Penalised directory - start afresh or repair?

[temi]

I read with interest Aviva directory owners battle to free if of Google penalty, its quite commendable and it worked for him, sadly loads of money he invested in sponsoring templates and so forth is now wasted and some of the new measure he introduced will not make hos directory the number one port of call for those seeking to promote their website, but they are necessary measures.

Given that directories are not that valuable as a web property, don't you think its much better and easier to start a new directory and get the promotion right than fixing penalized once popular directory?

[OldWelshGuy]

I would take the content, take the template, rebadge it and start again on a new domain with more content to prevent the links between the two sites being picked up.

[temi]

Originally Posted by OldWelshGuy

I would take the content, take the template, rebadge it and start again on a new domain with more content to prevent the links between the two sites being picked up.

My thoughts as well actually, it certainly quicker and cheaper to do it that way. Using historical example, I remember John Scott put a lot of efforts into getting penalty on BlueFind lifted but eventually he had to trow in the towel.

[deluxdon]

Originally Posted by temi

Given that directories are now that valuable as a web property, don't you think its much better and easier to start a new directory and get the promotion right than fixing penalized once popular directory?

Let me think on this temi

DON.

[Resonate]

I agree totally with starting a fresh, either that or sell it im sure some one would buy it

[jhnrang]

Hi temi
I think all depends on how much effort has been put on a directory and how much you are associated with it emotionally.

In Jeff's case, he can't even think of starting a new directory with separate domain as the directory is named after Mrs. Jeff.

Except one or two points (like not accepting certain sites from certain niche) - I have no problem to comply with all those conditions for my penalized directory.

Also BRANDING is another issue. Haabaa is a very renowned brand name now. It would take another 2 years and lots of hard works again with another directory to create a brand name like Joeant/GoGuides or Aviva.

So I am for resurrecting the existing directory.

My own penalized directory had only 128 indexed pages left at the height of penalization ( 3500+ during penalization) . After lots of hard work- I have been able to get 80% of my pages re-indexed though it still has ranking penalization. But SEO is all about juice and indexing-isn't?

[OldWelshGuy]

Why do you think your site was penalised because it lost pages? I ahve to ask.

Penalisation is a MUCH over used word here. I get contact from people on a daily basis who are convinced they have a penalty against them, when in fact there are other (mostly) technical issues that can be fixed simply. Loss of PR can be the biggest influence on lost pages, a couple of quick technical fixes and you are away.

[temi]

I quite agree with you point, branding and so forth can take an awful lot of time and money.
I do not mean to be condescending but I think any of the "cheap directories" (I class any directory that use PHPLD, eSydiacat and other off the shelf script as being cheap) are quite easy to start, easy to get noticed if you know how to and also its easier to avoid the wrong kind of attention Aviva, Haabaa etc attracted in the past, so you sort of start from a clean slate so to speak.

Troubleshooting google penalty especially when you have sent out an awful lot of sponsored template etc etc can be time consuming and it could take years to get all the sitewide links that are probably triggered the penalty removed. Paid links are very easy to stop.... perhaps a better method is to do both, start troubleshooting process and start a new one on the side if you have the capacity.

BTW, which one is your directory?
Thanks

Originally Posted by jhnrang

Hi temi
I think all depends on how much effort has been put on a directory and how much you are associated with it emotionally.

In Jeff's case, he can't even think of starting a new directory with separate domain as the directory is named after Mrs. Jeff.

Except one or two points (like not accepting certain sites from certain niche) - I have no problem to comply with all those conditions for my penalized directory.

Also BRANDING is another issue. Haabaa is a very renowned brand name now. It would take another 2 years and lots of hard works again with another directory to create a brand name like Joeant/GoGuides or Aviva.

So I am for resurrecting the existing directory.

My own penalized directory had only 128 indexed pages left at the height of penalization ( 3500+ during penalization) . After lots of hard work- I have been able to get 80% of my pages re-indexed though it still has ranking penalization. But SEO is all about juice and indexing-isn't?

[jhnrang]

@ OldWelshGuy

I think I know what is banned/what is penalization by Google - reckon I have been enough in the directory market to have those basic ideas.


@ temi

Unfortunately some of your sites are also listed on my penalized directory - I am sorry to disclose.

Yeah- all I have been saying is - one needs the capacity/energy/enthusiasm to create another renowned directory. And with Google's crackdown on paid links - it has become difficult to achieve high PR% if you don't have high PR sites yourself. ( I can see that you have them - so easy for ya).

[temi]

You may actually find this to believe, my flagship directory which is now PR0 and penalised is actually making more money now than before it was penalized, I think must of my customers probably come via Yahoo and they don't give a monkey about Yahoo's penalty ... I have not bothered to try to take it out of penalty, I have been pursing option two, and the new directory has been doing nicely though I am more caution about promotion methods I use for the new one