It depends GKD. If you have hundreds of empty categories, its now good (so not good at a new directory).
But lots of categories that have genuine listing on them is excellent.

From someone who submits to directories, it can be sometimes annoying and time consuming if there are too many categories. Especially if they are not listed in a good order.

I have often wondered too. There is also the issue of being many clicks from the homepage (very deep categories). I think this makes it less attractive to submitters.

Thousands of categories can be quite frustrating for the submitter

Just as a point, if a listing is too deep in a directory does this affect the value of the link?

If a link is too deep in directory or any page it does affect value of the link (PR wise). But if the link is placed on a very relavant page that is deep within a directory, its more valuable SERP wise.

Originally Posted by midlandi

Just as a point, if a listing is too deep in a directory does this affect the value of the link?

For serps i don't think it matters much because whats important is to be in the correct category. But for pr a link 4 levels deep won't get as much value passed as a link 2 levels deep.

Some people create more top level and first sub level categories for that exact reason so submitted site will not be too many levels deep and would have a better chance to be found by se spiders. Even if your link is on very relevant content page but it is 4 clicks deep on the directory with no PR or very low rank - this page may never get indexed.

I did an experiment - submitted some of my sites to brand new directories where my links would be guaranteed to be on the first page in the category and no more than 2 clicks deep. At the same time I submitted same sites to more established directories with some PR and traffic but my link would be on the 3rd or 4th page in the category so it would make it 5-6 clicks deep.

Links from new directories were found by Yahoo site explorer within few weeks, links from other directories with deeper pages were never found by any link checking program I've used.

I treat my directories differently than most I think, but I willthrow my comments in.

I spend MORE time on the taxonomy of the directory than just about ANYTHING in the planning stage. Taxonomy (how the categories are structured and relate to each other) is the single biggest problem with a directory.

Do you go geo then generic? IE top level uk next level Wales next level Counties next level plumbers? But doing this results in a lot of empty categories which is absolutely no good ! So do you have plumbers at the top then plumbers here there everywhere?

do you go generic and GEO? IE two listings each? Do you go Geo then generic ?

The simple answer is that you sit down and write the directory structure that is BESt for your visitors. You see I build my directories for TRAFFIc and a LOT of traffic. I am within a week or so launching a niche directory for Wales (another one ) The cost is £25 per month but whoever takes the spot will get a LOT of traffic, a VERY high quality Listing, which is really a mini site as it has address photographs, contact details opening times/availability times, areas covered etc. But most of all they will get business from the site.

Now in structuring the site I consider what the user would want. IE imagine it is a homeonwers site. So say it is plumbers in Neath (stick with this theme) what links would the user like to see on the same page? Well if they are looking for a plumber in Neath (where I live), then there is a chance that they might want other tradespeople in the same area. so having the other trades linked as related categories clearly on display one click away means that the USER gets what is best.

Personally I don't care about people submitting, if they can not work out what category to submit to then I wouldn't really want them in my directory anyhow

As for not being able to find deep links, well THAT is because people do not spend the MOUNTAIN of time needed to cross link related categories etc. Spiders like links, and they like internal links a LOT. If you have a single route to your links, up or dwon the navigation tree, then you are going to struggle to get your directory spidered and indexed.