The guys over at phpLinkDirectory have released an updated free version of the popular phpLD script. The release is now at V2.10 and more information can be found on the phpLD forums.
Updates:
- [UPDATE] Smarty template engine upgraded to latest stable version (2.6.14)
- [UPDATE] SmartyValidate library upgraded to latest stable version (2.8)
- [UPDATE] AdoDB database library upgraded to latest stable version (4.92)
- [UPDATE] PHPMailer class upgraded to latest stable version (1.73)
- [UPDATE] New installer, works with PHP 5.x and PHP in CGI mode
Removed:
- Reciprocal link ID validation and anything related to it
Changes:
- Language file support
- Password is now encrypted using either SHA1 or MD5 hash
- Improved notification system
- Link ID problem fixed, HTML id element is not longer just a numeric value, it was changed to “id_{xyz}” or “id{xyz}” where {xyz} is the numeric link ID
- RSS feeds show only limited (links per page value) amount of links preventing timeouts
- Main page (index.php) PHP code reduced
- Main page (index.php) links count code changed to much faster and safer SQL command
- Most SQL commands are now correct and safe for DB input/output
- Valid XHTML markup and valid CSS
- Emails are sent with admin sender name and address
- Inactive categories are not shown anymore on submit page
- Allow multiple submit fixed
- Validation of reciprocal links improved
- Unencoded character problem fixed
- Symbolic links are now working with Mod Rewrite
- Subcategories preview sorted in alphabetical order
- Same title in multiple categories is now allowed
- Easy to read fonts for image verification
- Added folders and template files protection via htaccess and an additional default index.html file
I have recently started up a new paid for PR4 directory over at Itrcc.net which uses the new V2.10 script. I must say, it works really well!
I have made changes to my category scripts for the Category Project, and so I will be releasing phpLD V2.10 categories very soon.
The Directory Blog features an interesting perspective regarding web directories asside from directory template and mod blogs (such as Directory Spy!). This blog has a number of interesting interviews, including an interview with Dan, the guy behind the VileSilencer List.
Keep you eye on this blog, as its not just any ol’ directory blog!
Directory 4U is the first directory I’ve seen using categories from the Category Project. Am pleased to see it being used in a production directory!
Global Internet Index is a new free general directory that has just recently started up. It interestingly appears to have articles at the bottom of the categories. If these articles were context (category) sensitive, that would some great material for the search engines to slurp up.
Plenty of decent categories, although the category project has not been used to popular this directory, just a standard category dump. Simple skin and design, just a shame that you have to login to submit a site. Probably something to deter spammers.
I think the concept of Free Deep Links is simple, but very well thought out. It uses a generic phpLD script as the base, but stipulates that submissions are links to free articles. Of course the articles can have a few deep links to products and other items on another website. It’s an excellent hybrid of an article and conventional link directory. What a great way to promote your products and services!
The submission rules for the directory are very straight forward. I expected them to be quite strict. However, a well-written article is likely to get accepted. The usual rules also apply, i.e. nothing illegal, nasty, adult rated, etc. The article needs to be freely available (no membership barriers), and not littered with affiliate links.
Submission of a normal link is free, and a fee for a featured listing, so its well worth adding your articles. What surprised me is that you can add your article link a number of times to different categories, just as long as they are relevant. Very generous!
I was disappointed to see that there was no Electronics category under the Business category (Jenn, could you add it for me please? Pretty please?). However, there are loads of categories in the directory. I imagine it won’t be long before there’s a Suggest Category mod installed too.
Just you wait, I bet you someone else will start a deep link directory like this very soon! The best ideas are always copied. 
IndexScript is a free and established directory script written in php. IndexScript is another popular directory script like phpLD, with a very different template system and administration backend. The IndexScript Forum has a collection of modifications and skins available to use with your installation too.
I must confess that I do not have an IndexScript directory. But having played with the demo directory, I am already very tempted to run a new directory using IndexScript. And it is free. You can see some live examples of the IndexScript directory at Your Own Corner and Blackfox Directory.
The dump of categories is provided by a 3rd party, but I could see that adding an IndexScript category dump to the Category Project here on Directory Spy would be a useful contribution to the IndexScript community. Something for me to add to the to-do list I think.
So I’ll end this post here, and I’ll release more detailed information when I start up a new IndexScript directory! Until then, I suggest you have a play with it yourself!
The Forplex Business Directory is a PR4 (sometimes PR5 dependent on the Google datacenter) business niche directory with a very clean and stylish frontend. The template was designed by the RealWD Team, helping it to stand out from the free templates.
Even for a business directory, there are only 301 active links (at the time of writing), which shows that the directory owner is selective with the links he accepts. The directory is quite a cheap paid directory, with prices starting at just $6 for a normal yearly link.
The directory does have strong backlinks in the major search engines, and is predicted a PR5 in the next google update. Each of the top level categories carries a page rank of 2 or 3, but the next level down tends to be page rank 0. However, this is likely to change with the next google PR update.
If you’re after a high quality business directory, with cheap links, few outgoing links and strong page rank, then Forplex Business Directory is a directory worth submitting to.
Bloggeries is an interesting spin on a directory. It’s a niche directory focusing on blogs. It’s a low-cost paid directory too (free reciprocal links). However, that’s where the standard element ends. The directory is very visually attractive and is based on a phpLinkDirectory directory that has been heavily modified.
Each category uses a tag cloud listing keywords of link titles in a given category. I’ve not seen this feature in a link directory very often, so I’m guessing its not an easy modification to make.
The really nice feature with this directory is the blog that reviews blogs submitted to the directory. I’m not sure what the author’s criteria for selecting blogs to review is, but its a comprehensive 300 word review. It features constructive criticism and positive aspects of each blog reviewed. I commend the author for taking the time to review these blogs. It’s clearly a great way to encourage traffic and submissions to the directory too!
On a final note, something that really impressed me is the consistent look and feel across the website. The site makes use of a Wordpress blog and phpLinkDirectory, but they are definitely part of the same site. The skins use the owners own style, rather than generic skins downloaded from somewhere else. Really very nice!
What really im
If you’re looking for a list of paid directories, then Paid Directory List is probably what you are after. It lists the prices and page rank of paid directories.
It’s a free service, and you can suggest your link for free with the following information:
- Site name
- Page rank
- Category
- Google back link
- Alexa rank
- Inclusion Price
- Recurring
It would be nice to see an easier way to suggest links in the near future. However, this is a great new project to help organise paid directories. Paid directories are more complex compared to free directories, and I’m happy to see someone has recognised that paid directories need a different way to organise them compared to free directories.
The Storm is an awesome new template for phpLD V2.00 that has hit the scene. The author is behind the Free Legal Forms site,
You can find further details about the new template over at phpLDTemplates.info. You can see the live version over at SubmitZoo.
I’m noticing that a good way to get free backlinks these days is to release a sponsored template and then release it for free! You specify a condition that the links stay on the template, and then instant sitewide backlinks!
I had better get playing with my graphics package…
It really does look for directories (especially phpLD), as there are some increasingly excellent templates coming out these days! A strong community is building around the phpLD software, a real credit to the author.
