Hey, I run a general web directory that gets a lot of non-specific net users if you know what I mean. Most visitors on my site are searching for other sites (Just like the type of users that would use any search engine) and I want to think of other ways to diversify income from the site. Right now my only income is directory submissions - I do well at this charging $4.95 for permanent submission and the directory is pretty large with over 12000 sites listed. I also have a few text links but nothing that generates enough income to start living off. Now I want to come up with a way to generate money from the users that are on my site searching for something. I am thinking of adding extra sections to my site and the next will be adding an entertainment section - An arcade, ring tone downloads, maybe SMS and a few other small things. I am planning on developing it into more of a portal than just a directory but I want to make sure I am spending my time on features that will create an alternative revenue source and just add content that will attract more visitors to the site. I have a new design which is being coded for the directory and it does help make it into more of a portal which will make it a lot easier to integrate additional sections. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on what I should do to monetise my site in the best way possible and also include more services that will drive more traffic to my site? Once I get some good ideas and have them implemented I am planning on advertising the site offline - So the more I can diversify it the better The more useful content and services I can offer from the site the more the traffic will build up. Thanks
I think adding too many services makes the directory feel less important and may hurt the original product. I think you just need to market the directory, theres many free/cheap methods of promoting any site you just need to have a think. Good luck.
How about making money from the back end? Let people submitting to your dir have the option of joining your "newsletter". If they're paid submitters then they're already pre-qualified as people willing to spend money and not tightwads... Don't oversell to them. Inform them.
I have been to directories that were one long scroll! Just to get to the categories!!! Banners, ads, crap...all in the headers. Then more in the footers. Makes me wonder, am I at a directory or a banner/ad farm? Look carefully at your directory categories, how many, should they be there, etc. Then the links. Do you manually approve them? You should. At my directories, I do not allow affiliate links (you know those links that are long running and huge, like a clickbank link, etc) and only want the main page link, not some interior page (xxx.mainpage.com and not xxx.mainpage.com/hereis/more/crappy/stuff/tolink.html) This has the advantage of keeping the links live and only getting goood submissions. Now for income....you can use sparingly and only in a good placement, contextual ads like adsense. Sell discreet links at the bottom of your pages.
I know text link brokers has a program: http://www.textlinkbrokers.com/myl_program.html There is also this (cut and pasted) Work together with 115+ other engines & directories to help create an alternative to the large engines 50% revenue share for all featured listings that are sold from your site and shown through out the member network. There is no PPC and cost is on $12 or less for 3 months plus your clients get 30 Days Additional for Free. You will also be put on the ISEDN site, driving traffic and more revenue to you. Check out www.isedn.org for more information