Hey friends, I'm having an idea to start a new directory service. But is my idea good? Is there anyway that I could get good outcome from it? Is it advisable to concentrate on one niche or to open a general one? Please give me you ideas. Thanks in advance
If you are in to community service you are welcome to join the band.. Don't expect to make money immediately..
I too know that pal. Even I have no idea about how to monetize a directory. But will it get good number of links?
It will do decent, it is a lot of work and requires a lot of patience. Don't expect to see BIG results in the first few months...
Please forgive me if my ignorance made you to laugh at me. I'm trying to get some knowledge in the field that I don't know. Thats all.
I wasn't poking fun at you, just the industry in general. It is a tough thing to start and maintain, prepare for some boredom and to not see many results.
Personally I'd suggest buying a reputable one that is already established and improve on it. Starting from scratch now is not going to bring any type of instant gratification if that is what you were hoping for. By outcome, did you mean to say "income?"
My current idea is not to monetize the directory pal. My thought is whether to start a blog on all general topic or a specific one just for web hosting field? or blogs something like that. Later than creating a ranking for them. Is that wise?
Please read this thread from a DP member - http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=701452 It will give you enough information. Also check out from the IVS forum - http://info.vilesilencer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=44863 These both will give enough information on what you can do and what you can't do. My personal advice: Why would you start a general directory when there are thousands doing the same? Think out of box and try to build that "different thinking" on your directory and you will succeed in terms of traction and money in few months. Again directory is not a get rich program you see.
When selecting a script, see that it is best protected against spam. I recommend you drop a good Domain of the archive and the backlinks and PR. Then it will be easier for you, from the start
I'm going on my experience of building my own and going public about 2 weeks ago... First, I believe that a niche is a better start then general as you can focus on a specific area. An open general directory would have too much competition against any of the larger directories. Even within the niche though, you may want to pin-point one specific avenue. Second, I believe passive directory may be over-saturated. An active directory may be a better way to go. This is the path I'm on and it seems to be doing very well. Don't let your directory become a grave yard for dead links. Third, be careful not to blend in with the "community" directories. Try to stay against the grain to some degree as you'll stand out better. This would fit in with your niche. A good example would be to start a directory on a topic that is against the populis view, ie: a directory on Global Cooling, since the populis view is Global Warming. I'm using all three to some degree with my directory and have done very well considering. Hope this helps.
Personally, I believe if that is all you are running a directory for, then it'll be a failure from the beginning. Eventually, it'll be a burden or a choir and that will show in the directory and in the content of the directory. You have to have some enjoyment in running it before any money ever shows up.
No submission from India and some very unique and unusual content, such as Police, Fire, and EMS blogs. I've receive quite a few favorable comments and some very good and constructive criticism as well. In the last 12 days my directory has grown to nearly 700 blogs. Not many by some standards, but for my experimental concept, I consider it doing very well.
It's never to late to build a resource. Depending of course on what your motivation is for doing so. If you have a particular area of expertise then a niche directory will probably be a better fit as you will be able to include listings that suit the directory based on your experience/knowledge. General directory's are much more difficult to run, because they get saturated with submissions based on their more varied categories. It is also more difficult to edit the listings (assuming you want to be a directory owner and not a link farm owner. There is a difference).