What next for Links.com

Hi guys,

Other than selling the name, which is off the table , what would you do next with links.com? E.g. concentrate on building a better content theme, SEO, overall design/presentation, etc? Traffic is about triple that of where I started six months ago, but I know I have a long way to go. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Rich

 

hmm i actually looked links.com up before starting Li9ks Web Directory

id say start a directory
best way to deal with that name

 

Hi,

Thanks for the recommendation. I thought long and hard about a directory at the beginning of the process. I looked at many of the more popular ones as well as many different scripts. I decided against a directory because I thought it would be difficult to differentiate over the long term, so I decided to go with a blog which would at least allow me to experiment with my audience and find out more about building an audience on the web.

Appreciate your taking the time to respond.

Regards,
Rich

 

Well dont let a domain like that just be a directory...be creative

look at technorati

ill leave the rest to you

 

Yep, I agree. Creativity is the key. I keep coming back to this kind of idea. I was looking at Pligg for a long time, as a way of experimenting with a Digg-like site. Are there any good scripts that I could use to emulate a Technorati like site. One of the really big challenges for these kind of sites is maintaining good content. Spamming is a huge problem and good easily overwhelm any good content that gets on the site. Any further ideas along this line would be really appreciated.

Regards,
Rich

 

Oh please for the love of god do not use a free script...have something modified get a custom template do anything BUT an opensource/free script.

 

Yes, of course, it would be necessary to customize any site. However, before investing money in an idea, I generally like to experiment with the idea and make incremental changes until I am satisfied that I am on the right track. That is why Wordpress is such a good prototyping tool. I can experiment with different types of content, different theme presentation (the one-click theming capability is very nice), different content placement, SEO techniques etc., with a minimal amount of investment.

When I am satisfied that I am on to something, I will then move forward with greater site customization. BTW, if anyone has services that they wish to offer in connection with the site, I am very interested. Please PM me.

Rich

 

as you have such a brandable name, I would turn it into a massive content site

Not a directory but over time you could turn it into a portal, whether in just one niche or a few. Unless you have lots of users at the moment I think you may struggle to get a Digg style site off the ground

 

Yes, I am think pretty much the same thing right now. There is a challenge in creating good content for multiple content themes. I am looking at ways that I might do this in such a way that the cost of acquiring a new visitor is less than the cost of providing good content. Thanks for responding.

Rich

 

not sure if this could be any use to you but I just stumbled across this site as I am looking for content for a news site

CPM rates for the video ads arent bad.

Just a thought

 

heh reminds I've appraised it over at dnf recently

the potential is unlimited, I'd really invest into it and make a social networking site.
Web 2.0 is picking up and with a domain like that branding and promotion would be very easy.
Who knows it might be the next linkedin or stumbleupon

hate to turn this post into self promotion but you can check the service in my signature

 

This is a v-e-r-y interesting site. I am going to spend some time reviewing it and understanding the business model. Many thanks.


Rich

 

Thanks Michael,

First of all, I would be interested in learning more about your services. If you could PM me with more details (whatever you normally provide), I would appreciate it.

Yes. Social networking has to be one of the themes to consider. There are a few barriers to entry that I have to consider. One is that the market is become very saturated and it is difficult to take on very well financed competitors. I would also have to come up with some differentiator that would at least make the site somewhat competitive. Such an idea, so far, alludes me. Building the site might be somewhat costly, especially if I am unsure of value of the idea. I could go with a reasonably inexpensive solution, such as a script, but from what I have researched so far, all of the scripts seem to be somewhat wanting. Phpizabi, looks interesting, but it is probably interesting only because I haven't really had a chance to research it much yet, so if anyone has any opinions, I would welcome them.

Finally, assuming I can overcome these barriers, there is a question of how to manage the site so that I can keep myself out of court. This is a pretty litigious society, and it is difficult to run a social networking site open to everyone (yes, everyone), and keep oneself out of trouble. The costs may become prohibitive, unless the site is very successful.

I agree with you that a very successful social networking society would be perfect for Links.com, however, the issue I have is how to get there and keep myself there? Anyway, as you can tell, I am pursuing the possibility. Thanks much for the suggestion.

Rich

 

Hi Remo,

Links.com currently gets about 400000 uniques per year. Does anyone think that this is nearly enough to try to get a Digg-like site going? Is a Digg-like site even desirable? Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Rich

 

you're talking about a domain that is worth over a million bucks, so spending a few $k on custom social site makes sense.
Don't buy any of the ready scripts, if you want to make it right, find a good team of designers, programmers and get a custom one done and invest in promotion.
The market is indeed saturated, and lots of them have big budgets, but a great domain like that gives you huge benefits.
At least that's what I'd do.

Otherwise you could turn it into something like www.text-link-ads.com - an auction site for selling links or even a paid directory, but whatever it is make it custom and invest in it

 

Hi Michael,

Yes, I agree with everything you recommend. I will be investing more into the site as I hone in on the content subject matter. It is difficult triangulated the three primary factors governing proper development of my site: 1) the domain name, 2) the natural, organic visitors that I get 3) content that is interesting and will build repeat visitors. Right now, the site is a bit of a lab, which is why I am experimenting with different ideas. Some work out better than others.

I did consider a text-links type site, but I was concerned that I did not have the proper domain expertise (i.e. advertising), 2) that the market was also quite saturated, and 3) the viability of this marketplace if one of the really big guns (e.g. Google or Yahoo) decide to get into it big. Of course, there is always room for #2, but I am not sure I have the expertise to squeeze myself into this place. But I do continue to consider this alternative all the time.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Regards,
Rich

 

well every decent market is saturated, that's the nature of the internet, too many people want to make money in it lately

actually I think it might be a good idea to see what the typein visitors are looking for, that might hep decide what's best for the site, e.g. if they want to buy/sell links, or get connected with new people, or maybe even find some porn links, who knows

so good luck with the development