I found a very interesting thread on another forum regarding the value of directory submissions and it sure is eye-opening. http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=497263 Spending so much time here, where everyone talks directories so much can make you forget how the other 90% of web users are thinking.
I believe that once the dust has settled directories have a huge contribution to make to the users internet experience. But this as part of a site rather than as a stand alone resource. I also believe that directories that charge to review submissions have a better chance of making it through the first couple of years than sites that dont. Free directories get spammed silly and how the directory owners cope I dont know.
Did you actually read the linked thread? Where in the whole thread did you pick up on any jealousy towards DP? The posts for once were disussing the question/issue logically. Do threads like that threaten your signature links?
Just like anything in this world there's always several sides to the topic. You'll have extremists, moderates and people who just think everything is crap. If you're a directory owner stick to doing your best to offer the best possible service and be creative in what you do so that you could make the site distinct. Focus on bringing value to people.
Well, I guess the way to go is build alot of free directories & start a submission service. It seems they are profitting pretty good on the behalf of so many free directories out there and putting it to there advantage. I mean there are tons of software like roboform which u can download and submit your site to like 300 free directories in a matter of like 2 hours. LOL
I didn't get that either. I felt this thread just shows that a lot of regular web users don't really understand directories that well and there are a lot of misconceptions floating around. What you said above is one of the major reasons most free directories don't make any money. If a bot is submitting the sites then it is impossible to upsell to a paid featured link. Anyways I saw this thread as a real opportunity to catch a glimpse of the real challenges directories have in gettting the message out there on what we can offer in terms of value.
Roboform is not a bot. It's just a software where u can fill in form fields and enter all of them with a click of a mouse. That is how most of the manual submission people u see submit to 500 directories in 3 hours. You just have a big list of free directories with their submit pages. You click on the submit page, hold down ur mouse button to fill in ur saved form data. Click submit and ur off to the next 1. Takes about 10 seconds per directory or less.
Well if it is a directory submission service visiting and if they are spend just a few seconds then they probably won't be convinced to buy any featured link, right?
What absolute nonsense. I used sitepoint regularly before finding DP. DP offers far more than what SP offers in terms of knowledge and directories. Saying Paid directories do not offer nothing more than Free directories is a load of nonsense.
What added value does a paid directory offer? My only resevation with free directories is a question of how long they are going to last. Thats not to say that dont have the same concerns about paid directories. I do and I believe we are going to see some of the high PR sites dropping off their perches, so where do we start. Besides that a link from the supplemental index carries as much authority as PR5 site dressed to kill, paid or unpaid.
-Paid directory reviews and listing tend to happen a lot quicker. -Paid directories in general have higher quality listings because there is a cost for review and many crappy sites just don't have the budget. -Paid directories in general earn more so they have larger advertising and promotion budgets. -Paid directories are typically hosted on better hosts because they have income and can afford it. -Paid directories have a better chance of long-term viability because if a business makes a profit it will likely remain pnline longer. -Paid directories in general have fewer links so your link gets more visiblity. Fine Print: When I say 'in general' I mean a majority and none of the above are absolutes, from my two years in the directory industry both owning free and paid directories these have been my experiences. There are always exceptions to the above rules but they are true a large majority of the time.
Fair enough but I get much the same mileage from the free directories if I catch them early enough. This is more a question of "means and service" rather than "effect". This I agree with 100%
Catching them early really only helps with the first issue, about getting reviewed and listed quickly. Don't get me wrong, I submit to some free directories and I don't mean to knock them. But the truth is that there are very few free directories that can 'make it' long-term. Because of that I have cut down my free directory submissions by 75% or more over the past 6-months. Sure it only take 3 or 4 minutes to do a submissin but I have 50 sites so the time can really add up. If I see a free directory that looks unkept I don't even bother anymore. On the other hand if I see a free directory where the owner is putting in real effort, a custom template, value added mods, extra features, custom logo, that sort of thing I will often buy featured links to help support it.
Yes, but those are SP members, many of whom also post on DP. It's a long, long way from the opinions of Joe Public on web directories. I would agree with what jg123 says, on the whole: there are a lot of ways that paid directories can offer added value. The trouble is, identifying those which offer the most added value. This is probably the hardest concept for SEOs, because there are so many factors involved: deep links, listing quality, unique descriptions, PR, design, sitewides, numbers of listings per page, niche or general, where a directory is promoted ... The list goes on, and it's not surprising that people who aren't closely involved with directories should find it hard to understand what value they can bring, and which are the most worthwhile.
It seems a lot of DP members have posted after following this link, this thread was started on the baises of all the posts before my first one in that thread.
Yep, I agree with jg too. Paid directories do give you added value. Obelia, what you said seems to make a lot of sense. If you can pick out the right ones, your site will benefit from it.
Yes, but my point is that SP attracts very nearly the same crowd as DP. I've been a member there myself for years, although I haven't posted in ages.
The problem I have got with the free directories that dont turn to paid is the question of why they are doing it. But whilst we are poking a finger in their eye why do paid directories believe they need to stuff their categories full of free submissions before they go paid? At the end of the day it would appear that we are either here to exploit the revenue that can be earned from Adsense or we are peddling PR or we are setting up link farms for our own personal use and are trying to get some other mug to pay for it. Where's the value? If there is an honest answer to this question I think we have a starting point.
Some paid directories start off free to get the initial traffic boost and to get their name out there. Or are you talking about the directory owner adding listings, if you are I don't think they would 'stuff' the directory. Just put in one or two in each category so they are not empty.