I'm wondering what you consider the best number of site-wide links on a directory. The reason I'm asking is I currently have 11 links under "Sponsors" and I'm considering increasing it to 15. Do you think that's to many.

I have read where some people think that's to many and recommend 10 max. Is there any kind of rough formula to determine the optimal number of site-wides?

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LC,
ironic question for me in particular. I recently gave this some serious thought for a couple of reasons and here is my personal rational:

(1) I was allowing (15) and they were for the most part being filled.
(2) I didn't like all that at the bottom of each page.
(3) I did like the income
(4) I was a little concerned it may negatively affect the site's PR...even though I discount PR to an extent.
(5) I considered lowering the number of links below 15 to some where between 5-10

I eventually decided that I am ending all the sitewides after the current ones expire. I even actually refunded about three sites that had just started. I am going to keep this space less cluttered and use SiteWide Footer links as a form of reward for site members....more to come on this in the near future. My main goal here was that this is a community site with a niche audience (directory owners) and I don't want to "whore" the site out like some dir owners do with their dirs. Instead, the ads I do have are focused to the niche, not to obtrusive, are clearly labeled as ads and they are rotational. I'm not operating this site to make $. It's a hobby and a pleasure for me. The little revenue it makes all and then lots more gets re-invested in advertising and new features.

The only paid advertising that I will now accept are the Top banner and the two 125's which are clearly labeled as ad space and both of these are limited to (5) and (6) ads respectively.

tom

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Directory Owners Forum - Don't waste your time, money or effort on a worthless directory or directory script!

I have had more than 20 sitewides for wwws.org, If I had a lot less it would have been a PR5 or maybe a PR6. I think the more sitewides you have the more juice it's taken out of the domain.

After this year when most of those sitewides will expire it's yearly lease, I will probably not selling anymore.

So, less is better.

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wwws + nwparks + netcenter + netdung + stupid + fire
searchtified: internet directoryfourseek

Yes I will be culling mine to five, just waiting for them to expire.

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Good info guys. I have wondered about having to many main page links. I do think having site-wide links is ok, but I'm just not going to over do it.

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Re: directories. I do not submit to directories with more than 5 site-wide links especially if directory has over 15 links per page.

-Princy

I think 5 to 10 is a good number. What I think is very important is that the links are related to your site in some way

If you run free directories, doesn't matter how much sitewide links you have. Submitter will keep submit their links.

But for paid directories, it does matter. Maybe one of the important factor for them to evaluate your directories.
I think 10 is maximum, of course no sitewide link will be the best in submitter perspective

It depends on how popular the directory is. If it gets lots of links, its fine, if not, it may look odd.

you should be very careful to who you sitewide link to