From time to time I do a quick scan for directories to add my website to. However I have noticed some directories do not create proper links back to listed website (i.e. when you roll over a company name listed in the directory you don't see their web address URL but some kind of PHP ID number). I have always avoided this because I'm sure I read somewhere this was bad for your own sites page rank, especially when the directory asked for a reciprocal URL listed themselves in your website, but only give you a PHP ID redirected looking link.

 

Does anyone know if this is actually something that should be avoided, or concerned about, for example only get yourself listed in directories that create proper links back to you?

 

Thanks for any advice

 

Danny

 

------------------------------

 

Please review my site

 

Please review my site http://www.aerovisionit.co.uk/ always appreciate your comments

So when you look at your stats, how much traffic do you see coming back in to your site from these directories?

So when you look at your stats, how much traffic do you see coming back in to your site from these directories?

 

I mainly see referrals coming from DMOZ, Freeindex, UK Web Design Directory and UK Computer Support Directory, the rest of them, probably never, I was more interested in just getting inbound links from relevant Directories. However what about the way directories sometimes list sites? some use the correct URL (ie when you roll-over a company name you either see the URL in the bottom of the browser window) and some only use some kind of PHP or ASP ID instead of an actual URL

 

Have a look at these examples, just rollover the company names listed in the directories and look at the links in the bottom of the browser window;

 

http://www.onthewebdesign.co.uk/Webdesigne...tland/Caithness (displays ID instead of URL)

 

http://www.web-design-directory-uk.co.uk/avon.htm (displays URL of company)

 

I'm wondering what search engines make of the ID thing, I'm sure I read somewhere that if google see an ID it actually goes against your own page rank!

Well, the original point that I was making was that directories (other than the ones which you yourself mentioned) are pointless,

but to answer your question, the technique is a form of url masking which renders the link useless to search engines.

Well, the original point that I was making was that directories (other than the ones which you yourself mentioned) are pointless,

but to answer your question, the technique is a form of url masking which renders the link useless to search engines.

 

Ok thanks for the information, I'll assume its just best to avoid them. Just to query your reponse above though, why is it pointless listing a site in a Directory? Are there no benefits from inbound links from Directories? (even ones which are "SEO Friendly")

There's a very long explanation, but basically no - no benefit

I've got a quick, non-SEO related question, it's not doubting your answer and feel free to treat it as rhetorical! But why do directories use url masking? I would've thought that they only survive by having people put entries in them and that would, sadly, be mostly in the hopes of some SEO gain. This internet thing is a strange thing!

 

[EDIT: Oh, unless it's because they don't want to link to dubious sites which would drag their own ratings down.]

I've got a quick, non-SEO related question, it's not doubting your answer and feel free to treat it as rhetorical! But why do directories use url masking? I would've thought that they only survive by having people put entries in them and that would, sadly, be mostly in the hopes of some SEO gain. This internet thing is a strange thing!

 

[EDIT: Oh, unless it's because they don't want to link to dubious sites which would drag their own ratings down.]

 

Hi Wizely, it's probably something to do with page rank, like you say if they link to a site with a lower PR than their own it may drag their own PR down.

 

I'm getting myself wound up thinking about the hours I've spent adding my website (and my clients) to Directories if it's off no benefit...grrrr