Best Way to Start A Pay Only Directory?

I already have a free and paid directory, tiptopdirectory.com, which isn't really very useful to me anymore. I leave it up and sort the links every so often, and while the site gets plenty of traffic, none of it is really that good (India).

I am thinking about starting a pay only directory. I don't really know what the best course would be for this, though.

Do I get backlinks to the domain first, or do I start the site first?

What is the best way to promote such a directory?

How should one set prices?

Should it be bidding or should it be regular?

Should I go with a niche? What would be a good one?

Arrgh...Help?

 

I think firstly you should focus on getting your directory well ranked on google first for your keywords. After this focus on your PR, If you work on it for around 3 months now up until the next pagerank it should be ready to launch. As people wont pay for a directory that offers nothing! Just focus on getting quality traffic to your directory then getting pagerank on the Index Page and then all the main sub-directories. Then for prices, i would only set 1 price as I think they work better than bidding directories. I dont know how much to charge couldnt you try $5? It all depends on the category page rank!

 

Is it a good idea to start promoting the directory even there is no links at the moment?

 

Build some solid backlinks with PR to get some credibility to your directory first. Then you could start charging.

 

Build up your directory content and wait for the site to age.

 

Dont start promoting it start SEo'ing it, then when your receiving a high amount of postential buyers offer a few cut price discounts at DP to get the directory full.

 

I'd say:

1. Get a domain that actually suits what a directory is. e.g. - blahblahdirectory.com, not FQEW33.com
2. Create a unique categorical structure.
3. Get your creative thinking going. If need be, have someone code it for you.
4. Get a couple of good listings in each category.
5. Most important: Keep the directory AWAY from DigitalPoint Forums. There are too many backstabbing crybabies here who talk to you as if they are your friend, but then turn around and try to get your site(if doing well) jinxed by gaygle.

 

I wish I could give you some green for that one, but I apparently need to spread it first.....

 

Best way in those days is to forget about directories go with something else.

And to be on topic if you want to advertise your directory, buy adv. space from directorycritic, directoryrate and other directory of directories.

 

I wouldn't recommend either of these, I got very little traffic from my banner ad in its niche category on DC. Directoryrate seems not to be maintained, I've emailed them twice to remove my paid directory from the free list, but to no avail.

 

How can they backstabbing as we have full control of our directory.

 

Thanks. I'll take all of this into consideration.