Need help deciding how to display directory listings in way Google will like best

[bizzer]

My blog site currently has maybe 100 posts and I do about 7-8 new a week. I am creating a directory for an this site, which will end up eventually being a few hundred or more entries eventually.

In the directory browse/search listing, each directory listing will have a title and a short description (one or two lines) and will show about 10-20 per page.  And then the user can click an entry to see more details for the particular directory listing.

This is where I have a choice, and I want to know what is the best for my site, in Google's eyes of course.

Options:

1. The listing detail is displayed on a separate page.

2. The listing detail is displayed below the entry that was clicked, on the same page, by use of jquery to slide down the other content blow it to make room for it. (It actually looks slick, I've tried it).

If I were writing full, unique pages for each listing detail, I'd choose option #1. But the vendors are submitting the content.  It's possible they might just copy and paste their site's About page into it, or they might not even add any more detail other than their address. I can't control it.

So, if going with option #1, let's say a third of the vendors add nice unique content, a third paste in some dup content, and a third just leave it blank (there would still be an address, couple line short description, and a title on the page).  Would this situation be good, not good or neutral for my site?

I'm not sure if adding additional pages, maybe half to two-thirds of which could be somewhat duped or of minimal word length would be bad or neutral for my site overall.  As for my existing and ongoing blog pages--they are all unique, long and Google seems to love them.

[bizzer]

Good quetions.

"Why are you creating a directory for your blog?"

I already have a hand-made beginning of a directory of sorts--the major majors in some major categories. It is desirable on the site as it is a new industry and not everyone knows all the players. So, I am doing it to serve my readership and of course to then increase backlinks and visits to the site.

"Is the blog an industry specific blog of some type?"

Yes, it's specific, and it's a hot new industry with new vendors almost daily.

"What are you hoping to gain from having the directory?"

Backlinks and traffic. It's not really to get ad clicks on those page, but of course that would be nice. There really is no other good directory for this industry now.

"Is it something they pay for or do you allow them to be on it for free?"

Free. Although in the future I could always make it a profit center with premium placements, section sponsorship and the like.

After thinking about these questions, maybe option #2 with the best. Well, it's the safest and the least amount of work.

Although, I could go with option #1, and when they submit the description part I could tell them that if they want to control exactly as their listing appears they can submit unique content; otherwise we reseve the right to rewrite it in any way we like. And we can give them a Copyscape test for it so they know.

Now, one other thing to consider: While many of the companies are small and not "brands" so much and I have a good chance to rank for them since my site is so strong, many are certainly brands and with Google the way it is now, I likely would not stand a chance to rank for the company names anyway.

[RobertFisher]

Hello Bizzer

I am going to approach this from a different angle first:

Why are you creating a directory for your blog?

Is the blog an industry specific blog of some type?

What are you hoping to gain from having the directory?

Is it something they pay for or do you allow them to be on it for free?

Personally, on the duped content, if there are going to just be about 100 then I would have zero duped content. I would have them submit something and let them know it might be edited and then I would check it. Hell, your writing blogs, you could edit this type material in ten minutes most likely.

Hope that helps.