New free site format (version 1.5)

[Useless]

Originally Posted by LusciousDelight

BUT, if you have one site with 50 links on it, you have a unique site and all 50 list get benefit from Googles indexing. And since it's not uncommon for blogs to have 50+ recips, why not freesites?

Hello - exactly! (That's a line from Boogie Nights, btw.) It's worth pondering, at least, for those who still have the ability to think for themselves.

I'm always amazed at how resistant the old guard is to change unless, of course, it was their own idea or their new rule. I could easily shoot down many, if not all, of the contrary points put forth in this thread, but I'm not here to argue with friends. I do suggest that people give a new format some thought. The strangest fact of this whole new idea is that it's being proposed by the owner of a link list who isn't having any traffic problems at all.

[DangerDave]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

I'm always amazed at how resistant the old guard is to change unless, of course, it was their own idea or their new rule. I could easily shoot down many, if not all, of the contrary points put forth in this thread, but I'm not here to argue with friends. I do suggest that people give a new format some thought. The strangest fact of this whole new idea is that it's being proposed by the owner of a link list who isn't having any traffic problems at all.

UW, we aren't resistant to change.. but change for changes sake has never helped anyone....

It is my belief that this new "structure" ISN'T NEW..! As far as I know there is no rule that says you CAN'T link the galleries off the index page.. in fact I know people that do and have done my self...

.. and you can have recips on your 'main' page for many established LL's....

So what is new? Nothing?

Except as I said before..... recips are closer to the top of the page...

DD

[Useless]

Originally Posted by DangerDave

As far as I know there is no rule that says you CAN'T link the galleries off the index page.. in fact I know people that do and have done my self...

The person whom I think does the most SEO on his free sites does that very thing and it never fails to impress me. It had never occurred to me to do that, or even that I could.

I'm not really sure as to why I've been so slow to understand what the actual SEO purpose was of this "new" format. (It's probably been clearly stated, but I've been mostly skimming the thread and reacting to little bits.) Anyway, the point, I suppose, it to eliminate mirroring. That way, each link list is directly linked to (and from) the page which Google is indexing and giving juice to, instead of the current manner which is pretty much a lottery. Right now, link lists sort of luck in to being on the mirror which Google mysteriously decides is the one to behold.

Like I've said, when I build free sites, I don't mirror. I build a single copy and submit to my select group of lists. So the new format wouldn't benefit me much as a submitter, other than giving me good reason to submit to more places, but I am beginning to see the bigger picture here. I realize that free sites are no great SEO tool. But I am wondering if they could gain some SE love if they were altered in a similar manner as to what's being suggested. Also, even if the new format proved to be only good for link lists themselves, wouldn't that by default be good for the submitters?

Another point - what if the only the index was changed per kit's suggestion, but the main page was left intact? Anyone have feelings on how that would impact lists and free site builders? My idea would be to place the warning and ad blocks on the left side of the page and place a thin column of recip links in blog roll style down the right site. At least that would eliminate mirroring and dupe content. Though honestly, I'm not sure how much you can do for pages that often 2 or 3 directories deep.