Linking And PHP Directories

[RCP]

How do you tell if a directory/link is a no follow?
How do you tell if a link is indexed?
I see a lot of people using directories linked to their websites and asking for submissions. These sites have no page rank.
Thanks

[Logan]

How do you tell if a directory/link is a no follow?

You have to look at the html of the page with the link. To do this go to the page with a link in question. Then view source in your browser to view the html. I then do a search (ctrl + f) for nofollow to see if it is used or not within the code.

How do you tell if a link is indexed

For example with Google, do a search for the pages indexed from a site with the following search query [site:www.directorysite.com]. That will provide you all pages indexed from a site. To search for a particular page include text from that page at the end of the query.

These sites have no page rank.

That may be the case with these pages, but the pagerank displayed in the toolbar is only updated occasionally. So while a page may not display pagerank in the toolbar currently, that doesn't mean that page won't have pagerank in the future.

[RCP]

Thank you! Now let me ask you this, if I add my company to a PHP directory and link that directory to my website, do the links in that directory give "link juice" to my site? Assuming it is not a no follow site. Or would I stand a chance of being penalized?

[Logan]

You're welcome. There isn't an easy yes/no answer to that. A couple things to consider. You will not be penalized by google based on who links to your site. Anyone can link to your site, and you don't control that so they are unlikely to penalize your site for others linking to you. That said, a link from a poor site might not help your rankings but instead just not play a role. You can be penalized, though, based on who your site links to. You control who your site links to, so Google does consider that relevant when considering a penalty. Don't be oversensitive with this, a small mistake will not sending your site falling if all other factors are good quality.

if I add my company to a PHP directory and link that directory to my website, do the links in that directory give "link juice" to my site

Potentially yes, assuming the page has pagerank and is of good quality.

Or would I stand a chance of being penalized?

Anytime your site links to a site associated with a "bad neighborhood" you run the chance of being penalized.

As a rule of thumb, if the site provides value to your visitors ... then link to it ... would you link to it regardless of the link juice?

I stay away from reciprocal links, personally.

[RCP]

Originally Posted by Logan

As a rule of thumb, if the site provides value to your visitors ... then link to it ... would you link to it regardless of the link juice?

I stay away from reciprocal links, personally.

Excellent point and great answers!
I started by adding relevant reciprocal links and have others want to share links (my site and their directory) and had doubts.
Thanks again.