It seems like most of the threads around here have been by SEO scammers and people asking the same questions that have been asked 1,000 times before. I thought it might be useful to actually have a thread geared for directory owners for a change. I know that I'm constantly looking for new ways to expand my directory offerings. My question is what have you tried that didn't work as well as you thought it would? Perhaps then we could figure out a way to make it viable or learn from each other's mistakes. I'll start. On my craft directory I started a "Featured Artists Program". The offer was simple, I would showcase 3-5 new handmade items each week for free on my blog - they just had to already have a listing and email me the information. Granted my blog doesn't have thousands of visitors a day but it's over 5 years old and indexed well. A few people have looked at the information page but I have had zero takers. I even chased down some things to post for a few weeks, only one said thank you and seemed the least bit interested. I still have it on my site, I guess hope springs eternal. lol So, what did you try that didn't work out as well as you thought it would? If anyone comes to my thread simply to pimp their directory, I will both flame you and leave negative rep. And, I will not ask that the thread be removed to hide your idiocy.
What I have found works well is 1. Keep the site updated DAILY!!! 2. Remove the dead links DAILY!!! 3. Review and approve new listings DAILY!!! 4. Charge a low, fair, but consistent price. Too low a price and you are gonna get a lot of crap. Too high and you're not going to get anyone. Either way, charging seems to keep the really crappy freebie spammy listings out and the directory of a much higher quality. 5. Once you find what works, don't change it.
I know the thread isn't that old but either there's not many folks here who have tried something different or they're just not willing to share their ideas. Thanks mia for the quick reply but I was hoping not to create another conversation about what one needs to do to run a directory. My hope was to uncover some ideas that go beyond the usual ones. bharatmax, I wasn't looking for sympathy. I was hoping to initiate some water-cooler type conversation that directory owners could use to generate some ideas together.
What has not worked is over charging people. I still say, a low, fair price for VALUE is what HAS worked.
Over the past 8 years of directory operation I've tried hundreds of what I call development projects and have development projects ongoing almost continually. The one that cost the most to impalement and failed was allowing sales video links to be submitted with the website. I still think it's a good idea but at the time it was implemented and the two trial years all anybody was concerned with from a directory was links and page rank.
Mia: Fair enough. Any suggestions on how one comes up with a fair price? It would seem each directory has slightly different things to offer. Stoner: Do you mean direct links to YouTube videos, etc. or do you mean that the videos appeared right on your directory? I could see something like that maybe working in a regional business directory. One of the TV news stations in Atlanta is developing a local business directory and if you purchase the super-duper-uber wonderful plan it comes with a professional, TV grade video that they will film of your business. It is a very pricey directory. I know someone who is giving it a go. Only time will tell if it's worth it.
The way we were doing it was to upload podcasts in a variety of formats from the clients computer and play them from a high speed server on our website. It was a costly system that ended up being junked.
I always worry that anything where the submitter has more editorial control over the content than I do can lead to a train wreck. It's what has kept me from adding Facebook links, blog feeds and Tweets. All would provide constantly changing content. But, all could quickly turn my family friendly site into something no child should ever be exposed to depending upon what folks post.
That's why I chose to upload to my server. Content could not be changed and the video reviewed with the directory submission. I'm very leery of any content not under editorial control.
I agree completely. It's why I use my own screen and product shots. I would much rather accept requests to change them than risk nasty stuff. A cake decorating site went hard core porn - home page was an eyeful when I went to audit it. lol
I have looked at many directory scripts trying to implement some ideas that I have for Links.com but I always have to abandon the ideas because the scripts are too porous and invite spam. Why doesn't any script developer include Akismet and Bad Behavior anti-spam capabilities in their product is beyond me. The scripts are antiques and cannot be hardened and are therefore unusable. Otherwise, I think that there may be many more possibilities for useful directories.
For me it was adding features and as a lot of you have probably read at some time or another "its about benefits to the customer/user" not about features, people dont look for features, they look for benefits, i thought that adding the next mod was making it better. Adding the option of multiple links on selected listing options. Offering various payment options when almost all payments received have been through paypal, i setup 2CO and jumped through hoops to make sure that was as it should be and its never been used.
A "fair" price, is something that is commensurate with the level of value. It's really a "how long is a piece of string" kinda question. A higher price in a more exclusive directory may give you just that, a more exclusive listing and a better chance at a higher overall weight. Not always the case. A lower price in a less exclusive directory may achieve the same, or not... Again, neither are necessarily the case.
Moved to an annual recurring fee model and on one of my general directories it's hasn't proven to be very successful so I've switched it back to a single review fee/permanent inclusion as long as the listed site remains guidelines compliant.
We have both. The lower end is one time, the higher end is recurring annual. There is about a 75% retention rate. Nice thing is it keeps things really clean. Gives customers a chance to re-evaluate what they have, ad more, or ask to update or modify their link. It's worked out very nicely.
The recurring annual review fee model on my other directories are working well, just one in particular that did not perform as well as the others so I made the switch back.
Creed, are all of your directories general ones or in the same niche? I wonder if the issue relates to that at all.
I found the recurring annual review fee to be a huge amount of labor with my script setup and labor cost a lot of money. I was either going to have to invest to automate it or get rid of it and opted to just get rid of it.