Why am is my PR # dropping after signing up for quality directories?

[cschwartzel]

I have followed the suggestion regarding quality inbound linking from reputable sites....ie open directory, yahoo, and only directories recommended by other SEO groups and only with PR's of 4 or higher. After listing, my PR # went down. How do I find the culprit to start reversing this? My fear is I am on a downward slope..Thanks!

[Klarke]

Did you loose search positions ?

I think you shouldn't be so concerned by PageRank.  You can be PageRank 6 and still reside on the last page of the search results.   By the time it's updated on the Toolbar, it's already out of date.

Concentrate your site's content.  Obsess over the design.   Is your content and looks better than the competition ?

[cschwartzel]

Well on page is a different project we will be working on, yes it needs some updating. The only reason I asked is because nothing on this site has been touched in months EXCEPT for adding directories. Then it went down. So I am wondering if the inbound links could have damaged? Is there a tool or report that can point me in the direction to review only inbound linking results?

[RyanKent]

Is there a tool or report that can point me in the direction to review only inbound linking results?

Yes, Open Site Explorer can do exactly that.

As to your original question, adding yourself to Dmoz and Yahoo will not cause your PR to drop. I can't speak to the "other directories" recommended to you without reviewing them.

How exactly have you determined your PR dropped? Toolbar PR is only updated about 3 times each year.

Do you also have some low quality links to your site? It is possible other low quality links have been devalued which led to the PR drop.