Directories Died years ago - so why bother?

DownUnder mentioned this on another thread, so it seemed an appropriate time for another debate.

I am stumping corners because visitors have moved on from General directories, and that sends a strong message that their advertising or listings didn't give them what they wanted. When companies start pulling directory listings or not renewing, it mean they aren't happy, and I doubt the average directory owner cares about this, or indeed attempts to rectify the situation of ROI.

General directories died, kicked the bucket, dead as a dodo, six foot under etc - this happened years ago, yet many can't accept this, and still accept there's fortunes to be made from this tired old method.

I disagree with the potential of general directories because of the mass of evidence on the web that sees big organisations shutting down business directories. And they haven't exactly been quiet about it, with them using PR to spread the word. MSN sbd, BT 192 to name the brands, and many others closing each year, likely from frustration of realising the mistake of copying failures, and I hate to think of the cash outlay that was involved in some of these, which is a big consideration also.

But sometimes you have to accept that some ideas won't work, despite owners desperately convincing themselves otherwise. I don't see what is so different about a website directory, it's still a business and is actually more prone to risk, than offline versions. Businesses close down operations for lack of profit, so what's so special about directories? It must be ego that keeps these things going, and opinion, talk about lack of directory effectiveness and ROI, and them being a failed model isn't on the web for no reason. Yet it isn't sinking in, and I wonder why so many waste their time, effort and money on something that doesn't work anymore.

The only way this will possibly work, is if people start creating portal sites. It's very hard to get the public interested in using big lists........ And directories are exactly that, at least with niches, the onus is on targeting and that makes an attractive proposition for advertisers.

 

Red card again lol. Can I have a blue one next time - I like blue.

What about multi coloured...

 

my english is very bad, i'm sorry

But i don't agree with you...
My general directory is doing very wel. So you can't talk for everyone

No, i know, i'm not getting rich from my directory. But that was something i didn't work on...
I'm working for visitors, quality, ... Don't care about google. My directory can survive without google.

 

you are spending too much time in DP.

 

what's that got to do with you?

Compared to others here, I've got a minimal post count.

 

thinking of making money with a website is a bad start.
If you want to make money - make mfa sites, with crap off content and many ads...

Google loves it...

 

Well, good luck man

 

You are a bit right, but you forget, directoy owners gives lots of time to this business and generally they have 3/4 (or +) directory same time.So why we do not bother, why we give up(in) ? I think, all things gonna be ok.

 

The general directory business is currently suffering a big shake out. Just like other industries do. The ones left standing are going to be stronger...and provide more value to the web as a result.

 

thanks for the info

 

Event_King, I don't know who you are (who you really are), not that I care so much...in the last year or so I have seen all kind of trolls coming on these forums and starting silly threads like this one. Do you really think this thread would benefit to someone interested in directories or to someone who has no clue what a directory is and how it works and came here to read and learn about directories? I don't think so...

Let me tell you something...directories are not dead...in fact the directory industry is one of the most popular and one of the most competitive niches on the net. Just do a search (Web Archive) to see how directories were looking let's say 3 years ago and how much they improved. Then have a look at a travel, games or ebooks related website and you will notice that not much has been changed in the last years.

You wonder why? Because the directory owners are creative people, working 10 times harder than many other webmasters to improve the standards of the industry. Web Directories are probably some of the best sites on the net in terms of SE friendliness, features, modifications, design, etc... Just when you think there is nothing new to come up with here it comes a guy with a new idea raising the standards (which btw...you won't see happening in many other niches)

I'd say...the directories are alive and kicking as always and they will do so for many years to come as long as the search engines will work on the same main concept like 10 years ago, 5 years ago, today and probably the next 10 years or so.

Another thing to mention is that DP directory owners community has been the flagship of all the new ideas, concepts and changes in the niche for a few years. There are a lot of high quality people around working hard to make their directories better and better, day by day, a lot of people willing to help, willing to share knowledge with the others. These things won't happend in many other niches, you know?

If the directory niche it's still alive this is thanks to the DP community first off all (glad to be part of) and most important...these people don't have to read these sort of silly threads.

As long as SEO works people will need to get links for their websites. Google seems to take quite a strong position on reciprocal, sitewides and all other kind of links (paid). In this story directories are a bit special as they are actually different websites in terms of concept and purpose so Google understood that between a bloody sitewide on a games site and a submission into the games category of a web directory, it is a big diference. Directories are useful resources and they will always be...improving the quality of SE's.

I'd make a bet with you saying that web directories will still be popular long time after you won't be on these forums anymore

Thank you

Dan

 

why do you bother to post here? what do you want?

We don't need this kind of thread each day.

 

Well I have to disagree with you....

I’m in the middle of completing my tax return and I have to say that I have had a good turn over last year.

My directories are still here and will remain.

If you don’t like them fine, you spend lots of time posting about them.

Move on.

Thanks Brian

 

I think posts like this are designed to make a few cents from Adsense revenue sharing. It's probably best just to add these users to our ignore list and move on from such nonsense.

 

I rep you for that, great idea.

Thanks Brian

 

Looks like someone may have not had such a good go at the directory idea. But however bad your venture went, you should still not discourage other people in their own endeavors.

 

Over 5000 people have downloaded and used the phpLynx script, many of them went past the trial period and removed the copyright which to me tells me that directories are not dead. EK, I keep repeating, for someone who claims to have such infinite wisdom about running directories and search engines you don't back this up with examples? Whys this? Is it because your attempt has fallen flat?

 

Thanks for your reply, I agree with some of your points if - IF it just applied to new and fresh concepts, but it doesn't, does it. You're talking about general directories (and probably because you own one) being the only way to do things, and it so isn't. But the standard Troll insult is pathetic, and it's the easiest explanation you can come up with, because you can't accept what I'm saying, and it's very sad.

To say this is a silly thread is bizzare, I could say that all threads are silly, but they are what it takes to push the boundaries.

You speak of all these big changes, but if your honest, and really know what you're on about, then please point me to a general directory, that's so unique it takes my breath away - I'm betting that you either won't or can't, because you know deep down that such a thing doesn't exist yet. So let's forget the useless insults and prove me wrong then, and we can discuss why this brilliant discovery works, and then those newbies you speak of can benefit.

No No, you insult me and now you expect me to listen to you.

Yes they have improved, can't argue with that - but nowhere near enough of an arguement to convince me that you know your stuff. Not even close my friend It's going to take a lot more than you think to turn around a very damaged directory industry, and I doubt the members here can do it, or most on the web.

I don't need to look at the travel, games sectors, I operate in one of those areas, so I know more about this than you do, and I'm telling you, you don't know what you are talking about regarding this sector - I do. "You say not much has changed in the last years", and then you say "DP directory owners community has been the flagship of all the new ideas, concepts and changes in the niche for a few years.

...which makes my think you're saying there has been mass change. when there hasn't - not with general directories, again you have to change my mind and back up what your saying.


You also say

, well, I say they might be alive and kicking, but for how much longer because at the moment they are dropping like flies (which is true and can be backed up by me easily), so I don't think the industry is as strong as you make out.

Your strategy of promoting a directory may not go beyond gaming the search engines with SEO, links and forum sig posts, and that's cool - but it's not the fastest or only way to do this. The engines eg: Google openly admits it penalises directories by reducing pagerank/positioning, so directories will plummet as many directory owners openly game the engines, so how the hell are general directories going to survive when Google keeps dropping them.

So I say your wrong as all these fresh ideas you mention will overtake the directories anyway - I mean that is what you said right.... DP members will change the web yes/no. I quote:

well, lets pray you prove me wrong, and that things do improve.

Your not trying to make me believe that this forum somehow saved the web are you.

And I get accused of repeating the obvious Do you think that the above is helpful.

If we are talking about niche directories, then I have to agree with you.

Ok.

 

That's a bit unfair now, I don't discourage well thought out ideas. I admire anyone that gives this a go, but when people can't hold a discussion without insulting and threatening, then it gets stupid.

I'm waiting to see one of these incredible ideas, just so I can praise it - unfortunately noone's been forthcoming with one of these sites.

I'm waiting with great anticipation though