My story is one of frustration, having a great idea, building it and then having it taken away.

The idea: build a target specific online directory.

Build it: Commencing in 1998, the UK Motoring Directory (ukmd.co.uk) was one of the world’s first online automotive directories

It was definitely the world’s first CMS, dynamic and database driven directory.

History: 1998 – 2017

• 1998 – 2003 – Software ASP
• 2003 – 2004 – Free and paid advertisers
• 2004 – 2008 – Google Adsense
• 2008 – 2011 – Software PHP
• 2011 – 2017 – De-rank: no paid advertisers, traffic drop

I created some of the world’s first directories.  I built software capable of managing directories.  I designed directory tree structures.  I formulated terms with meanings specific to the directory industry.  I created a criteria designed to publish a quality directory of listings.

For all of this what was the outcome: in 2011 , Google de-ranked every directory in the world (including mine).

I never did anything wrong

• No paid links
• No keyword spamming
• No cross-industry data
• No repeated data
• Every listing was reviewed by a human

Why De-Rank Directories?

Easy answer: $$$

Google, followed by other search engines de-ranked directories from their search index to move advertisers from directories to the search engine.

In simple terms: I never did anything wrong.