Anyone with a directory successfully charging for entries?

I've been wanting to get into the directory thing for a while but always hear negative stuff as far as SEs etc.

But I've recently seen a few not so impressive (design wise) directories that are all pay, no free submissions.

It got me to thinking, are these or any directories out there really making money from the paid submissions?

 

I have been wondering the same thing. I cannot figure out how to get people to pay to be among the first few listing in a directory.

I have seen it suggested payment prevents abuse. But, that still doesn't provide a compelling argument to pay to for a guaranteed listing on page one of a one page directory.

Now, if the directory has lots of listings, I get the point of charging for ranking -- as opposed to merely listing. That is, until you have hundreds of thousands of listing and thousands of requests for entry into the directory. Then you need stafff and then you probably can charge because you have reached critical mass in terms of buzz.

 

Yes there are I have a few friends that make some hundreds (USD) a month from subscriptions, and a few that make some thousands (USD) a month. But those are PR6+ directories.

One little mention. They all accept free submissions too. They are afraid of banning, like Unconverthenet was.

Only paid directories, are a no-no for Google, i think

 

Why would google care if a directory is all paid or not?

 

A new thing...did not know a paid only directory is not liked by google.
Mine have just started out in the past week or so, may take time to get some real money flowing in.
But I have high hopes!

 

Just a few examples :

http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum17/2522.htm
http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum30/30575.htm

And you know about the DMOZ Directories category beeing PR unranked in the past (currently PRed, but 0) ...

I guess Google doesn't ban free directories, because they actually are a free internet resource or something. Just my 2 cents.

 

Are they banning the paid ones because they accept anything (spam, gambling, porn, etc) or because they are paid? I bet its the former. Selling PR is a no-no. Got hotvsnot busted - any site could get in if you paid.

 

Well they have also banned free directories as well so go figure.

I feel lorien1973 is 110% correct on why this is happening.

It is because as long as you pay you are allowed in.

 

Well lorien.. Just think as a paid directory, jsut as a paid college.

Exams are easier and a breeze in paid colleges. (at least in Romania). In a state college, you have to learn hell to get in..

I think this is for directories too..

So what if the submitter had a few extra weird looking and spammy keywords in the description or title ? He paid right ? Let's get some money.

Of course this is not true for ALL paid directories. There are a lot out there, that will reject you, even if you paid. SOme reimburse your payment, some not

 

So is google banning directories BECAUSE they are paid? No. Probably more likely because they contain spammy links and or links to spammy sites.

 

Its interesting that google takes such a dislike to this kind of content. I'm not saying that its ok but sex is one of the most searched terms in search engines. If you go to dogpile and use their keyword search tool and you search "job"....guess what is the most searched term. Starts with a "b".

No statistics to back this up but engines would probably loose a huge chunk of their business if no sex content existed.

 

NOT because they are paid, but it has an effect on the banning issue (just IMHO)

 

I don't think paid has anything to do with it (IMHO as well), I just think its the lower standard of acceptable site for the reason you stated - he paid me $10, may as well let him in even though the site is a POS scraper site that stuff and hides keywords on every page. Done 1000 times, really diminishes that directory doesnt it?

 

You really think Uncoverthenet had their index filled with spammy links ?

I personally know one of the editors there (Chery). Trust me ... They were/are good editors

 

I dunno. I never looked outside the categories I submitted too, to be honest.

BTW - I just noticed that uncoverthenet has a pr 7 or 8 again? Do I show an out of date PR for that site?

 

LOL .. check the figures. Are these datas old ? Or new ?

 

Or, how long is a piece of string?

Who knows, right?

 

Those two PR8 DC's are outdated.

This search cleared it for me. ITbox.ro was previously PR5.

 

I have started mine just 2 months ago and already the paid submission are trickling in. I have kept open the free submissions along with a small paid option of $1 for an express submission. What i have noticed is, 90% of free submissions are junk whereas most of the paid submissions are ok to list. So there may be a logic behind the argument that paid submissions cut down the abuse.

 

Man, whether or not it's paid for makes no difference.

If anything, it proves the owners of a site submitting to it are willing to invest in it making it more useful for some things...

Either way, how would you propose google find out (via an algo) which directories are paid and which ones aren't?