days, by way of decriptions and adding a product here and one there and I found about about a half dozen decent search terms where I had vaulted from page 2 or 3 to the 1,2,3,4 positions! I'm encouraged, and will keep trying to grow the text on the site, let the directory links get spidered, and maybe I'll get a few more terms on page 1. That would make me very happy and boost sales! "Just doing what I can, with what I've got"....Burt, "Tremors" part?
Thanks for your post!
Chuck

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