Being that bidding directories are so new it would seem that very few would be for sale. To the contrary, just about every day I see anew one for sale. This makes me think that these directories were started just to pocket the money from the bids. I highly doubt that any of the money went towards promotion. Perhaps these owners realize that they have recieved the maximum number of bids they will recieve before needing to show some real strength, If this is the case, I think everyone should be extra careful about buying spots at these directories. They seem to me as a dream come true for the Quick Buck Crew. I'm not condeming all bidding directories. The ones receiving the most staggering bids are also spending a staggering amount on promotion. I'm just saying that unless you complete trust the owners reputation of being a strong promoter I would recomend not submitting to any bidding directory until they have proven themselves. A $1 buy in might not seem like much but that could very easily be a $1 wasted if they have no intention of doing anything but pocketing it. Am I the only one noticing this?
I was just thinking that myself. It seems to be the new craze, offer a few free, sell a few then sell the directory. I am always weary when I see sites being turned over so quickly. With the talk about paid links may not be counted in PR in the future, these sites might not be worth anything. JMO
I also think it might be the 'paid link' thing that is causing so many of these to go up for sale. If G really cracks down on paid listings then I guess this type of directory is pretty obvious to target. That said, the links or sites might not be totally disregarded and there is also the potential for traffic and promotion via these type of directories. Plus if the links continue to count in other search engines they will still have value. And it is possible if they at some point lose the ability to pass on pr juice they could still count as a backlink.
Quick Buck Crew - QBC - How APT this term is for people like them . I also noticed -lots of people buying expired domains with PR--installing the script --announcing --it -getting some submission to cover the script cost -and selling. Exact QBC -policy. I don't think so --its just one thing -- QBC
The most interesting point is the domain used by some of these directories... At times some of the domains have no relation to directory or traffic. They could pick up just any expired domain with any PR and place the script on it. At times I just laugh at the choice of their domain.
You might be right, there, Lenny. But everyone has a different reason for sale, and sometimes its legitimate even though it looks like QBC chop shop.
There are several things that happen 1) The get quick rich scheme became a reality - people lost money (spent more buying links, and didnt make enough from submissions 2) They bought loads of links from spammy word clouds, realised they got a PR3 at the update not PR5 like they hoped. 3) They went to the domains forum and bought an expired PR5 domain. They made $120 revenu on it, and had to sell it for about $400, as they knew it was bound to get PR0 at the next update. 4) They were generally stupid when it came to buying text links, bought the wrong sort and went bankrupt as focused on PR too much rather than traffic. If you see a domain thats not realted to bidding directories, chaces are it got dropped when was PR5 or 6, so they thought they would make some $$$ out of it.
I agree here... there a lot of genuine people too. Kindly don't mix them up, selling something you can't handle anymore, or you need funds, no time, expecting baby, college, etc etc Doesn't mean you are QBC... Yes a lot of people are QBC but not All!
Agree... Some people do not find much fun in bid directory... they like normal directory so they might sell their directory and so on But one can clearly identify a QBC from a long distance.. QBCs would be least interested in building their credibility, they would be using junkiest domain, but with PR, you won't find any customization on the template used by them and so on. A complete profile of QBC could be created IMHO
Well I didn't start my bid directory for a quick buck so these people who are doing this are certainly tarnishing the genre in general.
No-body is accusing you of any wrong-doing mate. Its just that --the situation has become really bad with QBCs. If you are sincere and honest enough --you will surely stand-out and succeed. All the best.
mate, i just bought a link on your site. When submitting the bid, i meant to remove the $1 and type 20. Instead i wrote $120, and just bought a $120 link without noticing LOL. Is there anyway you can send me $100 to my paypal? it will be much appreciated if you can do....
IMO the biggest problem out there right now in the directory industry and in link sales in general is folks buying expired domains and not being honest about it in their advertisments. It reflects poorly on the entire industry. There was one guy that I questioned about this (he bought a PR5 expired domain and was selling his directory as a PR5 directory) and his answer was, yes it is expired but I linked it from a couple of my own PR4 sites so it will keep its' page rank :-0
I agree in that these bidding directories have become a QBC heaven, and I knew that is what they become(for the most part), and one of the reasons I stopped bidding on them. I know only a few of them will be taken care of(mine included). I spent over 2,000 and an additional 600 on bids themselves for my Bidding Web Directory and that was outof my own pocket, and prior to getting the PR I got. Mine will always be a part of my network, and I will always look forward to ways on expanding it, and it wont be for sale. Well, not unless someone is ready to pay xxx,xxx, because then I can take my database and start a new project
I could have taken my new domain that was bought and paid for with a year of hosting by a friend for me and made it a bid directory but I am using it for a test site instead for the simple reason I don't want it associated with QBC the name is topbidwebdirectory.com but later I want to make it a bid directory or a general directory with other resources
i sold my bidding dir with only 4 bids in it because i knew i wasn't going to promote it because i never had time to manage it.... and the new person is probably doing a good job with it. thts all, but i do see alot of users installling this on expired domains and selling to make quick bucks
Setting up directories on high PR domains is obviously wrong, I know a lot of people do this and it's not only regarding the bidding directories but all the directories. Your point LennyP is wrong because you see the problem only from seller's point of view...what about the buyer? I'm pretty sure someone who's paying a few hundred bucks for a directory wants to recover his money and to do some profit and for that you have to keep promoting , right? Smub is right, sometime people sell from various reasons and it doesn't mean they are qbc...actually I think most of you understand the term in a wrong way. I don't have nothing against people selling their sites and I don't judge them! (and I think you should do the same too) Everyone has his own reasons when decided to sell. I try to come up with something new all the time as some of you already noticed and if I'll ever decide to sell I'll do it for a good reason. It doesn't necessary means that I'm looking for a quick buck just my 2 cents (actually pennies )