The End of Directories...
The recent changes in Google included a rather important change that was barely mentioned: the exile of the Open directory results in the deeper pages of Google. The open directory is not part of the google first page, its categories are not listed any more in the Search Engine Results Pages and pretty soon I am willing to bet that it will dissapear from the Google toolbar as well.
Google is slowly removing all the weight it had placed on the open directory and according to spokespeople from Google this was a result of the fact that people were not really using the Open Category much anymore.
This is certainly a sign of the times. Directories are relics in the history of the internet that are hardly used these days (when was the last time you searched a directory for results?). Their fate is more or less obvious at the moment and unfortunately Google is simply adding another nail on their coffin. At the moment their only real use is the link popularity that they offer at 'reduced price'.
Actually, software / shareware download sites are nothing but specialized directories as well, so does the same apply for their future? Quite possibly. At the moment search engines are rather monolithic in their searches, but a 'future Google' that would offer themes and personalization may eventually eliminate those - and other special - directories as well.
Google sets a very interesting trend with this.
Posted by Jay at April 14, 2004 04:33 AM
