The best time to stop free submissions

This is an interesting topic, and one ive been trying to decide on for a while now.
My directory is PR4 predicted PR5 with over 2,200 listings, so i wondered is this the time to stop free submissions?

Of course the number of submissions would reduce, but i guess so would some of the traffic which woulkd then hurt at the next pr update.

Tough call...?

[gkd_uk]

Does traffic to a site help in increasing PR?

Originally Posted by gkd_uk

Does traffic to a site help in increasing PR?

It has a bearing on it yes.

[temi]

Free submission is a double edge sword, one the one hand, it fill a directory up with crap, on the other hand it help populate a directory.
You need to think about both and come to a decision.

I think if you are trying to position a directory as a premium directory then no free submission should be allowed, if its aimed at the lower end of the market, free submission is very helful.

I have a few directories that allows free inclusion and will always allow free inclusion, some of them are PR5 some PR4

I have a PR0 directory that does not allow free inclusion as its aimed at more upmarket client

[funkypilchard]

I came across this on an australian dir.

Most people regard submitting their site to a directory as an easy task. They are right, however there is a specific procedure that must be followed to make the most of the few minutes you take to do it. There is also the issue of how many directories... This is where using a specialist comes into play, though if you know what you are doing or even if you are confident about it or simply want to learn the ropes then there is no reason why you can't do it yourself.

Be warned though, there is thousands of directories out there, though not all of them are Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Friendly because their links are set to block web crawler robots following the links to your site in order to get you into the search engine, a task that needs to be sorted even before considering where you are placed in the rankings. For the record, each submission to this website will result in a link to your website that is 'crawlable', meaning that when the search engines visit this site, the robot will follow each and every single link here - and this is exactly what you want. Also, all submissions to this directory are absolutely free!

[funkypilchard]

is this true?

[temi]

yes it is true, some directories do not link to you directly for example Yell.com the UK's local search engine - search for UK businesses .

[funkypilchard]

The only one I've found so far that does this is Yell, maybe this is something they feel comfortable with because they are more interested in getting a free listing so that they can pursue later at their own time to get a paid listing, pr probably isn't a worry for Yell either as they maybe just employ people to get their pr for them?

Here was an interesting dir site I found, I liked it because they also have a list of other directories on the right, it is also transparent immediately and gains your trust, so many directories seem to offer the world but when you get to the end you have to either give a link back or pay.. If you are going to pay that's cool but it's good to see this quickly IMO. Add Your URL - Web Directory Submission - Best Free Directories Listing - Submit Sites To Search Engine - Post Your Web Site - Submitting URLs Inclusion - Top Webdirectory Post

[An0n]

Originally Posted by funky pilchard

Here is one thing I may suggest? just an idea but based on what I have just said, is it illegal for a web directory to add a dangled carrot business on their page without asking that company's permission.

Say for instance I look at your web directory, I am a finance company in West Mids, the first company I see listed is HSBC bank for west midlands, I will think 'yes, this site must be important as HSBC are advertising on their first page, this one must be worth advertising with for myself even if it's free submission' now obviously HSBC won't list but can you list them without their permission to create a higher profile?

For the purposes of English law, deception is defined in s15(4) Theft Act 1968 and applies to the deception offences in the Theft Act 1968, and to the Theft Act 1978 and the Theft (Amendment) Act 1996.

A deception will be deliberate when the defendant knows that what he represents as true is untrue. This is predominantly a subjective test, matching the general approach to establishing intentional behaviour. The test of recklessness is also predominantly subjective to show that the defendant is aware that what is represented may or may not be true, excluding the extended meaning of recklessness in R v Caldwell [1982] AC 341.

Nice way for me to introduce myself guys.

Great forum btw.

[temi]

Thanks for that An0n and welcome to UK WW, from you post you sound like someone with a background in the legal profession