Hi, So you want to sell more Listings right ? While Banners, Sig links, Avatars, Search engine optimization are very effective tools for bringing visitors to your Directory, it is also important to grasp and convert these visitors into buyers, here are 10 tips to help you make your visitors take the most desired action possible for your directory, this means a sale! 1. Show them your Site Rankings This can refer to Directories top lists as well as more general lists like Alexa. Displaying a good rank within a list always encourages more attention from Customers.they might be impressed by your website’s position in the ranking system and hence come to believe that your site is very popular and has a large audience base. I wouldn’t encourage displaying your directory ranks if they are mediocre or below average. 2. Show them Recommendations from SEO Experts Your Visitors want benefits. What can your directory do for them? they want to improve Their Ranking! They also want Page rank and Traffic but the main reason why clients want buy a directory listing is SEO, You dont have to pay Matt cut to write a recommendation for your directory like he did for yahoo, botw or Dmoz, it could be simply an individual or even a Forum member with an great reputation in the field of SEO. 3. Testimonials from Satisfied Clients. This is absolutely essential. Testimonials are one of the most effective ways to encourage an impulse sale. Try asking for testimonials from your clients or customers and display the notable ones prominently on your site, make sure they say that they saw an improvement in their traffic and google ranking after buying a listing from your directory. 4. Mentions from Other Reputable Directores This refers to the display of from authority directories. why? Recommendations from reputable directories make your directory much more Trustworthy and attractive,especially in the eyes of those in the know. 5. Make sure your Category pages are not empty This is probably one of the most important tip that i can give, List at least 2-3 websites in each Directory category, There is nothing that will make a Potential Customer to buy a listing in your category than seeing that his Competitor is already there! Fill all the categories with quality and top ranked websites, this will make your directory seems trustworty and very etablished, then when your directory become much more popular may be you can remove those "BUZZ" Lisings later. 6. Offer special discounts offering special discounts can be especially effective for first-time visitors on your directory. Can you give them an 20 percent discount? That might be just the encouragement they need to make a purchase. If you offer a special discount for new customers, let it be known! Don't just put that information on the home page. 7. Buzz: Statistics, Blogs, News Making your directory statistics and News Visible to your visitors denotes popularity and encourages your visitors to buy a listing in your directory. Also a Blog will definitely pique the interest of visitors to your Directory. 8. Display Professional Certifications and tell them who you are! Logos From Hacker Safe or VeriSign for example are important to many clients concerned about the security of your site and its safety Make it clear that your directory is secure and is a safe place, Make sure you use those logos at least in the checkout area, Also Make sure that customers know that a real person is sitting behind this Directory. Include your full contact information on your Directory and make it easy to find. If your visitors don't know from whom they will purchase and how to contact you, they won't buy anything. 9. Offer multiple payment options While PayPal is a great way of handling online payments, some customers might not even know what it is. If you are offering PayPal as the only payment option, at least use PayPal's merchant services and display the different credit card logos, also try to Make the checkout and payment an easy and painless process. If your order page isn't easy to use, all other directory promotion efforts will be in vain. 10. Welcome your users feedback If your visitors are getting turned off by something about your directory wouldn't you want to know so you could correct it? If they especially like a new feature or mod you're offering, wouldn't you want to capitalize on that information ?, Make it easy for customers to send feedback. Include email links, If you can , offer rewards for constructive feedback you receive. For example, if you implement a customer's suggestion you could reward them with a a Free Featured listing in your directory. Cheers. Mario
Good post, I think getting recommendations is a great thing, not in a position to do that yet. But I agree with your ethos, once someone reaches your site (look at your stats) how to get them to hit the Payment button is the key. Rep added.
thanks, yep recommandations can have a very positive effect, because people are naturally followers.. showing them that an expert is recommanding your directory can be a very strong argument that will make them buy a listing. thanks maldives and shenron for the kind words and reps.
Very good post, especially for newbie like me. I have saved it down somewhere so that i can refer to them soon when i have my own directory.
very nice tips for directory owner, i'm sure it will work if you follow this tips. thanks a lot my friend. cheers
Fantastic post, with all the shit being posted at DP lately this post really shines. Can't give you more reputation.
thanks everybody for the nice words, i just try to give something back to this wonderful community whenever i find the time
Regarding 8. ive been thinking about this more lately and feel that it is important, and im guessing you actually mean signing up with those properly and not just wacking a logo up. Also 9. is another that i strongly agree with, although paypal being first choice for many its good to have those options, on one of mine i have Paypal, Moneybookers, E-gold, Alertpay and 2CO, it may be once in a blue moon that their used but the important thing is their there. Thanks for the post, very useful, repping you. (cant rep you yet) pipes
Very Nice tips. I really like this one 9. Offer multiple payment options While PayPal is a great way of handling online payments, some customers might not even know what it is. If you are offering PayPal as the only payment option, at least use PayPal's merchant services and display the different credit card logos, also try to Make the checkout and payment an easy and painless process. If your order page isn't easy to use, all other directory promotion efforts will be in vain. I think this is very important point feature.I will be implementing it on my directory in next few days Sa