Directory on my website - Any SEO repercussions?

[evilgenius]

I am a seasoned developer and designer but my SEO skills still need some brushing. I'm gearing up towards developing my gambling-related website.

I'm looking into adding a Directory section on my site where my goal is to index all gambling-related website on the internet. This can either be manually added by site owners or by the admin but mostly looking into the feature where anyone can add their gambling-related website in the directory themselves (then approve by admin). Specifically, a directory feature like the Open Directory Project (http://www.dmoz.org/) but segmented only to Online Gambling.

When adding their site in the directory I would like an added option where they could link back to my site in return. The directory will be free for all so I'm asking for back links in return if it's alright with them.

My questions: Are there any SEO repercussions in doing this? What things do I need to consider to avoid google penalizing my site?

Please advice. Thanks.

[universal4]

Take a look at phpld.
http://www.phplinkdirectory.com/

Rick
Universal4

[thebookiesoffers]

it's the sort of link building that was done a few years back and I would be wary about doing it personally

if people don't have to link to you I very much doubt they will anyway so really I'm just blabbering

what I'd ask is what benefit would it bring to the site in the first place?

[evilgenius]

I'm sorry but perhaps I wasn't clear. I'm not looking for any directory script.

Basically what I'm asking here is that if there are any bad effects for SEO if I create such feature on my site? Aren't there any SEO repercussions for my site with too much outbound links? Furthermore, what are the things I need to consider to get the most out of this feature SEO-wise?

[evilgenius]

@thebookiesoffers

what I'd ask is what benefit would it bring to the site in the first place?

Uhmm for the possibility of backlinks, <acronym title="Search Engine Optimization">SEO</acronym> juice.

But on a much bigger picture does this industry have a decent go-to directory already? My goal is to index all quality gambling-related websites, provide a service to the gaming industry the way Open Directory Project does.

[thebookiesoffers]

@thebookiesoffers


Uhmm for the possibility of backlinks, SEO juice.

you won't get anywhere thinking like that mate. No one will link to you if they don't have to, then if you make it mandatory hardly any one will want a link as they know google barely pays any notice of them

if you want to create the industries best resource and best/biggest directory then you can't just let it be a free for all as you'll be swamped with rubbish and the best sites will want nothing to do with it.
Create a directory or resource by all means but for you to make it a success you will need to go and find those quality sites yourself and build an awesome site. Otherwise why would anyone use it, because after all it should be built for the user.

[evilgenius]

Thank you very much for your input @thebookiesoffers.

The site is a very ambitious site with the Directory being only one of its features. Back links is not the main objective of the Directory, I thought since it's there I might as well benefit from an 'optional' back links if there is any possibility for that. But this is besides the point.

Granted that the site will be successful or not my questions still remain. Forget the benefits, forget about the people whether they want to have to do with it or not. So as per my original question(s) -- no bad seo repercussions eh?

[evilgenius]

Here is what I found so far and practically the answer I was looking for. I have to limit the outgoing links to only a few throughout my entire site. Outbound links lowers SEO juice as that juice flows to the sites you are linking to. Can anybody concur?

Looks like no more directory feature for my site...

[thebookiesoffers]

Here is what I found so far and practically the answer I was looking for. I have to limit the outgoing links to only a few throughout my entire site. Outbound links lowers SEO juice as that juice flows to the sites you are linking to. Can anybody concur?

Looks like no more directory feature for my site...

basically correct. Some may tell you to 'no follow' the links but that doesn't 'save' the juice, it just floats off in cyberspace