As I am thinking about setting up a new niche directory I thought I would ask the question before actually starting the work! I know there are scripts out there that work well but am thinking of a completely bespoke directory. Look forward to your comments.
'The Owner' makes the directory. It's just really that simple of an answer. marketing, word of mouth, uniqueness, innovative thinking and ideas.
It depends on how serious you are regarding your directory, the more serious means that you will add sites, review sites properly, follow the guideline you set up, try to give a future to your directory and make sure everybody notice it
I notice that virtually ALL directories have categories on the home page showing number of links in each category. Is this a must for a successful directory or would having a content rich home page with the 'directory categories' one level down?
The basis of that is geared more towards the care taken for the directory. I mean, think about it... if you went to a directory to make a submission, but you see the queue is upwards of 5,6,7,10,000 links pending, are you even going to bother wasting your time?
But the number indicated is not the links pending is it? It's the links in a specific category? So if my directory is content rich but you cannot see the categories on the home page is that going to make a difference? I mean is it going to put people off posting their links?
This is the definitive statement and 100% accurate, and whats more the guy who made this statement is one of the best Keep up the good work Rob
phpLD is pretty much the standard in directory scripts these days. most everyone has a stats mod which includes several stats. ranging from: 1. total main categories 2. total sub categories 3. total all categories 4. active links 5. pending links and miscellaneous others. now what I bolded is what you want to see to be in low numbers and not the 1,000's hope this helps and gives you a sort of understanding. people mostly dont care about content rich directories. they are more concerned about PR. as far as putting peopel off, you be the judge of that. if you see a queue with 1,000's of pending links, are you goign to waste your time with a submission, knowing they are backlogged in the 1,000's and are more than likely just goign to bulk delete, because all they care about are 'payed' listings and not content rich ones? think about it. Rob
Seen that phpLD is just about everywhere!! Your explanation does give me some understanding thanks. Most people (webmasters) are just concerned about PR whixh creates a lot of not very interesting directories that all look the same and have the same listings. I have seen a few that are slightly different and a little better in their offerings. I know you have seen this http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=152970 and it makes very interesting reading, especially as it indicates that people (not webmasters) get fed up with the same old gruel being served up to them time and time again!! Anyway, I am looking at producing something a little different that WILL appeal to the average surfer AND webmaster (hopefully) by providing relevent content and listings.
Put the time in on the directory, keep it free from garbage submissions, spend time building up the PR of not only your home page but the internal pages and you will find that in time you will have yourself a good directory and a new revenue stream.
Thanks Pete. I appreciate the feedback. I believe this will always be a learning process, but I am trying to stay ahead on the game great! glad you could make some sense of it I wholeheartedly agree, and I have expressed it in these 'new' and 'unique' directory solicitations that use the same exact templates. I actually just took time away from submitting because I felt like I was on some odd merry-go-round, because I could submit to anyone of these directories with my eyes closed. So So repetitive it made me want to gauge my eyeballs out with a spoon! As far as looks, you'll alway sbe able to count on me for something odd/unique for my directories. It's just really hard to jungle the clientel while working on my own stuff. I do work on my stuff though,and as a matter o-fact, if you go to My Directory and then [ review site] on the test feature listing, you'll see I have the additinal URls set up. Based on the type of submiison made you will get a different number or urls to be displayed. featured=5, reagular=3, reag w/recip=1 and free = nonfollow. hell it even carries over onto the details page too. hahah nofollooooow for the non-supporters. Just lots and lots of unique things in my directories. And the best part, they are all 100% phpLD driven(no 3rd party stuff) and they are so built in, you don't even recognize them. Believe me, it's been expressed in more than just one thread. [/quote] I personally look forward to seeing your creativty. If you scroll through my first directory I made www.activeweblinks.com and browse the categories, you'll see that I did that with 'each category', trying to pull in relevent feed for the news. ok.. that was a nice book. sorry hahaha Rob
one that accepts free submissions without asking a link back + a paid option which gives you enough traffic and PR Make those happen and you have a guaranteed winner. It's that simple Didier