How can you create a respected link directory?

[Beverly]

Link directories have gotten a bad reputation as spam farms, usually linking back to any and every site in exchange for a reciprocal link. These sites are rarely curated well, some even selling links to disreputable sites.

Yet, despite the bad reputation of some link farms, Google seems to respect an anchor text link from some link directories as the intention of the site is to be truly useful to the site visitor, rather than making a quick buck for a backlink.

So, what's the difference? These directories are heavily moderated by human editors who take time to individually evaluate every link submission and only contain curated links to truly relevant, high quality content sites. Respected directories don't sell links to low quality sites. So even if you're willing to pay, doesn't mean you will get a backlink.

So what should you do if you are a link directory owner, looking for higher search engine rankings with Google?

If you own a link directory, you should consider curating all incoming links and disallowing free links based solely on reciprocal backlinks given.

Each link in your site should serve a useful purpose within it's own category.

Add content or wiki pages that supplement your categories, to enhance your site's content value with users and Google.

 

[Vishwajeet Kumar]

I will never go with a Link Directory and it is also restricted by Google. If They Found it than It will harm your Ranking.

 

[buysell-browse.com]

I will never go with a Link Directory and it is also restricted by Google. If They Found it than It will harm your Ranking.

That is actually wrong. There are many directories which sport a respectable PR and can help your rankings. Spreading FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) about what Google does and doesn't like seems to prevail among the ignorant nowadays.

 

[CM30]

Moderate each and every link to make sure the sites being listed are of a high level of quality, and reject more sites than you accept. That's all you really need to do if you want a good link directory.