Google banning directories?

[jez]

Has anyone experienced any problems with google dropping their directory?

There is a 50 page thread about it at webmasterworld.com

I have a feeling that if you keep your descriptions hand edited and check each site for quality and not let the spammy ones in it should be ok.

Although there might be an issue of reciprocal linking - advertising a link for a link - I suppose that google could see this as link farming.

I would welcome comments as I am just thinking out loud.

[kickass]

I've been reading through that thread and there seem to be a couple things that poke out at me while reading re the sites that were trashed--

Many of the directories trashed in Google required reciprocal links.

Many had 301 redirects.

Many had gotten listings from dmoz.

Many used content "scraped" from the page linked, instead of being hand edited.

Many were overly SE optimized.

It seems to me that Google is trying to weed out link farms and black hat tactics. I think if you build your directory carefully and pay attention to avoid what you see above you will most likely avoid being shunned by Google, though there do seem to be some exceptions to this. I guess there are no easy answers.

[seothatworks]

I agree to Kickass. Running a manual directory submission service I have seen quite a few such dirs, including PHPLD powered ones. Nobody knows the complete process how exactly Google decides "which are good and which bad", maybe even through a manual review?, but these points above all make sense.

Many times I was able to spot a problem right away, directories participating in link farming, or accepting just about any junk.

But I have also come around a situation where the homepage had just PR0 and there were subpages with PR4. Related or completely another case, I have no clue.

There is no way how to be completely sure, but if you don't accept junk (not even for money), will play it safe, and possibly even ad some content or make the directory a part of content rich valuable site, you are on the safer side.

[minstrel]

I'll third that. I think what Google is doing is expanding the duplicate content penalty (e.g., DMOZ clones) and filtering for other dubious practices. I don't see any evidence of a general ban on directories.

[Darren Hester]

I'm just starting a new web design link directory using PHPLD. I'm also using NewsTopica to index RSS Feeds related to design. I'm a little concerned about what I'm reading in this thread. Is there anything I can do to insure my site isn't banned because it's catagorized as a "link farm"?

I'm hand editing all my links and I'm only adding sites I personally feel good about recommending.

Does anyone know if using NewsTopica is going to hurt my search engine placement? Will Google see the RSS in a negative way since it's duplicate content?

I realize there isn't any way to know for sure, but I'd appreciate any advice folks could give me. I want to do all I can to prevent any problems....

Thanks!

[Php-Phd-Wanna-Be]

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I feel that is really a very important key point in regards to making the directory part of a content rich site. More and more it seems that Google is favoring content rich sites.

I know we aren't speaking of Adsense here, but just as an example, if Google doesn't like the following for Adsense, they probably don't like it for anything else: Google likes to see content for a landing page. In regards to Adsense, it is against the tos to have Adsense ads on a landing page that does not have content. I feel that perhaps Google is favoring the same code of ethics in regards to a directory, or any other site for that matter. So content is of great importance, and especially unique content, not a bunch of duplicated content. Just my .02 worth!