How Does YellowPages Rank So Well?

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mazo1

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I own a business directory and I noticed that YellowPages ranks consistently in the top10 for everything local.

I asked this on WarriorForum and this is one response I got:

Most likely page volume helps them rank, lots of pages focused on the same & surrounding GEO locations.

Any other ideas or does that about sum it up? Do I simply do SEO as usual and try my best to compete? Any tipcs?
 
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Volume (very, huge volume)
Age (YellowPages' website has been around for a very long time)
Quality of information
Updates on a regular basis
Authority (yeah, they are the yellowpages, you're no one in comparison)
CTR in SERP (people know and trust yellowpages, they are most likely to click on them when they are looking for something they can offer)
... probably some other factors that don't cross my mind right now

Most of these factors your own business directory will probably never have, at least not at a similar level.
You shouldn't even wonder about how these big boys are doing, because you won't be able to replicate them anyway.

It's like setting up a small social network and asking "how does facebook to get XXX millions users", my own social network barely has a few hundreds...
 
Well the difference is that my directory is focused on a very specific niche and has that niche in the URL. I feel like I have that going for me. But I suppose domain age is a factor as mine is relatively new.

Thanks for the advice.
 
ZaK's on the money... I have a few directory sites...only for niche specialist services (motor parts, boats, motorhomes etc) I have directorys for small towns but these are like 10000-20000 population towns where I can give a small business a good looking listing for very little money. But I wouldnt try and take on a company thats an institution in anything bigger than that.Guaranteed to end up a failed project.
 
Old site, loads of backlinks, and high authority site within Google. That's how. :)
 
BFriendly & Kiopa Matt have the correct answer - basically though, it's because YP is a manually trusted seed.

Most likely page volume helps them rank, lots of pages focused on the same & surrounding GEO locations.
Click to expand...
This is total nonsense - having a huge volume of pages won't help you rank.
 
mazo1 said:
I own a business directory and I noticed that YellowPages ranks consistently in the top10 for everything local.

I asked this on WarriorForum and this is one response I got:

Most likely page volume helps them rank, lots of pages focused on the same & surrounding GEO locations.

Any other ideas or does that about sum it up? Do I simply do SEO as usual and try my best to compete? Any tipcs?
Click to expand...

The quoted text is black on black, and I didn't see it until just now. Stay away from WF. You'll have to spend 3 times the amount of time unlearning whatever you read there. If you go off-BHW, stick to reputable bloggers and, well, anyplace other than WF.
 
B. Friendly said:
The quoted text is black on black, and I didn't see it until just now. Stay away from WF. You'll have to spend 3 times the amount of time unlearning whatever you read there. If you go off-BHW, stick to reputable bloggers and, well, anyplace other than WF.
Click to expand...

You forgot to mention DP that won't get anyone any further than WF ;)
 
Lot of factors get into consideration for ranking pages in yellowpages, especially they are directory sites, and they are authority sites, and they are very aged ones.

So, i can say they rank well.
 
They have a deal with google (do do other big sites).
 
On a slight tangent, I work for another UK directory and alot of our new employers are ex Yell employees and they tell us that the rebooking rate of advertisings in Yell is getting less each year due to lack of response. I guess it means that top ranking doesn't always translate to top responses. However, it is very frustrating when you are targeting search phrases and they appear 5 or 7 times out of the first 10 results on google UK
 
brulok said:
Show us some proof Mr. Tinfoil Hat Guy!
Click to expand...

It's common knowledge. Nothing revolutionary about a simple fact. You should get out more, and read more. Just PM if you need help with any of the "big words". I still owe 30 hours community service, so helping one of the handicapped to learn how to read will help me take care of that.
 
B. Friendly said:
It's common knowledge. Nothing revolutionary about a simple fact. You should get out more, and read more. Just PM if you need help with any of the "big words". I still owe 30 hours community service, so helping one of the handicapped to learn how to read will help me take care of that.
Click to expand...

facts can be backed up with proof... got any?
 
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