If you build a directory that is not search engine friendly, people will ignore yours. Let's face it, we all build a web directory for an SEO purpose as submitters use them for the same reason.
I learned SEO before running a directory, so it helped me a lot to understand how a directory should be built. It really is about focusing on SEO whenever you build a website, blog, directory, or a forum
Directories are rather challenging IMO because you aren't really adding pages with your unique content on them. You rely on others' submissions for page content, and this means that you would want quality websites to keep the content quality.
So in the light of "Content is King", an often-said phrase among SEO marketers, I would like to start off with content on a directory.
- Content - Link Description
Each link description is a part of content of a particular page, which has a theme. So, it is better to have as unique description as possible. Some directory owners re-write every description, and IMO, this is not a bad idea for submitters either because Google prefers sites with more unique contents on them. Even though a penalty for duplicate content by Google is not that heavy one as many would think, it is simply better if your website has something unique, standing out of the crowd.
Making categories is a major part of building a web directory because if you don't sort links well, it would affect the entire directory. You wouldn't want to place a link that is irrelevant to the category. It is better to have a category that is specific rather than too general.
By the way, I don't know about you, but I don't like to have category links that are not popular at all. I understand that general directories should cover pretty much "all" themes. But then you are not making another Dmoz either, or Are you?? So, what I do often is to
pick popular categories first, then expand those categories with sub-categories. You can go through other big directories and see which ones are more popular and what categories are so "dead".
I usually don't even bother having unpopular categories. It's just the way I do. I just don't like to have dead categories with PR4
Furthermore, having a dead category links is not good from SEO perspectives. You may want to keep the page if it has PR4, for example. But the dilemma whether you should keep it or drop it is like a nightmare.
While general directories are easier to build as you can accept more links, targeting a good niche can be good, especially for SEO. If I can find a good niche directory, I wouldn't hesitate to create one. But if you want to build a general directory, you will have to work hard to make it more unique. Your directory is general, but you are to make it more unique. Here are some ideas to make your general directory to be more unique.
- Add good mods
- Unique design
- Add a blog
Mods
Adding mods can make your directory very unique. Mods can attract submitters/advertisers.
Design
The first impression can be very important for any visitor, even the ones that visit web directories on a regular basis. Often, professional looking ones attract more people.
Blog
You can use a blog to announce your directory news. Use a blog to add more content rich pages. I like the way Romow directory has done
Finally, don't forget about basic on-page SEO. It may not be too important as ranking factors, but there should be no reason to ignore them either. After that, well, you know what to do. Links, links and more links to your directory!
