I owned 3 popular adult directories from 1997-2004 but have never tried a mainstream or paid directory before. I'm building 5 niche City Visitor Guide directories and am hoping some of the experts around here wouldn't mind sharing some advice/opinions. I am considering charging a recurring membership model, $9.99 first month, then $1.99 recurring, for as many sites or articles you wish to submit. Bear in mind this is a tight niche directory with only a small amount of categories so I don't think many people are going to have more than a handful of sites they can submit. Having a good look around here I'm starting to think I might be undercharging? I'd love some opinions. Also, what do you guys think of the subscription model in general? Is it likely to turn anyone off? Am I just asking to be abused with mass irrelevant submissions? Am I better off just doing what everyone else does and charge per site because that is what the buyers are used to? Here is the first site: http://www.lasvegashustler.com Plan is to launch one per month.
? you may be better off with a lower price stucture and adopting a user pays system (per site/article) and a constant fee structure over and above the high first month / low recuring option, but a good question, with open submissions you may open yourself / your staff up to extra workloads for no return. I see many people charging prices that are to high, especially for new directories / crap directories & for what i would just deem a link farm. Been covered many times before and it is a good basis to set up and run a long term viable proposition.
Thanks Downunder, I am looking at it as a long term prospect. Don't expect to make a significant profit initially and am budgeting to spend $150 per site per month for staff/marketing/content. That's interesting that you suggest a lower price. What sort of price point do you think people go for? I'm thinking I would be happy with 5 or 10 new submitters per month initially, so am not worried about lowering it to attract a lot, but I would like to be seen as good value for the word of mouth recomendations. Brad
Only you can set a price and it would be wrong of me to even suggest a price. When you suggest good value then maybe look around at what others are charging and what quality they offer for a similar service then from that work out where you stand. I will also still say there are many sheep out there who just charge as the next bloke and charge stupidly high $ for crap. with a lower fee ( and just me ) for that word of mouth value i would be tempted with a intro price lower than a higher ongoing. for example paypal can be configured with a once of intro price ( say $3 for a 3 month trial ) then can convert to your regular anuual fee for a higher amount. all optional and up to you what you do. This backed up with quality service would be your winner, and as for not wanting to attaract many / list them this is where your editing - approve / disaprove comes into it not the price factor. On a personal note my pricing will be based on a core number taken from visitor numbers X work involved, i.e if i do not do my work and attract visitors then i feel i have no right to charge stupid high prices for nothing more than a link farm.
I disagree with this statement as far as new directories go as I have been to alot of new directories that have great editorial, while they are new this doesn't mean they should be charging less for an editor to review submissions. IMO I would pay more for great editorial skills, correct categorization, other quality listings to complement my own in a new directory than a PR'd, unedited, but highly promoted directory.
I'ts ok to disagree and you make a valid point in your comments re editorial quality - and makes for another factor to build into the sums. The test for the pricing i suppose is the market where people will either choose to accept the price put forward / compared to the many factors as above or not.
As much as I personally appreciate a directory editor making an extra effort for my site, I'm not sure that would make much difference to my choice to submit again. If the listing comes up as a backlink, and if I see a click or two in my stats regularly, would be the two main things that bring me back I think. And although I don't think visible PR has much relationship to rankings and traffic, I planning to work on getting my category pages showing some PR, as I thought that is what would really bring the paying customers back. It looks like all 3 of us here might be Aussies