I really can't see the point of these hundreds of little directories all over the place - does anybody ever use them, _apart_ from as means to increase their site's PR? I just can't see what value they provide to anybody. Sure, I can see reasons why people build them - to sell links basically, but at some point isn't it likely that the SE will devalue all links from such directories as they provide little to no intrinsic value or information? Someone please educate me as to why anybody bothers.
Why do people bother building them? Some do it for fun, some do it for added content and traffic. And some do it for money. Why bother submitting? It's the long tail of link building. Just my .02
you already mentioned it..... 1. to sell links 2. to see how high you can get your PR 3. cause i like rejecting others lol just kidden. We are the means to the ends....... in my eyes as google finds us and collects data for its own database. As every new site goes threw the process of getting links, google knows that and collects from our hard work to update its own. Do i think we will be demoted to some respect? .... yes if the 200 per day doesnt stop, its very possible that changes will be implemented, but for now i dont think so. As for those that think people come come to view or surfers? Please dont kid yourself its just other fellow webmasters looking for thier sites or to see if they can find a spot to get that link back! After google came out it killed that part of the searching for relevent info.... As its just type into the search box and find what you seek..... thx malcolm
I bought my directories domain because I had a niche site relating to it, and I figured if I could build the directory up I could get one good high page rank link any future competitors in my exact niche couldn't get. I started actually developing it yesterday because I came into the directory forum and saw all these people developing directories and it reminded me of the domain. I'm doing it just to do it.
Ask anybody on the street to name 5 web directories. I bet you 95% haven't even heard of DMOZ. I'd imagine most of the traffic to these smaller directories are only from other SEOs.
You are correct like anything we are sought after by the webmaster community. Most traffic is derived from word of mouth or promotions as you may already know. I wish we were called myspace or googles or somthing ,then the story might be different. I see it as we are recognized by webmasters for our PR strength and or promoting venues and techniques....... thx malcolm
But if you can monetize your directory, then it's good that other webmasters know about you and like your directory, because customers don't pay to use the site (unless you're running AdSense, then you can get some revenue from visitors).
Directories are a tool to the internet, much like a flashlite that is tucked in the drawer that you barely use until you have a breaker down and you finaly realize that "hey, a flashlite" On a daily there are thousands new internet users and it takes months for them to get out of the shithole-closed-community of AOL and realizing that there are more than the internet that AOL provides for them. A friend invites theme into their MySpace page and think to themselves, "Wow!, i want me a myspace account" Sure, wanting was the easy part, the hard part is where do they get those cool-ass glitters they use on thier pages and i really want a Hello Kitty background to go along with it . There you go, a potential search engine user, person searches and clicks on a directory that has MYSpace website stuff listed. After weeks and maybe months, user now has the nerves to want visitors on her newly created MySpace account. So she reads that she must submit to a search engine, visit a message board and is given a link to a directory for her to submit her site. She submit and searches for more directory to submit to, months passes by she gets lots of visitors and she's a happy camper Actually, this phenomenon that we all known and loved to make or to submit to are not quite well known by the majority of internet users it will take time and lots of effort and time for most to realize that internet directories are as usefull as the search engines, depends on a person needs and want. A very good, well stablish and properly edited directory can be better than using the search on the tool bar as it is well categorize and well maintained/edited. As far as getting lots of visitors, the directories wont serve you well unless ofcourse you're one of the big boys in the field. For one example of such's a directory that wont get you much traffic is this site (one of my directory ) if you look at some of the listing "visited" and the date it was submitted too will tell you that 60 visitors in 5 months isn't a whole lot, but hey that's 60 visitors that you din't have before, imagine if you've submited to one hundred directories and get and average of 1 visit a day from it, thats 100 more unique visitors to your site. Taffic is not the big factor in directories, backlink is. ....sleepy
I think in terms of DP, that John probably has it right. It's a fun aspect. People have built friendships on here based solely on their mutual interest in directories. Those friendships lead to business relationships, and before you know it serious network partnerships form. I see this happen on a daily basis. One day a new directory owner hits the forum overwhelmed by this phenomenon. A month later they run several succesful directories and other business ventures with new partners, and it all happened because they put up a simple directory...
I don't know about your directory but mine surely doesn't have only webmasters visiting it. I get like 400 visitors a day, arround 200 from google.. I also have revenue from adsense, arround $4/day (and webmasters don't click ads, someone said arround here)
yes im not saying its not possible but i just check the numbers at the site so sure its possible if your fans love you. which site is the 400 visiters coming from ? thx malcolm