Hi all, I would like to start by saying that I read mostly all advices here in forums about directories, and a couple of articles. However, I have some questions, mostly for experienced directory owners. I do realize that the ones that arer succesfull - will not just reveal their secrets, so I will try to keep my questions "neutral". 1. Bidding Directories Can someone explain the way bidding directories work? The more you bid - the higher you are in the list. Do people use temporary or permanent bids? 2. About php directory scripts. How essential is it to get a popular directory script? I myself am a php web developer, and I know pretty much about SEO, and I have about 3 years of experience in developing. Should I think about developing my own script, that I can manage the way I want, instead of buying a license? What would be the benefits of buying, rather than developing it? 3. Directory traffic Being a directory submitter myself, I know that 99% directories don't bring traffic for their listings. However, what traffic do your directories get? For example, a PR 4 with about 2000 listings, how much SE traffic do you receive? 4. Niche -versus- General If you would have the time right now to open a new directory and invest in it, would it be a niche directory or a general one? 5. Payment methods Those of you that have more than just PayPal as payment method (for paid listings), what % of payments are done via PayPal? 6. Regional listings In general directories, how many submissions do you get for Regional categories, or foreign-language sites? I'm sure english is the main language, but I'm also sure that you get submissions in chinese or french 7. Additional tips? Do you have any advices that are not mentioned very often? I will not forget to give rep. for good advices
I.m no expert but will answer a few of your questions. We will be using PCM / timed bids for our bidding section for example you may bid .11cents per 1000 views X views required ie 10k views will cost $1.10 the bid will be placed at the .11 mark in the scale and all bids will carry a 1 month min time period to stop people from trying to remove the bid with views. so if it gets 10K views in one day it will remain for the month regardless, otherwise if these views take 2 months for the 10K thats how long it will stay. example only above but the idea is what we will do we can also set up for PPC bid as well if we want. i think there are some posts around that may dispell this myth a little, there are some directories pulling some large views and most people are working towards that angle. Further to that myth, riddle me this: if 99% of directories do not get viewed, why do 99% of directories bother loading their sites with adsense and other advertising. A lot of myths here as well, most people are yelling neiche, probably only because the last person did. each case would be different based on your goals, for me it's general. I see each catagory / sub catagory as neiches that i can open, thus not resticting me in where i go with the directory. we are building global with the ability to rop down to any country, state, postal code across the board, but again look at your needs. but the www is global, not just restricted to one country. not sure if it was any good but not replied to for the green, save itf or someone who deserves it.
1. Bidding Directories Can someone explain the way bidding directories work? The more you bid - the higher you are in the list. Do people use temporary or permanent bids? - I offer permanent, during the bid directory 'rush' I think you could get away with yearly but folks want more value for their money. 2. About php directory scripts. How essential is it to get a popular directory script? I myself am a php web developer, and I know pretty much about SEO, and I have about 3 years of experience in developing. Should I think about developing my own script, that I can manage the way I want, instead of buying a license? What would be the benefits of buying, rather than developing it? - You would benefit by saving 100's of hours of programming and headaches. 3. Directory traffic Being a directory submitter myself, I know that 99% directories don't bring traffic for their listings. However, what traffic do your directories get? For example, a PR 4 with about 2000 listings, how much SE traffic do you receive? - It is hard to drive traffic to a general directory that offers nothing but links. 4. Niche -versus- General If you would have the time right now to open a new directory and invest in it, would it be a niche directory or a general one? - There are 1,000,000,000 general directories and very few good niche one, so the math is simple. 5. Payment methods Those of you that have more than just PayPal as payment method (for paid listings), what % of payments are done via PayPal? - Paypal is very popular it is almost not worth going for other payment methods. 6. Regional listings In general directories, how many submissions do you get for Regional categories, or foreign-language sites? I'm sure english is the main language, but I'm also sure that you get submissions in chinese or french. - Very few, many try and get in for free on my paid directories. 7. Additional tips? Do you have any advices that are not mentioned very often? - Don't build multiple so-so directories, start with one and make it stand-out. good luck
Biggest secret of all time is "Money" ... if you have it, you can be king of the world. Need i say more ?
And that secret is the biggest mis conception ever, money does not = success nor make you the king of the world.
I have seen very successful people who came from poverty and were born with rusty spoons in their mouths (no silver spoons ) and the sheer drive to dig themselves out and and make something of themselves brings good rewards.
I can't speak fairly about the questions relating to general or bidding directories but, here's my 2 cents in some other areas. Programming you own: If only I could have done that. I have 2 niche directories using 2 different scripts. Both scripts have their pros and cons. By writing your own, you can create a truly unique directory that you retain 100% control over. You won't have to worry about the latest upgrade breaking your mods - been there done that, never did get a fix. You have 100% control over your security settings (can be a double edged sword depending on your programming skills) - a commercial script still left one of my sites vulnerable to being hacked. If you want to change something big - you just do it and don't have to wait for it someone else to agree it's a good idea and months later include it in an upgrade. The benefits of using a commercial script are primarily time and availability of skins; support with most of the scripts varies and I've found not so dependable. Conjecture only here, general directories are mainly limited in how they can advertise - mainly as a directory, general, free, paid, etc. With a niche directory, you can be much more targeted in your promotion efforts. After all, you have a particular topic. It would seem with a general directory it would be much harder to 1 - stand out from the crowd and 2 - advertise each of the main categories (it's like having a dozen or more sites in a single URL). That said, many of the directories of directories focus on general directories - yielding more traffic and submissions. With my niche sites I get far more traffic than I do submissions. Additional Tips: Whether folks like to admit it or not around here, starting a bidding directory is risky. The risk being that Google may finally clearly state that they consider them simply paying for links and deindex the sites. I haven't heard too many bidding directory owners talking about the traffic they are sending to the listed sites and traffic is something I might pay for where PR and bragging rights (I'm on top!) are not. Think of something new. 99%+ of the directories use the same categories, have little to no content beyond the listings themselves, and are not listening when it comes to what Google says about PR. Whenever someone tries something different, their directory immediately stands out from the masses. Sometimes the idea works and sometimes it doesn't - but, I think it would be very hard to effectively promote yet another general directory using yet another copy of the same categories with yet again the same default template against all of the other folks doing exactly the same thing many of whom have large networks of directories to support each of these ho-hum sites.