It is funny, I have been offering permanent links on my directories since inception and I don't get that many takers. The links were set at $10 and now that they have PR4 they are set at $15 but still no real action. I have seen many directories going to the $1 a month deal and I have heard that is popular, I guess it has to do with a low-cost initial outlay. I think I will change my directories to that since it is much more profitable as a directory owner and I suppose it gives the purchaser much more flexibility especially if they don't think they might be owning the listed site for more than 6 months. Once a directory attains a PR5 home page and mostly PR3 and 4 internal pages do you think $1.50 a month would be popular? thanks
My perspective as someone who frequently purchases directory listings is that I like one-time payments for permanent listings. I will do yearly listings sometimes but monthly listings are just a turn off, even at 1 dollar. I would rather pay you 12 bucks a year than 1 buck a month. But that's just one man's opinion.
Personally I feel the same way but I get the feeling that a lot of webmasters plan promotions for fixed terms, 3 months, 6 months and are really looking to stretch their promotion dollars during that time. I guess I am mostly basing it on the fact that I have had a very luke-warm response to $10, $12, $15 permanent feature listings, which have the bennifit of being in the parent categories (if desired) and limited to 10 per category. Setting up a Paypal subscription really makes the $1.00 a month hassle-free.
personally, I am not a fan of monthly listing fees. I prefer to keep 1 time fees, but am not opposed to a yearly fee. I would never sign up for a monthly listing, unless it was a highly sought after links, such as in yahoo or google.
When your directory is popular and has high PR, you can pretty much charge whatever you want. At that stage, $2 a month will be exceptionally cheap compared to a yearly listing for sites that are looking for a quick inclusion into the search engines.
i would never buy a monthly featured listing i did once not knowing it was monthly ( dunno how i missed subscription form..) but removed subscription
The *ONLY* thing that I ask is for you directory owners to CLEARLY state the submission type ON the submission page next to the type of listing.
Yes an0n I totally agree! I have seen many with nothing there and I only made the mistake of purchasing a $5.00 link once and then found out later it was quarterly. That is a very sneaky way of doing business and I would not ever deal with a directory owner that conducted business that way.
Yes, the accidental monthly purchase has happened to me as well. I immediately cancel my subscriptions and never do business there again. I hope that one month payment they got from me was worth it.
In general, from sneaking in adsense clicks to tricking folks into subscriptions the whole Internet is going through a phase of poor business ethics. But when it all works out only the cream will rise to the top and remain for the long-term.
I think that offering anykind of listing for that price will only devalue a directory. And with so many directories coming out it is only going to hurt the market not improve it. As a directory owner I am not willing to place my self in a category with everyone else, I'm not saying that I better than them but I think that higher prices shows a little more authority. Just look at some of the top directories and there prices, people submit there because they believe the directory is of a higher value then the rest, and for the most part they are, so placeing a small price on your directory you basically saying my directory is not worth $xx. I know that was a little of topic but that is my take on the directory market.
"I think that offering anykind of listing for that price will only devalue a directory." - Do you mean the $1 a month listing? If that is what you are refering too I think it is an actual raise in price from a $15 permanent listing? But you do make me think that maybe my prices were just too low and folks thought I was building a crappy directory and not going to promote it....
I do not think that, I'm sure you worked hard on putting it together. But some people are very funny when it comes to who they will submit to. I have went through the same thing with my own directory, so I have picked a price and am going to stick to it regardless if people from the forum submit or not. What I am saying is this, if you worked your butt off putting together what you think is a good directory and you have gotten good links pointing at it and your pr is good then why cut yourself short by offering very low prices. You only hurt yourself by doing that and at the same time open the door for more competition. This is why I think it is pointless for all these guys starting free directories, what is the point in doing that, these guys must be rich or something. Not every directory can be a dmoz or starting point. However if you only plan on being in the business for a year or two and just want to make a quick buck then sure why not. Final note. Not everyone has money like chris from alivedirectory so I think when people say how will you promote, what they mean is are going to buy a featured listing from my directory, are you going to plaster it all over the internet and in every directory you can find. And if not then your directory is crap so why should I submit to it. That is the way it seems to me.
At 1$ the only one that will make any money is paypal. I don't see any point doing 1$ submissions other than stopping a large portion of the spam that most free directories get.
$1/mo ?hmm,that's interesting..It can attract many submitters to click it..they all thought it's $1/permanent or $1/year,when they found the fact,most of them will close the window..that's my opinion.As dkessaris said,paypal will benefit if someone only subscribes for 1 month,the fee is about $0.4..you only get $0.6..personally i prefer to set the price with yearly bisis or permanent
"$1/mo ?hmm,that's interesting..It can attract many submitters to click it..they all thought it's $1/permanent or $1/year,when they found the fact," - I would have the term of the link rigth next to the price, I don't believe in surprises. I have been thinking of a good compromise, maybe set it for $4 per quarterly payment?