installing link directory - consequences

**mgstudent** · 10-23-2006, 09:24 AM

Hello

I have a PR3 site with lots of potential and with no real effort put in so far.
I think that a link directory would compliment the site but I don't know if installing it on the same domain would hurt or help the PR (either initially or in the long run also)

My option is having it on the same domain either as a subdirectory or folder (www.mydirectory.mydomain.com or www.mydomain.com/mydirectory) or simply linking my main website and domain to a new domain which is Hosting the directory on it's own.

My question is at first with building a link directory, I guess that I just need to fill it up (with relevant stuff), but not too fussy about their PR.

So if I fill up the directory with a load of PR0,1,2 (and the directory is on the same hosting as my main domain) is that going to hurt the overall PR of my site?

My guess is that it would hurt the overall PR of my site, but I see so many link directories with thousands of outgoing links (I would guess with more links out than in) and yet they have PR 4,5,6 !!

All help appreciated.

**mgstudent** · 10-24-2006, 01:16 PM

If anyone could help with this I'd appreciate it. I think there are a few people here who have dabbled with link directories at one time or another.

Thanks

**Tom K.** · 10-24-2006, 01:44 PM

I have a couple of niche directory sites. Travel related. All with PR3 or 4.

The PR is related to the page, not the entire site. So www.mydomain.com/index.htm may have a PR but sub.mydomain.com will be PR 0.

Anytime you dramatically change the content you risk effecting PR.

Check your backlinks. Sites linking to you may be responsible for your PR. If you change your content, will they drop you?

Anyways, all the best in your endeavors.

**Dale Hubbard** · 10-24-2006, 02:31 PM

Links are usually worthless for PR unless they are reciprocated and on-topic. Just my experience. Good luck!

**Tom K.** · 10-24-2006, 02:56 PM

Actually incoming one-way links are more valuable than reciprocated links (as long as they are related to the site's topic). Reason is that one-way inbound links represent recognition of authority, much more so than link exchanges.

P.S. As long as the inbounds are on a different subnet.

**Dale Hubbard** · 10-24-2006, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by ecafe

Actually incoming one-way links are more valuable than reciprocated links (as long as they are related to the site's topic). Reason is that one-way inbound links represent recognition of authority, much more so than link exchanges.

P.S. As long as the inbounds are on a different subnet.

That makes absolute sense. Hadn't thought of it that way

**mgstudent** · 10-25-2006, 12:38 PM

That's interesting about the subnet.

On one of my Hosting packages I have 2 domains.
I was told that the search engines will see the sites separately but that the sites will share the same ip.

The sites content is similar and I have a link exchange between them
- will them being on the same IP make a difference to the effect of link exchange?

tx

**RazorNF** · 10-25-2006, 01:03 PM

I haven't run a links directory for quite some time, but one thing I recall. I had used a free script which didn't have that graphic number verification feature, and after awhile my site just got inundated continuously with automated spam listings which ended up killing the site. I don't think it's an issue with the current scripts out there, but make sure you also set it so that you approve all submissions...

**mgstudent** · 10-25-2006, 01:11 PM

Tell me about it. You're soo right about that!

I have a forum with the same problem at the moment.

I found a list of ip addresses that other webmasters had blacklisted and added that to my list - it helped a lot - but I'm still thinking of using a visual capture thingy.

**Sinfully Wicked** · 10-25-2006, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by mgstudent

That's interesting about the subnet.

On one of my Hosting packages I have 2 domains.
I was told that the search engines will see the sites separately but that the sites will share the same ip.

The sites content is similar and I have a link exchange between them
- will them being on the same IP make a difference to the effect of link exchange?

tx

If you had two static sites on the same server using the same IP and linked them both togeather, i don't think that would be a problem, especially if there both related because you will just be giving them reputation, even better if one of the sites has PR and the other dosen't BUT if you have hundreds or thousands of sites on you server under the same IP Google will just ignore them and not give any PR, infact Google frowns upon this and if they hit you on a bad day they could throw you out all togeather.

If you do decide to link them both, stick to just having the one link on the home page of each site. This way when your directory grows and more pages get added Google won't see it and think "hang on he has XXX pages with that link on which points to that addy and its on the same IP, lets ignore him"

Thank you

Sin

**mgstudent** · 10-25-2006, 09:38 PM

thx for the advice.

Yep just a single link on each. My host says that they'll be seen as separate websites to search engines.

I'm just surprised because I only found out recently that I can add 2 domains to each Hosting account with them - I've been paying them twice as much as I needed to I think :greenrolleyes:

So I'm sceptical about the 2 domains on 1 hosting package - but I'll go with it!
I have so much space / bandwidth with each hosting that I might as well save the money and consolidate.

mg

**ktechost** · 10-31-2006, 12:03 PM

Just make sure don't exceed the more than 50 - 60 outgoing links, otherwise search engine will consider it to be a directory and will effect your PR rating.
Make sure you have lot of one way link coming in but do not use same content otherwise it will be sandboxed.

**mgstudent** · 10-31-2006, 12:33 PM

ktechost,

That confuses me a little, because at http://www.mydomain.com/directory

will be my link directory so there is linkely to be far more than 60 outgoing links eventually (probably thousands).

Initially more outgoing than incoming, but even after reciprocal links take off, my total outgoing are likely to be more (especially if people buy a the links for a couple of dollars).

So the main thing is not to drag down the PR of the main website index page, which is a 3/4, and for the main PR to keep increasing by other means without being hurt by this directory.

I think that the directory is a nice edition to the site, because the links will be specific and relevant.

Plus I just don't understand why there are some link directories out there that have a massive PR, when they are more likely to have more outgoing links than incoming??

There was a guy earlier that said each page of a website has its own PR and so the directory shouldn't affect the PR of my other pages, this is right? isnt it?

Thanks.

**ktechost** · 10-31-2006, 12:41 PM

To explain what I said I need to tell entire google policy. I'll only say one thing don't collape structure of commercial website with directory site. You should know that for a directory site to get a good PR is much tougher job than a regular site. If you exchange 10 links with High PR site , you'll easily achieve a PR 4 or 5 of sure.

Regards

**mgstudent** · 10-31-2006, 01:20 PM