Info Vilesilencer Directory Owners Forum and Free Directory List » The New IVS Site » IVS Site General Discussion

[Dan]

I've created a new page that briefly outlines the selection criteria in place on the IVS site.

Hopefully I've worded it clearly enough for people. Some of it was already present in the Web Directory FAQ, but that really only covered the SEO friendly component.

There is also some small edits. It may have been confusing for people to read that we don't allow directories that use rel=nofollow on outbound links. This only applies to listings themselves, meaning that you are either recommending them or you aren't.

In terms of advertising, I would absolutely encourage people to use rel=nofollow on those links, to ensure that you are following Google's TOS. In the distant past I may not have been a fan of doing this, and I still think there is a massive double standard... However, the continual climate since late 2007 has been to steer away from offering paid links. So you really need to differentiate your listings from your advertising.

Listings - should be dofollow
Advertising - should be nofollow

I believe now that I have better covered the other reasons why directories will not be included, highlighting the minimum editorial standards and quality of content that we expect for each directory.

The page is listed under the FAQS/Help menu on the Info Vilesilencer homepage.

If you believe something is obscure, or that I have left a key ingredient or component out, please feel free to let me know your thoughts.

There is a level of leniency in place, particularly at the free end of the spectrum, and moreso for niche/topical directories, as these resources generally offer the best on-topic content around. Even if they may also have a level of low-value stuff in there.

Obviously, you would expect that we are far stricter on the pay-for-review models, because quite frankly the editorial staff get paid to audit/review each submission coming through and/or to seed/populate their own category trees.

With that in mind, I hope it makes a lot more sense as you why we reject literally 90-95% of submissions (maybe more). It's impossible for us to individually explain each rejection, it's far easier for people to read criteria and understand what they are building before applying/submitting in the first place

[drwebs]

Thank you for the guidelines. Helps knowing what I need to work towards to maintain a presence on the list.

[Dan]

No problems, and it is important to know that really... those guidelines have been around since the first lists.

Over time, we've concentrated on shorting the lists based on removing the directories with flaws.

To narrow it all down and just give us the best possible lists.

Also they are just guidelines... A directory should be doing all of that stuff as a minimum. They shouldn't just go. Oh wow I've done all that already, I should be listed.

Only the directories that go above and beyond, and create their own reason for being are going to ultimately survive. It's why many directories start with great intentions but end up disappearing over time...

[Dan]

I've decided that some time over the weekend I am going to put the Top 100 through a simple flower test to whittle it down again for any spam.

Right now there is literally 120 directories on the Top 100. It'd be exceptional to get that closer to the 100 by removing any directories that are falling down.

I've removed Pegasus Directory. It looks like it has been penalised for a while (not ranking for name), even though the URL itself has sitelinks. I suspect it has triggered Google's spam filter.

My suspicions are confirmed when a simple flower test reveals a lot of dodgy Indian flower sites.

Unless people are going to vet their content correctly, they are going to find themselves disappearing.

These things can be fixed. Penalties aren't permanent. You'll see SEOs running around saying "hang on they got caught with their hand in the cookie jar, and now they've been caught they are expecting to get let off because they've removed what is causing the penalty".

Those SEOs are morons. Ignore them.

Apple got a $2.5 million fine today in Australia for false advertising. That fine represents 30 minutes of earning for the company, which is tantamount to a slap on the wrist --- Where's the outcry? There isn't one because that is business.

So. If you are doing the wrong thing and have dodgy flower sites or spam in your directories. remove it today! along with all your other spam, and then ask for a re-review.

We'll give you one, and if you clean up your directory and request re-inclusion Google will too.

Dodgy SEOs might not use you again, but that's why they are dodgy (even if they work for big name companies )