Free Directories PageRank Updates

Well it's been a busy day updating all the data at my Free Directories and Paid Directory Listings reviews.

As you probably know by now, Google is in the middle to their October 2005 update (code named Jagger - I think WMW has some stupid names for these updates). This update is a multi-part one spanning three weeks according to Matt Cutt's latest Google Weather Report.

On 10/20/05 the Google's toolbar PageRank™ was updated to allegedly reflect the PR conditions on 10/10/05. I'm not a big follower of PageRank, but it is a decent barometer for a sites link strength (not to be confused with the site's quality).

I have updated all my review data to reflect this PR update. I have also added a + or - next the PR number to show which direction the directories PR is moving.

Here's the score card for this update:

Main Free Directory Listings: 57 directories reviewed: 11 had a PR increase, 2 decreased and the rest stayed the same.

Free Directory Listings - Duds: 10 directories reviewed: 1 had a PR increase, 1 decreased, one was delisted and the rest stayed the same.

Paid Directory Listings: 15 directories reviewed: 3 had a PR increase, 1 decreased and the rest stayed the same.

This is a much better performance than the last major free directory update. I think the "free directory" situation is swinging back from their "bad boy reputation", but it is important to get listed in the good ones and avoid the bad ones, especially if you link back to any of the directories for enhanced listings or quick acceptance. Like with anything else you do with your website, taking a bit of time to do some research will usually pay off in the long run.

I added one new directory and one of the Duds came back into the main section when they started to accept listings again (in fact, at present, they appear to be an instant submission - kind of strange structure though - check it out: CanLinks Directory).

That's it for now. As always, I like to here from you. You can comment below or email me by clicking on my name below or via the contact us form.

martin