iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« on: May 13, 2013, 01:51:06 am » |
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Hello Bootcampers, Hope you all had a nice and restful week, and now are ready to take on a new assignment again.  So this week, we'll research different craft directories and try to get listed in as many of those directories as possible. There is a debate about usefulness of directories, when it comes to SEO. Here is one good article to read on this topics Web Directories...are They Relevant to SEO? The key is in finding super relevant and quality niche directories, those that don't have too many ads all over their pages and possibly are moderated manually by a group of enthusiasts. Here is the Assignment for this week:- Do research on Google or Bing for all kinds of directories, using words like Craft Directory, Handmade Directory, Jewelry Directory, Beaded Jewelry Directory etc. Here are some examples: http://dir.yahoo.com/arts/crafts/ and http://www.craftgate.com/
Linkedin groups are good places to get listed as well, so find appropriate groups and mention your store on their pages. - It's not easy to get into good directories, like Google's Dmoz, so make sure you read their rules and tips from others, like this article Tips for Getting Listed in DMOZ.
- Create a spreadsheet of the directories you find and start tracking in how many directories you've listed your store and actually got included.
- Some are paid directories, so just make a note of the fees and pass them for now. Don't pay for inclusion yet, until you get a better idea of the directories' landscape first.
- Read rules for inclusion and follow their instructions to make sure you provide sufficient information about your store URL for directory owners to make a decision to include your URL in their directory.
- Please share your finds on forum during this week for others to check.
- At the end of the week please post the number of directories your were able to get listed in.
As usual, ask questions and share your experiences on forum. We are here to help!  |
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« Last Edit: May 13, 2013, 01:54:28 am by iCraft Admin »
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JaJeJems
Posts: 174
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« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2013, 10:22:01 pm » |
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Hi, nice to be back! In my search for directories I ran in to a couple of link exchanges. Is this an easy way to get backlinks? Just wondering because it sounds too easy based on what we have been learning.
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iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2013, 12:42:10 am » |
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Those links are called reciprocal links. You don't really want those links, as they cancel each other and don't provide any value from SEO perspective.
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JaJeJems
Posts: 174
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« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2013, 08:15:55 am » |
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Thanks admin - thought that was too good to be true! One directory I joined asked for my reciprocal links so now I know what that meant.
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iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2013, 03:16:29 am » |
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I am surprised that people still ask for those links, as they don't work. In fact, it's against Google's policy to simply exchange links like that, so they can even hurt your site, if you get too many of those pointing to your pages. The links you really want are those that are embedded in articles, like store reviews, as they are editorially chosen.
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JaJeJems
Posts: 174
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« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2013, 08:22:14 am » |
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I have seen more than one with reciprocal links. I also see a wide variety in instructions. Some are very clear about writing a long description, others say hardly anything and hardly ask for any information other than your name and link. It is really interesting to see the differences! I read about DMOZ and I am not ready for that yet but I think that it would be a good goal to strive for at least.
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Jewelry by Kat
Posts: 182
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« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2013, 09:20:02 pm » |
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Good article JaJeJems
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iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2013, 12:28:12 am » |
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So how's everyone doing with this weeks assignment? Any questions? Good progress? |
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Jewelry by Kat
Posts: 182
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« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2013, 03:22:43 am » |
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Seems that I am waiting to hear back from the directories or pay pay pay.
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JaJeJems
Posts: 174
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« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2013, 07:26:01 am » |
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Well I am having the same issues as Kat. A few aren't accepting submissions, some require payment, one won't accept without a reciprocal link. Waiting on a couple to be approved. Other than that week is going well!
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Red Rock Designs
Posts: 173
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« Reply #11 on: May 17, 2013, 10:57:59 am » |
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yeah, same here. I'm also having a hard time finding directories that are specific to chainmaille jewelry. The one I did find I was already a member. Otherwise, linkbuilding is still going well.
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Jewelry by Kat
Posts: 182
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« Reply #13 on: May 18, 2013, 09:43:31 pm » |
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I wasn't too successful. Computer failed got a new one, brother. Here are the groups I joined on LinkedIn
- jewelry designers
- jewelry designers2-pending
- beads and beading
- business and professional women
- handmade jewelry marketing
There were a lot of directories for a fee and a lot with 3 levels of fees , anywhere from $9.99-$ 69.99
sent email to join handcrafted jewelry directory.com- still waiting
joined jewelry great .com - but I don't see my store
applied to dmoz- waiting to hear
some had backlinks
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« Last Edit: May 20, 2013, 12:28:04 am by iCraft Admin »
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iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« Reply #14 on: May 20, 2013, 12:35:53 am » |
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Hi Red Rock Designs,
It's great if you can find directories specific to chainmaille jewelry, but you should also widen your search and join any jewelry, crafts and handmade directories. They don't have to be super specific, as long as they are related to jewelry.
So how many directories have you joined this week?
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« Last Edit: May 20, 2013, 01:21:11 am by iCraft Admin »
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iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« Reply #15 on: May 20, 2013, 12:51:12 am » |
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Hi Kat,
Could you please share URLs of the directories and groups on LinkedIn that you've joined?
Were you able to share your store URL there?
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iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« Reply #16 on: May 20, 2013, 01:20:15 am » |
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Hi Fairy Cardmaker,
I haven't heard from you this week. Were you able to find and join any relevant directories? Could you please post your update in this thread?
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Jewelry by Kat
Posts: 182
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« Reply #17 on: May 20, 2013, 01:29:03 am » |
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« Last Edit: May 20, 2013, 12:25:21 pm by iCraft Admin »
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iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« Reply #18 on: May 20, 2013, 10:38:59 am » |
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Hi Kat,
Thanks for sharing your links! All look like great directories and groups.
I marked 2 that didn't work for me. Could you pls double-check and fix those URLs?
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JaJeJems
Posts: 174
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« Reply #19 on: May 20, 2013, 11:50:16 am » |
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Jewelry by Kat
Posts: 182
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« Reply #20 on: May 20, 2013, 11:57:01 am » |
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URLs fixed
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iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« Reply #21 on: May 20, 2013, 12:26:32 pm » |
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Thanks Kat! Everything works fine now. I removed my comments from your post. |
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Red Rock Designs
Posts: 173
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« Reply #22 on: May 20, 2013, 01:13:45 pm » |
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iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« Reply #23 on: May 20, 2013, 01:34:46 pm » |
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Hi Red Rock Designs,
Thanks for sharing your list. However, the first 3 links don't work. Could you pls fix them?
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iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« Reply #24 on: May 20, 2013, 02:00:30 pm » |
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Hi JaJeJems, Great list of groups! Thanks for sharing.  I saw your comments on some discussions too. That's great! I would encourage you guys to post comments on posts that would naturally allow you to add your store URL, like this post "Where and how to sell your jewelry?" or this one "What are the various online platforms for selling jewellery?". You can easily add your store URL in your response, without looking spammy. JaJeJems, thanks for the nice comment! Another thing that I wanted to mention to everyone is to include a link to your iCraft store in your LinkedIn profile, just like JaJeJems did in hers. (See under "Contact" link in the bottom right corner in the top section of her profile, but login first!). I'd also add a mention of your store in the Summary copy that's shown at the top of the page (for people that never click on Contact link). Also, make sure you guys connect with each other on linkedIn and keep growing your list of connections there. The more connections your have, the more visible you will be on LinkedIn and the more influence your posts will have. |
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« Last Edit: May 20, 2013, 02:04:46 pm by iCraft Admin »
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iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« Reply #25 on: May 20, 2013, 02:09:41 pm » |
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Hi Fairy Cardmaker, I am still waiting for your report. Please try to catch up. We only have 2-3 more assignments left. So hang on there! |
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« Last Edit: May 20, 2013, 03:53:28 pm by iCraft Admin »
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iCraft Admin
Administrator
Posts: 1695
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« Reply #27 on: May 21, 2013, 12:35:44 am » |
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No problem, Fairy Cardmaker! Glad to know you found some time this week to research and join directories.  Not sure if it's possible to open 2 accounts on LinkedIn for 2 separate businesses. I'd look into that, as having active account and joining relevant groups on LinkedIn helps with your store promotion. The request for top-level domain (or TLD for short) only tells me that .com is an acceptable domain extension. TLD refers to the suffix attached to the domain names, like .com or .org. There are also country code top-level domains (or ccTLDs) domain name extensions, such as .uk or .de, that corresponds to a country, territory or geographic location. So I'd still try to apply to that directory. |
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Red Rock Designs
Posts: 173
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« Reply #28 on: May 21, 2013, 12:32:10 pm » |
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