Directories are the ?brand new site? best friend. Since every new domain gets put in the Google ?TrustBox?, since they favor links from trusted sites. This is a part of the "TrustRank" equation within the algorithm. Directories play a very important roll in getting good quality inbound links that help your site to get out. As they pass PageRank and reputation with Google, your site will greatly benefit from its inclusion in these directories, especially in the launching phase of its life cycle. So, finding solid directories to get your site listed is the key.
The viable alternative to link buying... and safer. Directories provide one-way inbound links to your site, and drive traffic to your site through direct referrals. By doing this, they boost your link popularity and ultimately improve your search rankings. All this done naturally, and cost free in many cases.
Paid vs. free: the differences and the similarities. Paid directories quickly list your site, were free ones may take several weeks or even months to review it. On the other hand, some paid directories charge expensive listing fees for the link they provide, and that is not cost effective. If you work on a limited budget for your site, you may want to submit to a handful of paid directories but a few hundred of free ones. Of these last ones, prioritize ?one-ways? preferably. Whatever directories you submit to, paid or free or a combination of both types, the quality of the directory itself should be the biggest consideration in your decision.
The directory page that counts is were the link is. When doing a directory submission, not only look at the PageRank of the homepage, but also of the subpage, where your link will be. While it may seem like a benefit to have your site listed on a PR7 directory, this is less effective when you realize that the internal page where your link is actually only a PR3, when you expected more.
Pagerank is not the only factor of directory quality. A low PR directory is not necessarily a bad one. New directories fall in this category. These directories do review and list sites quicker. Also, when they become more popular, so will your listing. Again, base your decision based on the quality of the directory. And keep in mind whether or not the directory is search engine friendly. When checking the structure of the link to your site, make sure it is not dynamic.
Directories links shouldn't be more than 10%. You shouldn't have more than this percentage in your overall inbound links count. Don't rely on directories alone as your link source. Diversify them for your benefit. Please refer to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Basics - Part 2 for more sources.
By Dedicated SEO Consultant Jose Nunez
This is a question I have found myself asking quite a bit recently. Having recently moved into the area, and in search of something "not manufactured", I have found it hard to find true authentic restaurants in Plano Texas. In a city that seems to be fueled by Starbucks, Brinkers chains, and other nation wide chains; whose passions seem to be marketing and not food, I find it difficult to weed out the few remaining Mom and Pop local restaurants. Who, unlike national brands, strive to deliver the best quality around. Not that there is anything particularly wrong with Chili's, Bennigans, TGI Friday's, and the like, I am just looking for something that wasn't developed in a focus group.
When you go online, looking for local restaurant reviews, you get directed by Google to go to sites like City Search, trip adviser, and active diner. All sites that allow customers too fill out reviews of local restaurants. You would think that these sites would help when one is trying to discover local restaurants. But, I have found that generally these so called "reviews" are one liners limited to "This place Sucks!" or "It rocks". Occasionally, for a particular venue, you may get lucky enough to find a review where someone had taken ten minutes and wrote up a decent critique. I understand that taste is subjective, and one man's favorite is another man's cringe, but I want to see a review that gives fair credit both too what a restaurant does well and what they don't.
What makes a good review? In my opinion, a good review of an establishment, not only takes into account the building itself, but also the quality of its food, and the customers it attracts. You can have the hippest looking burger joint on the west side, but if your idea of a burger is frozen patties from Sam's and micro waved bacon, then your created atmosphere is only lending itself to a false economy. That being said, I have the utmost respect for a place that seems warn, but serves Barbeque that will knock your socks off, (or any type of food for that matter). I search long and hard to find these places! Because, they put more work into there food than they do there "cool" factor. However, if the place is crawling with cockroaches and the bathroom resembles Seven Eleven's, I am likely to think the food is prepared in similar fashion.
Also, contributing to a restaurants atmosphere is its customers, I understand most places, can't choose who decides to dine with them and who doesn't. However, if you decorate your place with the latest line from Ikea, and serve lettuce wraps with bean paste - you are going to attract a certain type of person. You will likely, not be a big hit with the local truckers union. (Maybe you will odder things have happened). Point is that the customers combined with the decor and the food all contribute too how a restaurant is perceived.
With only a small help from the Internet, I decided to go it alone. I started driving into every small shopping center in search of local Plano cuisine that excels at being original and authentic. So far, I have had some successes and some failures. But, I have found several Coffee shops that actually care about there quality and not about selling you the latest album release from John Mayer. Currently, I still seem to be missing out on what is great in Plano. Is it that Plano doesn't have anything great to offer? I doubt it. Maybe, I just haven't turned down the right street yet.
Both Lory Sargu & Dave Russell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Lory Sargu has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cars, Search Engine Marketing and Cats. Content Source: Submitted by: . Lory Sargu's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.
Dave Russell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Bull Terrier Dogs, Alternative Medicine and Food And Drink. Dave Russell recently moved to Plano. In search of great local and Coffee Shops, Dave set up a blog posting about his experiences with local. Dave Russell's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.