Need help deciding how to display directory listings in way Google will like best
-
My blog site currently has maybe 100 posts and I do about 7-8 new a week. I am creating a directory for an this site, which will end up eventually being a few hundred or more entries eventually.
In the directory browse/search listing, each directory listing will have a title and a short description (one or two lines) and will show about 10-20 per page. And then the user can click an entry to see more details for the particular directory listing.
This is where I have a choice, and I want to know what is the best for my site, in Google's eyes of course.
Options:
1. The listing detail is displayed on a separate page.
2. The listing detail is displayed below the entry that was clicked, on the same page, by use of jquery to slide down the other content blow it to make room for it. (It actually looks slick, I've tried it).
If I were writing full, unique pages for each listing detail, I'd choose option #1. But the vendors are submitting the content. It's possible they might just copy and paste their site's About page into it, or they might not even add any more detail other than their address. I can't control it.
So, if going with option #1, let's say a third of the vendors add nice unique content, a third paste in some dup content, and a third just leave it blank (there would still be an address, couple line short description, and a title on the page). Would this situation be good, not good or neutral for my site?
I'm not sure if adding additional pages, maybe half to two-thirds of which could be somewhat duped or of minimal word length would be bad or neutral for my site overall. As for my existing and ongoing blog pages--they are all unique, long and Google seems to love them.
-
Good quetions.
"Why are you creating a directory for your blog?"
I already have a hand-made beginning of a directory of sorts--the major majors in some major categories. It is desirable on the site as it is a new industry and not everyone knows all the players. So, I am doing it to serve my readership and of course to then increase backlinks and visits to the site.
"Is the blog an industry specific blog of some type?"
Yes, it's specific, and it's a hot new industry with new vendors almost daily.
"What are you hoping to gain from having the directory?"
Backlinks and traffic. It's not really to get ad clicks on those page, but of course that would be nice. There really is no other good directory for this industry now.
"Is it something they pay for or do you allow them to be on it for free?"
Free. Although in the future I could always make it a profit center with premium placements, section sponsorship and the like.
After thinking about these questions, maybe option #2 with the best. Well, it's the safest and the least amount of work.
Although, I could go with option #1, and when they submit the description part I could tell them that if they want to control exactly as their listing appears they can submit unique content; otherwise we reseve the right to rewrite it in any way we like. And we can give them a Copyscape test for it so they know.
Now, one other thing to consider: While many of the companies are small and not "brands" so much and I have a good chance to rank for them since my site is so strong, many are certainly brands and with Google the way it is now, I likely would not stand a chance to rank for the company names anyway.
-
Hello Bizzer
I am going to approach this from a different angle first:
Why are you creating a directory for your blog?
Is the blog an industry specific blog of some type?
What are you hoping to gain from having the directory?
Is it something they pay for or do you allow them to be on it for free?
Personally, on the duped content, if there are going to just be about 100 then I would have zero duped content. I would have them submit something and let them know it might be edited and then I would check it. Hell, your writing blogs, you could edit this type material in ten minutes most likely.
Hope that helps.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Which blog is best
We use Bigcommerce, at the moment we use wordpress for our blogs, bigcommerce has its own blog. Is it better to use the Bigcommerce blog or Wordpress.
Content Development | | CostumeD0 -
Help getting a Wordpress.com site to rank
Hi all, I have a blog for my site, but it hasn't been integrated into our site yet (that will happen in the next few months when we do some site changes). For now, it sits on a Wordpress.com site, and links from my website. I post a couple times a week, have social media linked to it, and feed posts to aggregators regularly. I also comment and like other Wordpress.com sites, but it just isn't ranking. Do I just need to stay persistent? It's been up for a month now, but still only getting a few hits a day. Any advice?
Content Development | | b4cab0 -
Google adsense image - text and alternatives
Hi, there has been a lot of talk on the internet about google adsense and which is better, image or text as well as what are the best alternatives to google adsense, so i thought i would throw out the topic on here and see what real website experts think about the topic. I have experienced google adsense image as better than text and would like to know what other people think and beside affliate ads what alternatives to google adsense do people like
Content Development | | ClaireH-1848860 -
Are reciprocal internal links weaker than one way?
Hi guys I have an eCommerce site and a blog. the blog is on a suddomain. I am writing content about our products on the blog, I.e. Full in depth reviews and top 10 lists etc. These blog posts link back to the main product page. It would also be nice for customers on the site to a "blogs about this product" section. However, would a link from the product page to the blog weaken the internal link from the blog to the product? Thanks Paul
Content Development | | TheUniqueSEO0 -
Canonicle Help
Hey everyone, Hoping someone can shed some light on canonicle links for me. Have read as many articles and tutorials as possible but am still unsure about how to use them in my situation. I'm about to sign a content syndication agreement with a large newspaper for 3-4 of my articles per week. It's great because this national newspaper has a PR of 8, to my recently reduced PR of 3. The newspaper are providing attribution links back to my website, both to the homepage and original article on every article. Nice, but worried their size will make their copies of the article list above mine. Can anyone tell me, IF the newspaper agreed to making canonicle part of attribution, where exactly would it go? On my article? On their article? In their document ? Or in the link that directs back to me? Thanks.
Content Development | | Luc-W0 -
Best place for a blog blog.mydomain.com or mydomain.com/blog
We have used blogs on a good number of client sites and always got good results from having them. However do you feel its best to have a blog as a subdomain or included in the site ie blog.mydomain.com or mydomain.com/blog
Content Development | | tempowebdesign0 -
Anyone know of any other guest blogging sites like myblogguest?
Hi, I am a member over at myblogguest, but im wondering is this the only service online for guest blogging? Cheers
Content Development | | activitysuper0 -
Advice Needed Just Dropped From PR 8 to PR6 - What Do I Do
Hi SEOMoz, I am the GM of http://www.scoop.co.nz Today (or possibly yesterday) we dropped from PR 8 to PR6. Have we been penalised by Panda 2? If so what do we do? I have seen posts about seeking a reconsideration, or something but do not know who to contact or what to ask. best regards
Content Development | | althecat0