Well I've been advertising my directory lostdirectory.com it's been up for about 7 days now and is getting alot of attention. Mainly because of my main site http://www.dollarfriend.com and the forum on there. My members find my ventures very intresting and like to see how it's going. On my http://www.lostdirectory.com it has already got 800+ links most of which are waiting to be added. 550+ categories already and hopefully soon will be in googles index within the next couple of days. Haven't really looked at the uniques but doing better then I thought for the start atleast
I was just pondering some of these issues and came here to post and found this discussion. Given the large number being added constantly (no risk of duplicate content, we can't all submit to them all) I was thinking that there needs to be some generic classification system. Say and xml file on our webhosts abit like the pad_files eg <xml><site> <name>Simple SEO</name> <url>http://sarahk.pcpropertymanager.com/blog/</url> <description>blah blah blah</description> <classification>103.112a</classification> </site> </xml> Code (markup): Then if you are starting up a directory all you have to do is have people submit the location of their xml file, and you know that the classification corresponds to your xyz category, can manually edit and approve. Makes my life easier because I don't have to remember all those sites etc. Only issue is that I have some deeplinks for "mini sites" I try to get listed but this would allow it. Might get abused by people turning them into site maps but that's not the purpose. What do you think - could we get this to work? has it already been done?
sarahk PM me in a week to remind me. I might have some ideas. I am leaving for KC on a bike trip and will be gone till Monday. When I get back, assuming I remember, I can offer some thoughts. TTYL
After about 4 months of planning I am taking a 530 mile journey on my Harley (V-Rod) from Lake Geneva, WI., to Kansas City, MO. going to the 2nd annual V-Rod Rally/Reunion. http://www.v-rodforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=59 Yet another forum I am addicted to. Anyway, I need a break and it is going to be nice heading out on a motor cycle cross country for 4 days of fun! I've got some pics of my V-Rod here: http://home.mia.net/~jeremy/vrod/ I'll be sure to get some pics on the way down as well! I'm toting my iBook in a Targus Motorcycle backpack, along with my iPod which I will be listening to tunes through my speaker filled iPod white helmet! To top it off I have a wireless AP on the bike with me so when I get down there I can use it as a repeater to get access from wherever I can borrow some wireless waves. Have fun all, I'm outta here till Monday!!! Finally a break!
To build a general web directory into a valuable resource is just about waste of time imo. It takes so much time you cant belive it and you can never be sure it will be a semi success even. Setting up a niche directory on the other hand is much less time consuming, people are willing to pay more money for advertising and listings and search engines love you nad you generate a lot more Adsense money on it.
Mine is not a traditional directory (doesn't use a script). I was getting 506 average unique visitors per day in July but I did a stupid thing in Aug (renamed files without 301 redirects and lost lots of PR!) and it dropped to 444. It's rising again now. Is it making money? Some. Is it making a living? No. Not yet!
Phynder is running more than 1500 users per day - most of the traffic is from traffic excahnges directed to various areas within the directory. Alas, Google no longer likes us...
I like Kingbloom also, also I think uncoverthenet.com is a huge success story - think it's been around less than 1 year and is already PR8! Trying to promote my Search Directory at the moment - http://www.uncoverchina.com