Can someone fill me in with the latest directory info? I've been gone for a while, hehe. On the brighter side of things - just got the daughter baptized, WEEHEE Actually, if you guys are still going strong, whats the latest poop with Chris, Rob, Malcolm, etc... Sorry for the request, got some time off and want to be filled in with the latest directory drama's haha.
Its a shambles to be honest. Google penalised many directories for abusing the PR system. There was a lot of stupid behaviour in the forums so many directory owners left. Many of the directory owners didn't change their ways, they just kept everything the same and now pretend google doesn't exist and that yahoo is the best. People have continued to make general directories even though its widely known there isn't much of a place for them on the web any more.
Hello ccoonen, i recognise your name, i mildly disagree with mikey, there has been lots of positive change and things have improved somewhat, theres a pocket of people intent on holding everyone back until they fall on their knees and beg for forgiveness but that wont happen. Congratulations on your daughters baptism. I haven't got a clue what the other guys are doing. In a nutshell theres much less of everyone installing the same mods, a bit more caution is exercised around the forum, theres still fights, still moaners, but the work goes on, still new directories born daily, a number of directories have been sold or changed ownership, theres talk of niche, go for nche directories they say. Arguments about pr continue, apparently now it doesn't matter big directories got whacked, small directories got whacked, people fell out, some people dont know if they are coming or going. Hey, at least its not boring. Oh yeah, some people dont come here no more.
Such as... 1. Where owners were often copying each other, they now attempt to be different where possible. 2. Where newer directories were seen as still in the incubation period without pr, its not now the case. 3. Changes were and are still being made to clean up directories, resulting in better directories for ourselves, the paying customers, and as a whole. 4. Regular re-evaluation has directory owners keeping on top of things, striving to improve. 5. Owners have been shaken out of their comfort zone and in order to survive are forced to adapt. 6. Better advise is given to newcomers after current and past owners having become better educated on the correct way to do things. 7. The niche idea is beginning to take hold within directories, a better thing overall, of more use to niche submitters, definately not saturated, just beginning to be touched so quite promising. 8. Ive seen quite a few directories really changing, doing everything to improve and better what they offer. 9. A number of people, myself for one have stuck around, showing and proving that i and others are not around in the directoy business temporarily and have long term intentions. Theres more but i dont want to go over the top in the thread.
Well Pipes you know I'm going to rip apart each statement with my barrister style attitude Such as where? I still see general directories with the same templates, mods etc. Copying is being done EVERY day, only last week there was a shocking example. No chance. My ZD gets far more submissions now its PR4 than when it was without PR. Hardly. I've seen about two directory owners change the editorial standards in their directory. One was Aviva and has been unpenalised which shows that if you make the effort you will be rewarded. You sure about that? I doubt many directory owners are re-reviewing their sites any more now than before the google issues. Exactly. They just copy the people that don't get penalised hoping that makes them safe. Sheep.... Very much true, I try hard myself. However a check in the child forum here and you'll still see the "new PR5 bid directory" and the similar crap. Yeah, but it'll be another year or so before this happens. I know I have a very nice looking niche directory that few know about, but many others don't. I know a few people starting niche directories or people like Jay that have ran them for a while, but the majority of people visiting here have general directories. Same as points 1 and 3. I'd like to hear examples. I disagree. Just because I visit this forum every day doesn't mean that if the right buyer came along I wouldn't sell up.
And il reply like the modest guy that i am Sure theres going to be some copying, there always will be, im referring to some change, it wont happen right accross the board but its hapenning. Then your directory will still be appealing to the pr buyers, thats all, they see your pr return and get interested again, you know yourself theres plenty of pr buyers around, even if your not selling it to them, they still believe they are buying it. And if they are clued up then clearly they still have the mindstate that a bit of pr puts it in some special group. Watching what aviva does is probably one of the worst things you can do, unless you have a duplicate of that directory then i dont understand why anyone would look to another directory for answers on what to do next. Aviva and its owner are used as a tool by matt cutts to influence and flex muscles, they choose it quite specifically when they decided to talk about it, anyone who doesn't see that needs more coffee. Your choosing to see the bad where i see the good and the positive, i like how things turned out because i now work harder in general with all of my sites. The thing you have to do mike is see those people tht still advertise on pr over in solicitations and announcements, leave them to it, same with the ones still opening up a general directory, if they are not going to last then its no loss to you, if you stick to your path you should be fine. If i can be really honest, i never mentioned it before, but hopefully you can appreciate my observance, you looked to me like one of the guys that wanted to get out quickly a few months ago, personally i feel your still itchy, i would guess you dont know yet if you want to stick with directories or not. Me, i know, i will stick with the directory business, because i still like it. But i dont think you will be around doing this in 12 months time, you may do the complete opposite though, i dont know.
Lmao!! See you will be never disappointed when trying to get the LBDP (thats Latest Buzz of DP for the digitally challenged) lol... welcome back and amen to that (baptized)!
Haven't got a clue who you are but congratulations on the baptism. I'm not getting invovled with the debate between Mikey and Pipes, both made valid points.
Pipes I'm not choosing to see the bad, I just want some examples of the good. What exactly has changed? Show me a directory that has improved recently and why. You need to back up your points otherwise I'll just argue against them all day long
I cant back them up, my points are hollow no really at the moment i cant place a specific site to show as an example, and hate doing that anway, using someones site to make my point makes me feel weak, unfair on any owners too. Well i know you love the show me a site regarding what im talking about, but id rather not debate it all day im sure you have work to do, i have work to do and poor ccoonen only came for an update and to tell us of the baptism. I can give an opinion, you can too, and everyone else, but at the end of the day we will all take our own routes and make the choices, the disagreements will always be around, thats just something were all getting used to.
Nice point, im learning to mind my own business though ive learned that if i put the same effort into my own sites that i progress quicker.
It probably does. What I'm actually doing is challenging Pipes to show proof of the good things that are supposedly happening. Makes me seem like a trouble causer when I'm actually trying to proove that not much has changed.
Thanks for the recap guy - i also have been away from the directory side (in the DP capacity at least) for some months now - thinking selling them might soon be on the table! Ta
Its much more professional not to use other peoples sites though to bolster something, we have bad habits on the forum where we scurry to find a site and say "look this one", "this is what i mean" Im saying as a whole there has been positive change, not referencing financial change or increase, more about how a good shake up, ready for it or not brough about a good thing for many of us because we began working differently. Change now, is paving the way for a better future, as cheesy as it sounds, directory owners will reap the benefits further down the line.
Personally I feel every industry goes through change on an ongoing basis. The directory industry was changing long before google punished a few sites and will continue to change long after. Those that will achieve success will adapt to the marketplace. Those that don't will get left behind.
Ok then lets be positive about this. Directories are starting to add more unique content. Sites like qoobe offering free stuff to download is an example. Who would like to add to the list of things that have changed for the better?
I've got some insight regarding the way directories are going Mike, I don't think its all doom and gloom but it isn't as rosy as some people make it out to be. On a positive note, some of us are starting to work together on improving things and if that carries on then it will only help.