Hi All A simple question for all, Does the availability of the exact , desired category help prompt a webmaster to submit to a directory? You chaps who are submitting non directory websites, does it put you off , when you don't find a category , or sub category that matches exactly, your niche? More experienced directory owners problably know the answer already, so it would be nice to clarify this
Im not sure if it helps prompt them, some understand that you may create a specific one for them anyway. It doesn't put me off if i dont find an exact category.
I think it could put submitters off as they are looking for a specific place to list their site and if it means creating a new category or being placed in one not so relevant they may go elsewhere
Hello.... Part of growing your directories index is creating a category that fits the site submitted and making sure you are helping to give the most accurate info to the search engines as well as those visitors that are searching your index. Just yesterday i had a "Lighting Store" that submit and tried getting as close as he could which was Home and Garden >> Interior which really wasnt accurate so the category off Home & Garden >> Interior >> "Lighting" was created for his site and soon after he/she realized that it was created he/she submitted to an additional 5 more directories knowing that it would be done again . thx malcolm
Consider it a test someone might be trying on you to see if you even care about doing the right thing or if you are an experienced directory owner. Everyone has the standard issue 700 category dump in thier Directories and its up to YOU to make it grow thx malcolm
I always make the effort to add new categories to my directories if I feel that it is something that needs to be added. Its an ongoing process
There are several common approaches used for building directory topic structures. One is to start with a very complete topic structure of around 10,000 + topics. The other was to start with a smaller topic structure of around 5,000 topics and adding a subtopic when sufficient websites were available to start it. One method leaves you with a lot of empty topics and the other has you constantly adding topics and moving websites. From what I see in today’s version of quick and easy directories is a topic structure of a few hundred very generalized topics. This leads to overcrowded and basically full directories in a very short period of time if the directory ever gains popularity. Regardless of the approach you employ you need to have the skill to populate the topic structure with quality submissions and get it cached by the major search engines.
I Agree to all above replies (specially to Malcolm's) If i answer this query as a submitter, i think i am yet to come across a directory which does not have "Directories" or "Web Directories" category in it. So, never came a problem with my directory submission. However, i very rarely find a category for "Laser Hair Removal" or "Cancer News or Info" in most of the directories. And yes, it puts me off! So get more categories up. Cover as many niche as possible. And you will certainly have more submitters (Comparatively)
I get my ideas for new catagories from the websites submitted and also by reading this forum.Sharet I have plastic surgery with laser hair removal subcatagory on one site now
We copy all directory catagories we find here on DP, then we have one of those lucky barrell things they use for lotteries and we pick a new catagory each week, works well for us. In reality we will be putting in catagories as we need them, to suit what is going to be listed as from a personal view can't stand 100 empty catagories in a directory.
In my view, it is not really possible to have 100% complete directory with the right categories. Even DMOZ, even after all these years is still growing. What Malcolm said is correct- its an on-going process.