Directory Critic

Well, it’s one of my few projects that I actually completed on time! I’m proud to announce…

Critic’s Webmaster Directory

I am still adding the finishing touches but it’s almost finished. The directory has already been getting traffic because I have linked to it from every page of Directory Critic, including this blog. Googlebot, MSN and Inktomi (Yahoo) have already registered over 1000 hits each.

Here’s the information you need to know:

1. This directory does accept deep links
2. Im only accepting quality sites
3. The site is designed to be a real webmaster resource. This means I am also listing articles and adding many of the tools I use every day.
4. Links are paid, or you get get listed for a PR4 recip.
5. All links are permanent, including featured links
6. I will be linking to this site from all up-and-coming Critic Network projects I’ve got coming up

If you find any bugs in the directory please contact me and let me know. Thank you.

SPECIAL OPENING OFFER:
For the first 8 people to purchase a featured listing I will give you a free directory-wide text link for 6 months (worth $48)!

After about 2 months of talking about it, I finally had some rate buttons and banners made for Directory Critic! You can view the new buttons on the Banners & Buttons page.

I’ve also whipped up a quick script that allows directory owners to create the custom HTML to paste into their directory. All you have to do is select which button you want, then select your directory from the list and copy the code. Simple. We server the banners from our site, so there’s no need to copy any images.

In other site news, I’ve been adding loads of new directories to the lists as well as making countless updates. Thank you to everyone who has been helping me out by using the report link next to directory listings to report any directory changes (like switch from free to paid, directory down, stopped submissions etc). When I get reports from my reporting bot, I make the changes within 12 hours or so. So this means the lists are really kept up-to-date. So thanks for that.

One more thing, some of you may have noticed a link has popped up in the main menu to my new webmaster directory. This directory is not offically launching until the 15th of June, but you can head over and check it out. I’ve just got a few more design, seo and category additions to do. Of course, I’ll be announcing it in all the usual places.
That’s all for now, happy submitting!!

I logged in the morning to see that this site has now received over 400 directory ratings by webmasters. Recently, some major directories have added the rating link their submit page. This has gotten them more ratings and pushed them towards the top of the free and paid directory lists, as well as given them a homepage link.

If you’re looking to get some free extra exposure for your directory I suggest you add a rating link to your submit page an ask the webmasters that submit to your directory to rate your directory here. This coming week I will be adding some rate buttons to the site as well as some code that will generate a custom link for your directory. This will make the process of adding a rate link/button to your site very easy!

Please note, I monitor the ratings daily to prevent rating manipulation. If I find that your directory is manipulating the rating system you will be removed from the lists immediately.

For those of you that visit Directory Critic regularly you may have noticed a few changes. I’ve added a third column to the layout, added a few extra pages and added some more list functions (ie the report function). These are only minor changes, the real work is being done on the backend. And there’s more to come…

I plan on developing this site into a link building resource and promotional tool, not just a directory list. This means building up the article directory list, including articles and tips on link building and maybe even possibly a forum. I’m extremely busy at the moment, so you’ll be seeing these changes gradually over the next few months.

In June I’m going to be adding an onsite webmaster directory. The focus of the directory will be quality both for the webmaster and visitor. I will be promoting this directory heavily and it will also benefit from traffic from this site. So keep an eye out for that.

That’s about it for now, I just wanted to let everyone know where I’m taking this site. I’ve got loads of other big ideas as well and we’ll see how they pan out.

For those if you who’ve been reading this blog you’ll know that I have been looking for ways to make Directory Critic’s lists as up-to-date as possible. Maintaining a list this size is not an easy task and is very time consuming. It’s not making the updates that’s takes that most time, it’s finding them.

So I have created a new tool that allows you to let me know when directories have switched from free to paid, stop accepting submissions, aren’t loading, have redirects, are no longer search engine friendy etc etc etc.

You will notice that all the lists now have a report link. This link opens up a box that gives you a number of reasons why you want to report the directory. It’s simple, you just choose a reason, press send and the infomation is sent straight to my admin area.

It takes a few seconds to do, but can save me and other webmasters that you Directory Critic a lot of time!

Well, I’m proud to announce that Directory Critic’s lists have now topped the 1000 mark, despite more than 20 directories being removed from the list over the past few weeks! The current list total sits at 1015. I big thanks to Manish from Inetzeal for helping with with list maintenance and hunting for new directories and also Leon for helping me add and review directories.

With my new help on board the list is growing faster than ever and is much more up-to-date. The way a good list should be. If you have any suggestions or comments about the site just leave em’ here. Thanks!

I do my best to keep this directory lists on this site as up-to-date as possible. But as they grow they get a lot harder to maintain, too hard for just 1 person. So I’ve inlisted in the help of a few other webmasters. Manish from Inetzeal is now going to be helping out with list maintenance and suggestions. Manish is using the free directory list for his directory submission service on a regular basis so his input will help keep things up to date.

I have also have a part time reviewer locally who’ll be helping me review and add new directories to the lists.

So what does this mean?

• The lists are going to be more up-to-date
• More directories will be added to Directory Critic each week
• Directories will be reviewed and added faster

Like the title says, an up-to-date list is a good list. And an up-to-date and search engine friendly list is a few thousand directories is a solid webmaster resource for link building.

I have just launched another site. And as I do with all my new sites, I submit it to all the free directories on the free list. What frustrates me is, I am discovering so many paid directories on the list! This was very annoying since I was looking for free dirs, and I’m sure it’s annoying for all the webmasters that use the list. I have moved about 30 dirs to the paid list and Im sure there will be many more as I work through the entire list.

So, Im asking directory owners can you please tell me if there’s a cost change to your dir. Also, if you’re using the lists and you come across a directory thats paid on the free list or vice versa, please just send me a quick email to let me know.

An up-to-date list is a good list 🙂

Cheers!

Well it actually came a lot sooner than I expected, but Directory Critic is now listing more than 900 search engine friendly directories! Thanks to everyone for submitting your directories, rating directories and using the lists and tracking.

1000 here we come 🙂

Well, you asked for it guys n girls now you have it! I have had loads of emails and requests about getting a deep links directory list up on the site and no I’ve (finally) got around to doing it! Here’s the link, add it to your bookmarks!

Deep Links Directory List

The directories on the deep links list are broken down into 2 types. Directories that accept deep links for free listings (indicated on the list by “all”) and directories that only accept deep links for paid listings (indicated on the list by “paid only”).

Pretty simple eh? Now it’s just a matter of getting the list up to date. This is where you directory owners come in. I have set the default deep links to no, so if your directory does accept deep links you gotta let me know so I can update your details.

To update your details please read this thread on DigitalPoint forums. Post your directory name followed by either ALL or PAID ONLY and I will update add your directory to the list asap.

Any feedback or comments are always appreciated, just comment to this post.

Enjoy!