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Everybody is talking about strong directories. What is a strong directory? Many people define “strong directory” as a directory which simply has a high PR (>5) for its homepage and also a nice PR for its inner pages. But it takes more than just that for a directory to be considered “strong”. In this article we will try to explain what a directory needs to be a strong one. And it needs a lot of things and quite some time before it can claim the title.
It’s not easy tp get all the things needed, together. The owner will have to work hard for quite some time, and also invest a good amount of money on his directory. Gaining a high PR (5), may be easy, and everyone knows how easily PR can be manipulated and faked. Onlu through time, the worth of a directory can be proven.
So what are the things we must have in order to call a directory “a strong directory”?

- Script : First of all, the owner has to choose the script that is going to be used on the directory. There are many available scripts today, and someone must choose according to his needs. Paid version is a must on our situation, in order to avoid having any outbound links on the footer or somewhere else.
- Template : Right after this, the owner must look for a custom tamplate. A strong directory must be different from all others if it’s going to be an example to follow. Try to create a template (or have one created), that is different from all others, one that will be remembered by visitors. Once made, try not to change the directory’s look. You should try to keep a stable enviroment.
- PR, Backllinks : Although PR can be faked, backlinks never lie. A high PR (>=5) must be supported by several thousand backlink, from different sites. Also first level inner pages must have a good PR (at least homepage PR -1), and the listing pages at least a PR 3.
- SERPs : A strong directory must be easy to find and must appear on the first pages of several search engines for as many competitive keywords as possible, in order to ensure the receivement of good traffic to spread across its listings. When we say “competitive” we mean the keywords that most users use to make their searches. “Competitive keywords” are not defined from the number of results returned from a search.
- Recognition : The directory also has to be recognizeable. Owner has to invest a lot on promotion, and run campaigns that generate traffic, so that his directory can become known.
- Services : A high standard of offered services must be retained at all times. Submissions reviewed within 24 hours, uniquw descriptions, and additional features are some things that show how serious a directory is about the role it has to play.
- Content : Today content is the king of the internet. A directory that can provide regularly updated content, can take a huge advantage against its competitors. Search engines love content and it will help the directory climb up the SERPs and also its listings do the same. A blog would be a nice addition towards this direction.

As we can all understand, it takes time before a directory can claim the right to be called “strong“. It takes more than just PR or backlinks alone. It needs to be operational on a high standard level for quite some time, gain people’s trust and provide an ever improving enviroment on the ever changing internet.
Supposing someone has the funds needed to invest on such a project, he will need at least 6 - 12 months before his directory will be able to carry the title of a real “strong directory“. And this, only if everything goes by the plan, and under the most favourable conditions. Otherwise it may take much longer. For some even a lifetime…

This entry was posted on Monday, July 9th, 2007 at 9:39 am and is filed under Tutorials. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.