I'll vote for niche. More specific you are more good it is. Search engines gives more weight to specific content, and human being are also take more interest in more specific details.
I'm agree that niche is better. But in term of getting new submission, general web directory will easy get a lot of new submission at daily basis.
I have had many of both, and I find that I prefer niche for a couple of reasons. 1. They seem to interest me more and it is easier to customise advertising. 2. Not near as many spammy site submissions
The main benefit of general over niche is traffic. General directories will usually get more traffic. The beauty of niche directories is they usually gain targeted traffic. i.e. the people on that directory are either interested in submitting a site that fits the niche, or looking for sites that are realted to the niche-topic. If you have a niche that is too specific however, you run the risk of not having enough traffic to remain viable. I think for longevity you need to aim for popular or broader niches.
I doesnt matter which directory you want to go for. Be prepared to work hard and dont expect to get rich overnight. It takes both time and patience. Of course people who are looking for directory links are aplenty.
Just one question here, Which one (niche/general) dir brings more revenue from banners, paid listings and adsense etc. In general dir case there are lot of sites found relevancy and in case on niche... only that niche sites can found relevancy.
niche cause most people (not me, but 90%) list in directories based on PR and I feel its easier to get a high PR with a nitch cause all directories have the directory category containing tons a directory, so you'd be on page 4 with a pr 0. but If you were to make a arts directory you could just submit it to the top level for better PR just my opinion
I think people should quite worrying about PR so much. I google sees 2000 links to your site with your anchor text all saying your keyword phrase, then you'll rank higher than someone with 10 PR 5 pages linking to them... Niche linking is best IMO. My site, link-exchangers.com, is a tool for helping you acheive that.
Niche. There are simply too many general directories with useless junk. I run a number of niche ones that don't get huge levels of traffic, but they get enough to keep me busy with the submissions and the Google earnings are nice
Nice thread, currently I have no a niche directory. But now I'm motivated to build one. Very interesting. Thanks.
i have couple of them, i would probably rewamp them they are worth a lot , relaunch would do lot good
I have a niche turned semi-general because it needed more content. So far it is working out well in the amount of quality submissions it is receiving daily. Regarless if it is niche or general, it has to be well maintain if you want your directory to be around for a long time.