I have to make this point because it simply annoys me, and a lot of people out there are wasting their precious time. If you plan on starting a directory, plan on initially spending hours upon hours on it with absolutely no ROI. You have to plan for that; if you don't put the time in, you're not going to make shit. It kills me to see 500 new directories start up every day with the free templates that even keep the free template logo on them! People, if you plan on doing this, just don't bother wasting your time. If you want to make money in the directory biz, you have to be a leader in the field, it's that freakin' simple. You never know what's going to happen in the future, and SEs could change their algos that kill the strength of directory backlinks. If that happens, the only ones that will continue to make money are the leaders in the field. Maybe it's too opinionated, but my belief is that you have to become huge in order to make good money in the long run. Little crap PR0-3 directories are useless as it is to make money now, soon you'll have to have a nice PR5 directory to get paid links, because there's going to be a ton of bigger and better PR6 directories out there. So if you're thinking of starting a directory as a little "side project" to make some "extra cash", don't bother because you'll make probably $20 from a couple featured links, and your time/domain/hosting cost is worth more than that. Be a leader. [/rant]
Directories When the going gets tough, the tough get going It's really that simple 365/24/7 Hard Work
all i can say is spend spend spend if you want to get a good directory So far this month my directory has made $206 of which $206 has been put back into buying links and other promotions
What kind of directories are you talking about? English General directories If you are creating a niche directory that are many many opportunities. Either way, Directories are created for different purposes not just to make money or be the leader in the field. Even if there is too much competition for general directories (which I don't think) there is always room for new owners. Think about it the internet is very "big" and directories are just a small fraction of the internet. We are just touching the surface, so get your own directory before it gets more competitive . We are community and we get used to think that everybody is creating a directory when the reality is not. .
I am just a little tiny bit ahead of you choice about $15. This S@#T has already billed my AMEX, MC and VISA to $$$$. Isn't that wonderful and exciting. It is much more expensive than feeding our German Shepperd Mightor.
I'm breaking even at the moment with www.biz-dir.co.uk hopefully I can get it upto PR6 or PR7 and start to make some real money - new custom template and logo in the post - great post!
Nice rant.. fun to read but not always true.. I spend hardly no time on my dir's and make money off them but I guess thats because I pay other people to do the work for me.
Absolutely right - probably - most people here think of short term and earning out of directories. My suggestion is not to make profit out of it for 1 year atleast and it will give you much more when it is a valuable property. Till then its "SPEND & PROMOTE" and "HARD-WORK" Also i think - if you cant get a directory to look unlike tons of them out there - no point !! The least you can do is to make it look unique and get some link juice into it so that the people who actually buy links can get some benefit out of it. If your BUYERS dont get anything out of the money they pay to get listed - your on the way to DOOM. Good luck to all !
You're definately right in making your directory unique from the other thousands out there. Most directories start off as FREE directories until they can get a good PR, then they start making webmasters pay for links.