ways to make money with your directory

I have written and intend to maintain an article on all the ways and ideas to make money for directory visitors. (Link at the end of the post.)

Because you don't need to be a rocket directory scientist to find out that Adsense alone is not worth of the effort and work that a middle-traffic directory presents to it's webmaster, in fact it is pretty underperforming in comparison to all other revenue possibilities.

Some of the revenue making ways to examine are:

- selling paid featured and standard links (oh yeah....)
- Adsense and other pay-per-click programs (generally underperforming)
- Affiliate programs with other directories (you recommend other directories to your vistors, for a share on revenue)
- run your own affiliate program (and there are free affiliate scripts that allow it if you are on a shoestring budget)
- SEO related affiliate programs - because 99% of your visitors are webmasters...not cat food buyers (that's an example of on-topic ads that Adsense displays that are in fact off-topic for 95% of the directories out there....unless you got real traffic from real visitors which is pretty scarce with most directories), includes SEO books, SEO related software and services
- Directory scripts (some paid ones have affiliate programs)
- Directory submission tools (there are some free, and some paid with affiliate program)
- Hosting and domains registration - plenty of opportunities, though pretty crowded market...but many people are looking at new better host at any time
- Traffic exchange programs

- other general affiliate programs on cj.com, linkshare.com, shareasale.com. For example, you can include some affiliate links as featureds in each category, if you really have some real traffic (not submitters).

- selling own services (did you notice how many directory submission service owners run networks of directories)

- running or building mailing list. Large list gives plenty of opportunity for affiliate earnings.

- selling links with articles, building whole specialized article sections / article nests, blog posts (running a blog or article directory as part of your web directory)

- and of course, building the directory to sell it later

If you are an owner of a service or program that fits with directories, I would like to hear from you and include your service in my list.
Same goes if you did or plan to launch an affiliate program with your directory.
Or if you have some more ideas about directory monetization.

The article that I plan to maintain is Making money with directories. It's rather large and includes affiliate links so I opted not to post it here.

 

Good stuff. Thanks for taking time to write that article.

 

Thanks for sharing that resource , it is recommended for all directories noobs.

The idea of hosting advertisements is good! Never thought of that, but err.. will never sell my directories (Arf i say that but i might be wrong in the future)

Cheers!

 

Useful article Thanks subseo. i tried some of thems but im seeing first time the others. i will try.

Regards,
Mustafa

 

Thanks for sharing the same.

I will use one or more ways in my directories.

 

WOW! This is the must have mini guide for all directory owners...

Thanks for this post!

 

good work...

 

Really nice list, personally until now I have sticked to number 1 but I am consideing a few of the others for some niche directories that I am planning

 

Really Nice post.... Interesting!

 

good post indeed

 

nice collection of tips!

 

so this means I need to start at directory. I already have my domain name. Now, I just need to know what software to use huh. I'm picking this up already.

 

Thanks to all for nice comments.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, too.
Especially if you will start your own affiliate program with your directory, don't forget to let me know so that i can include you on the list.

 

Very interesting and thoughtful article. Thanks!

 

great post, thanks

 

Nice tips anyone else think of anything to add to that? I added textlinkads to both of my directories seems to be a winner if people do end up buying the links they pay pretty well.

 

- Sell text ads that run in the email notifications for submissions, acceptance and rejection.

 

Thanks Bernard. I have been all ears when you were suggesting that on Vilesilencer already, so it's already on the todo list for next update, together with some more affiliate programs suggestions.