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Is niche really it for directories?

Discussion in 'Directories' started by swedal, Jul 7, 2008.

  1. centime

    centime Peon

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    #21
    I'd say that based on my limited experience the niche directory has far more traction in the various search engine serps and based on observing google analytics, gains far more non web master traffic. The keywords indicate that anyway.
     
    centime, Jul 7, 2008 IP
    swedal likes this.
  2. swedal

    swedal Notable Member

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    #22
    So let me run this by you.

    Is it just that it is easier to achieve the better seo benefits you are talking about with a niche directory than a general directory?

    I mean couldn't those same seo results be achieved in a general directory if each niche within the general directory was thought about and promoted as its own niche?
     
    swedal, Jul 7, 2008 IP
  3. YMC

    YMC Well-Known Member

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    #23
    OK, since my site is crafts related, I'll stick with the earlier example of knitting.

    On a general directory, a knitting site typically will either be able to submit to Arts & Humanities > Crafts or Shopping > Crafts. In either of those Crafts sub-categories, that knitting site will be lumped in with painting, pottery, and all sorts of other types of crafts-related sites.

    On a niche directory like mine, within the Knitting section, the site owner can select what sort of knitting site they have and submit their site to a specific sub-category. For the sake of example, let's say that the site in question offers free knitting patterns. So, their site would be listed in Knitting > Free Patterns.

    Now, which directory do you think has the best chance of sending that site the most targeted visitors and provide the most SEO-useful link? The one with one knitting pattern site amongst a painter, two potters, and several jewelry sites? Or the page that might only have a handful of listings but ALL of them are related to knitting patterns?

    What do you think the chances are of the general directory's crafting page ranking for knitting terms vs my directory ranking for knitting terms?
     
    YMC, Jul 7, 2008 IP
  4. YMC

    YMC Well-Known Member

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    #24
    As to traffic, it is very true that most niche directories see far less traffic than the general ones do. What percentage of a general directory's visitors simply submit their site(s) and leave? Only a small percentage of my traffic is submitters, which means most of the people coming to my site are looking for information and are actually visiting listed sites and clicking on ads (yeah, I know some have to also be returning to the search engines without doing either).

    From what I've seen, niche directories are both harder and easier to promote. A good niche directory can become a reference site and well-known within it's topic. By doing so, it will get free publicity from the same people who are submitting to it and like has already been said it will get bookmarked by visitors. At the same time, they can be harder to promote. When I submit my niche directories to general ones, I am often forced to submit to a black hole known as "other niches". While I know most of my submitters are looking for 'free advertising for <keyword> sites' and '<keyword> something' in the search engines, many general directory owners prohibit me from submitting to the topic area and force me to submit to a directory area where it is unlikely to send me much, if any, traffic. Very few of my search engine hits are from directory-related terms and I would suspect most niche directory owners would say the same thing.

    If nothing else comes out of this thread, I would love to suggest to general directory owners to either create a directory category within each of the primary categories (i.e. Arts > Directories) or allow topical directories to submit to those topics. And to not allow general directories to submit to those categories unless it's a deep link to their a category that fits within that topic. We will both gain from your doing so, trust me.
     
    YMC, Jul 7, 2008 IP
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  5. swedal

    swedal Notable Member

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    #25
    This is a nice tip and I will be looking into this... I have been noticing lately that most general directories (even my own) have a singular category for niche directories called niche.
     
    swedal, Jul 7, 2008 IP
  6. CReed

    CReed Prominent Member

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    #26
    It would be to their benefit to sub-categorize the listings instead of having a singular category and lumping all of the niche directories together.
     
    CReed, Jul 7, 2008 IP
  7. YMC

    YMC Well-Known Member

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    #27
    I can't speak for anyone else with a niche directory but I will very rarely submit to "Niche" or "Other Niches" because they, at least IMHO, are totally worthless to garner visitors or SEO value to a topical directory.
     
    YMC, Jul 7, 2008 IP
  8. CReed

    CReed Prominent Member

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    #28
    One of the reasons I suggested they subcategorize the niche directories into tighter topics. It's also a benefit to use symbolic links from the topical categories pointing to the niche directory categories.
     
    CReed, Jul 7, 2008 IP
  9. DownUnder

    DownUnder Well-Known Member

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    #29
    Some good points,and from YMC and i think this falls back onto the G directory owner and the work they are putting in.

    for niche if i have only one entry for say craft it would fall into niche , but as soon as there other submissions for craft it would then be broken out into craft as the catagory, from there in craft if there was more than 1 knitting it would be broken out into craft > knitting

    this all comes down to as above the work and effort some one is prepared to put into a site.

    re symbolic links ( i call them redirects ) i also believe ery strongly in these and again it takes work and understanding to be on top of this but worth the effort for 3 reasons

    1. the visitor is enabled better navigation, thus less time looking for things.
    2. the submitter has a more accurate coverage of thier listing
    3. the site owner in offering a better service attracts more submissions and visitors.
     
    DownUnder, Jul 7, 2008 IP
  10. mikey1090

    mikey1090 Moderator Staff

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    #30
    Yeah. Look at the domain for example. Will the word "AuthorityDirectory.com/arts-crafts/knitting" help you rank well for "knitting information"? Yes, slightly.

    However look at a niche directory. "knittinginformationdirectory.com/knitting/history-of-knitting" or something similar. Those who have been in SEO for a long time will know the importance of keywords in domains.

    That's another advantage a niche directory has. It has the whole package - the domain, all the inbound links are related, the pages are related, the content is related, the URL structures are related, the outbound links are related. Do you start to see the benefits now?

    Mhamdi touched on this earlier too.

    Another excellent point.

    Agreed. Well said.
     
    mikey1090, Jul 8, 2008 IP
  11. centime

    centime Peon

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    #31
    I do not believe that general directories can enjoy the same SEO effects as a tightly focusssed niche directory
    experience with other niche sites show that with limited resources a tightly focussed midget can out perform a
    un focussed giant
     
    centime, Jul 8, 2008 IP
  12. Event_King

    Event_King Guest

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    #32
    I wouldn't discount free links, but wouldn't rely on them either. These days you need to buy yourself to get any advantage.
     
    Event_King, Jul 8, 2008 IP
  13. freelistfool

    freelistfool Peon

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    #33
    I don't think so. A niche directory is tightly focused on a theme so Google ranks it higher for that theme. I have a general directory that it's categories rank in the 100s, but just can't make much more progress even if I get links to the categories. However, I have niche directories that rank #1 for their niche. I'm positive that my niche sites give more link juice on their theme than my general directories do.
     
    freelistfool, Jul 8, 2008 IP
  14. Event_King

    Event_King Guest

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    #34
    Not a good idea, when I was running a general directory, I created a category just for Directories, but all I got was a ton of spam.

    Making a category for directories just encourages spammers, and creates more maintenance work for little gain.
     
    Event_King, Jul 8, 2008 IP
  15. swedal

    swedal Notable Member

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    #35
    What about the differences between a niche directory and a general directory for monetizing them?

    I would expect there are some, maybe some of you who have good niche sites can shed some light on that.

    Just for the record I do have a few ideas on the differences - just looking for the others opinions.
     
    swedal, Jul 8, 2008 IP
  16. mikey1090

    mikey1090 Moderator Staff

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    #36
    Revenue from review fees on a niche dir could easily outweigh those on a general directory, it all depends on promotion, price etc.

    IMO a niche directory with decent traffic can be monetised much more easily and can have greater turnover than a general directory.
     
    mikey1090, Jul 8, 2008 IP
  17. stoner3221

    stoner3221 Notable Member

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    #37
    I have had just the opposite experiences. I have found niche directories difficult to make money with and general directories very lucrative. I think it will depend a lot on your marketing background and experiences.
     
    stoner3221, Jul 8, 2008 IP
  18. mikey1090

    mikey1090 Moderator Staff

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    #38
    ...and how exactly you go about it.

    It all depends what you tried and your traffic etc.
     
    mikey1090, Jul 8, 2008 IP
  19. swedal

    swedal Notable Member

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    #39
    In my opinion that is what the success of any site boils down to.

    A niche directory can be successful or a general directory could also be successful. For that matter any site could be successful if they have traffic.
     
    swedal, Jul 8, 2008 IP
  20. enQuira

    enQuira Peon

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    #40
    Thanks to the targetted traffic in a niche directory:
    - You can charge per month
    - Setup Your own Pay per Click system
    - Sell related product
    and much more
    Of course here I am not talking about "travel" or "business", ... directories: those are too general in my opinion
     
    enQuira, Jul 8, 2008 IP