What are the best ways to promote a new directory?

I created a general website directory not long ago (see signature). I'm aiming for it to be a quality directory, not a link-farm, nor an accept-all type site. Something which would be useful for searchers and people signing up too. Currently I've put the price as a yearly subscription.

So far, I've submitted the directory to other directories and tried to get backlinks here and there from article submissions. But that hasn't really got it any paying customers yet. Any other ideas for how I can promote it?

Thanks in advance.

 

just promote slowly , there is nothing can be shortcut

 

buy some blogroll on website that have good traffic....

Regard's
~The.Wizard

 

use directory submission on high pr sites regular ...then it will come up on alexa ...

 

do you know why your directory is still down because you did't add the free option to submit website on your directory if you do it right now then you will see the difference in few days .. you will get more traffic you must add feature links free, receptional links ...

Thank You

 

Do directory submission, social bookmarking and just promote it on social networking sites.

 

I am in the same boat as you. I think its just a case of gaining as many back links as possible and patience. I guess people will come in time I wish I would be more helpful but there is no shortcut.

 

just try all means of advertising and promoting your craft. just do it the rigth way and all else will follow

 

Typical. Look at this response:

Promoting your directory at forums such as this will only invite the lowest quality submissions and spammers looking for any free link they can get. Build a better directory - a directory's most important feature is found in the quality and size of its index. It's not the number of links you have or PageRank like some would like you to believe.

Build the type of directory that has others complaining about not being able to get listed in.

 

Promoting takes money, and you should have your directory advertised in places like directory critic and vmoptions. This is where people go to submit to directories.

 

Thanks for all the responses I will try out some of your ideas!

 

dude start link building , the only way to promote any site

 

One of the biggest factor in gaining traffic to a site is its age. So you need to wait it for maturity and in the mean time need to build links on a regular basis.

 

Good points

 

I agree with this point, try submitting you directory to directory lists, these are where submitters congregate, you are welcome to submit to mine in my sig.

 

I was wondering what are examples of directories are actually doing well? I never come across any when I search Google on any topic. Without search engine support, I don't see the value of directories anymore. Are there any?

 

better i suggest you to fine manually as we can get more ..type wat you looking for with in "" and do search

 

I see you have blog in your directory. Its actually a very good start. If you can put some of your blogs in the home page, it will probably attract users to submit a paid listing.

Here's a very successful paid directory:
http://www.directory.ac/

They have blogs and other useful resources.

 

That's a very useful suggestion, I will look into putting some of the posts on the homepage and adding other services such as SEO etc

 

@OP - First, make sure your directory is ready for traffic. If it's a general-free directory you will get swamped with traffic - so if you have a script with good spam controls, etc, this will no doubt help. Regarding where to get traffic for a new directory, it's something I've recently written a post about here: http://www.sbddirectorysoftware.com/blog/posts/started-a-new-directory-now-what.htm - it's certainly not an exhaustive list, and you may have already done most on the list, but could be helpful for you nevertheless.