I had an idea for a web site where I wanted to kind of do a "best of web" concept. In other words, let's say that it was Baking. I would go out to the web and do a quick summary or review of good baking tips and tricks, etc. and organize them into a web site.

By the way, I wouldn't steal the content as I would include the links to the other sites some where in my summary. So basically my site would be an organized links of all that is out on the web which would save my readers hours and hours of research on their own in this particular case. (In fact, for my idea, they probably never would be able to find the material en toto.)

So here are my questions:

Can you do well with Google using this approach? Are there any sites who have done quite well in the ranking doing this simple task?

The reason that I'm asking is that I can think of a site that does just what I said and has a very loyal following of readers. However, I don't think he ranks very well in Google. And I got to thinking about it a little more and I couldn't think of any site that I have seen high in the rankings that has a lot of external links to other sites as its featured content.

Any advice would be much appreciated. I just don't want to go to all this trouble if it's never going to rank at all because Google doesn't like a lot of external links, etc. And if you know of any sites that do this, it would be much appreciated as well - I'd like to check them out.

So you want to build a properly run REAL directory then.

Like Chris said. It sounds like you're looking to put together a useful directory. Maybe the only difference is you'll be adding more content in the summary than is typical.

I don't think a search engine would have a problem with this, however most people have switched from directories to search engines. I'm not sure how valuable real people find directories anymore.

I don't think a search engine would have a problem with this, however most people have switched from directories to search engines. I'm not sure how valuable real people find directories anymore.

only few people look in directories cause there are lots of directories coming out. I suggest to focus on the content, you would get better one way link on it.

only few people look in directories cause there are lots of directories coming out. I suggest to focus on the content, you would get better one way link on it.

I agree. I believe that all directories are here not to look at - just collections of the links for web sites which are fighting for the High SEO ranks

Originally Posted by ~ServerPoint~

I agree. I believe that all directories are here not to look at

Just to be contrary and I usually have many scathing remarks to make about directories.

IF you want to create a directory that is just the normal "run of the mill" dross that people throw together with a bog standard script (no offence meant David ) and a free template, then promptly put absolutely no effort into creating a useful resource, I would be the first to try and shoot you down in flames.
However as the web expands and gets more and more diverse, GOOD resources that categorise and index sites and pages in an unchanging way are going to become more and more important. SEs do a pretty good job in what is an ever changing medium, but of course do suffer from the fact that is in "everflux", so what you find today for a given search, may have disappeared from the SERPs by next week. So if you are looking for specifics, places such as Kellysearch are invaluable.

The Internet needs more IMDB.com ventures rather than yet another DMOZ clone.

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Just to be contrary and I usually have many scathing remarks to make about directories.

IF you want to create a directory that is just the normal "run of the mill" dross that people throw together with a bog standard script (no offence meant David ) and a free template, then promptly put absolutely no effort into creating a useful resource, I would be the first to try and shoot you down in flames.
However as the web expands and gets more and more diverse, GOOD resources that categorise and index sites and pages in an unchanging way are going to become more and more important. SEs do a pretty good job in what is an ever changing medium, but of course do suffer from the fact that is in "everflux", so what you find today for a given search, may have disappeared from the SERPs by next week. So if you are looking for specifics, places such as Kellysearch are invaluable.

The Internet needs more IMDB.com ventures rather than yet another DMOZ clone.

You know that is not a bad example of the kind of thing that I am looking to do: IMDB. What I am going to compile is very hard to find using search engines. You can do it, but it is very painful. With all due respect to the major search engines - and I greatly respect what they can do - they are extemely limited when it comes to certain things.

Thx for the info about directories. I hate to admit that I really didn't know much about directories until you posted all this...

It really does sound like you're approaching this the right way. It's nice to see since the usual directories are most useless collections of links. The IMDB site is a good example. It's one site I constantly go to for a variety of things. It's a good model to follow.

One thing to keep in mind is it will take time and effort to build something like IMDB. You may want to follow their example in letting users help you build it with additional content beyond the basics. You'll have to watch what they add and probably moderate it quite a bit, but that may still be the quicker route to building the content.

The IMDB site is a good example. It's one site I constantly go to for a variety of things. It's a good model to follow.

what is IMDB site?

Originally Posted by full house

what is IMDB site?

Internet Movie Data Base. http://www.imdb.com/

Originally Posted by full house

what is IMDB site?

I always find questions like this from "SEO Specialists" humorous..

As for the original question, I agree.. A properly set up site following a specific vertical market could do very well over time.. But they are far from easy to build and maintain, especially if you decide to allow outside contributions.. I've come to the conclusion that there is no wisdom in crowds and most things that are community built are junk..

Good luck!!