I was wondering (while was watchin cartoon network , few minutes ago), if everybody will make at least one directory for himself (because it so easy to make one now, you don't have to know anything, just install a script on your hosting server), then there will be so many... This is not gonna be a very usefull thing for the entire web community, rite? Milions of directories, just waiting for others to submit links. Now seriously, whats is opinion, are all this thousands of directories really useful? By the way, submit in my free directoy My Green Corner.
I too got the same idea and made one directory then though of making another directory and this way i have around 20+ Directories Submitted one link waiting for approval
won't be a big problem... what percentage of your friends/relatives use the internet and are also webmasters? i bet it's a very very small percentage...
Most are pretty useless already IMO and I'd be very surprised if Google awards any serious link power to sites listed in them. For 99% of them it's 'if you have seen one, you have seen them all'. Almost none get any traffic to speak of so what's the point really? It's only a very big time commitment for the owner. A standard directory serves no purpose IMO. They should either be marketed well so they get traffic, or they should be very small, niche directories adding value to an existing site. Other than that, I really don't see the point and I'd hate to see everyone have one, like blogs.
the thing is that with the proliferation of the internet, more and more people want to get 'involved' and starting a directory is real easy... so many opt for it. i doubt that most of these owners are serious about making a living (or even poket money) over the net... it's more like "hey, i've got a site too"...
The same question can be asked about forums, blogs, made-for-ad sites, penis pill sites, etc. As far as directories go, the vast majority of them will die. It is hard work to make a directory successful, and most of the people building them do not seem to realize this. They think they just buy a domain name and slap the PHPLD script on it and the money will start pouring in.
Yeah the only reason I don't have a directory site is because there are so many already, like the myspace sites...
Apart from the fact that the links are useful in the engines (don't make the mistake of thinking they aren't), people also use their directory in link exchanges to swap links (site-wide or other). Some can also make some pretty decent adsense revenue. Mine do, they make much more than I've spent on them for the year and are free submits. Directories were never about traffic, and probably never will be. The lot combined send me less direct traffic than 1 relevant link exchange with another heavily trafficked site. It is true that a lot of people have them, and many will end up being worthless as they are abandoned. It's why I tend to promote free directories. That way you've spent nothing but time to attempt to get listed, and at the end of the day if 10, 20 or 50 of them drop off the tree you've lost nothing and gained a couple of hundred links
i see many that get good traffic ? one of mine gets constantly 100 unique visits a day, and its a small dir. i do see your post, but just wanted to say that there are many that get good traffic.. they are profitable, if they weren't then don't u think webmasters would find something else to host very well said
My Quicksilver directory gets probably anywhere between 800 - 1200 uniques per day. I think its the nature of the traffic that T0PS3O is referring to. Of that traffic, very few would actually visit the sites within the directory. The users of the directory are there predominantly to submit their links. The benefit of directories is primarily SEO related, and not direct traffic. The point of this SEO benefit is to climb higher in Search Engine rankings in order to improve traffic derived from searching for your sites keywords on the Search Engines.
I have seen many directories using the 25 dollars version of phpld, or even the free one. and free skins, with bad pr that charge for submissions. I hate them! i don't understad why some people still pay to submit to these kind of sites.
if its easy to start a new directory, its very hard to develop and maintain professional work. Good professional directory inclusion service wins the race
I tried to make a top of directories , maybe this will make a difference. Just finished it today. Offering good products and services fast is the key in this game. Check out the tommy in my signnature .
I stated a couple of directories US Real Estate Directroy and US Real Estate Agents. I think they are ok as long as you have a small niche directory. I do charge for featured links and one way links. I don't make a tone of money off it but it really is just a hobby of mine.
Some will die out. Just like in any other business group. Some of the small fish eventually get fried. =)