I'm at the point where I'm looking to add some new features slowly to my business blog. I won't have the time to do it all at once however, so I'd like some feedback from those interested in reading about business. As a visitor / reader, which would be most useful to you? 1. Adding a business directory (it would be a high quality, paid directory, linking to companies in a variety of industries, OR a directory of business resources around the Web). 2. A business profile directory (this would be more than links and descriptions; full profiles, probably using a customized article directory script or something to fit my needs). 3. Revive the forum. It's essentially been dead for months now. I'd scrap the existing forum completely if I did this. 4. Improve the "blog" section (even though it's technically all a blog, I treat it as more of a content network, and have a separate "blog" category that's not quite intermingled with the rest). If I did this, I would cover more things along the lines of business news. 5. Add a bookstore type of area to the site (probably through Amazon), where I'd include books I would recommend on various business topics (and likely review many of them on the site). 6. Write an e-book on starting an online business, home business, or small business in a workbook form (paid), or maybe a shorter free .pdf report or checklist on the topic. 7. Add a large database of small business ideas (similar to the profile database, where they'd all be searchable and include some information on how to start that business, or at least resources to help them start that kind of business). I have some other ideas for long-term growth as well, but these are the ones I'd like to start with. I'm just trying to figure out a little bit more about which people would be most interested in. Jenn
by "a directory of business resources around the Web" do you mean for the seed/startup/young business? I think a directory of resources to help new businesses prepare and, hopefully, succeed combined with the ebook would attract many a budding internet business person, you could perhaps even redo the forum as a new business support forum? (I think to do that you would have to get other professionals to join as mentors) Laz
By that I mean anything that I'd approve as a worthwhile resource for business owners.... that could be financing sources, business sites and blogs, office supply companies, to individual articles. I've been leaning towards adding a directory of one type or another. I wouldn't be able to do all three things you suggest at once, because this site is far from a full-time project. So I want to make sure one new feature is solid before I keep moving on. Here's another question though... in reference to a directory of business resources, as a visitor, would you prefer I make it paid submissions only, where there are strict rules to get accepted (meaning fewer submissions likely to come in), or would you be OK seeing something like that ad-supported (such as with Adsense before and after the search results in the directory)? If I go the ad-supported route to justify the time (and I'm not sure it actually would), I could obviously add more resources, and browse for one's I'd personally recommend, and simply add them. I wouldn't have to wait for submissions. With paid submissions, there would be more limited resources, but no ads in the results.
I think a bookstore would be a useful addition, given that it would present you with another revenue stream whilst allowing you to back-up what you're saying with further resources. A bookstore would be particularly relevant, and quite novel (no pun intended). And who knows? It might just turn out to be quite profitable too As far as the ideas database is concerned, I think that's a great idea, although it may take a bit of time investment to get decent coverage.
I'm leaning toward 5 and 7, maybe 2 and 6... A bookstore wouldn't be too hard, and it would help your visitors. And a database of ideas just sounds like a perfect part of "biz ammo."
That's true. The business ideas would probably not only be great for the target readers, but also serve as linkbait for the site. So here's another question if anyone has any thoughts.... I can think of three ways I can do that: 1. Write up the business idea profiles as blog posts, and then create a master page to act as a kind of directory (or several pages - small business ideas, home business ideas, online business ideas, business ideas for kids and teens, etc.). It would simply be searchable through the basic blog search. 2. Write up the idea profiles as blog posts, and then add a link directory to a subdomain, where it would be sorted and linking to each idea / post. 3. Install an article directory script (or separate blog installation) to a subdomain or directory, so the ideas are searchable separate from the rest of the blog. From a user perspective, would it be better to keep it all in one place, or keep it separate to making searching and browsing possibly easier?
I usually think it's easiest to browse with a date organized system, with everything on say homepage and pages from home but break it down into categories and sub-cats for bigger ideas. Home Marketing > Marketing Resources > Marketing Ideas Business Directory Business Ideas > Home Business Ideas > Online Business Ideas > Small Business > Big Business > Young Entrepreneurs Would stay oraganized, easy to browse, yet a mass of information to be searched by the most recent, or oldest, information.
What are you talking about as far as organization? If you mean the site itself, it won't be changing. While technically a blog, it's treated more as a content network; hence the breakdown. Or are you talking about suggestions for adding a directory? If so, they wouldn't be combined like you mention in your example. The business ideas would be a completely separate resource from a directory of business resources (I know that sounded a bit confusing lol).