http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=7756969&postcount=24 Taken from the thread above, but a question i was pondering upon asking for a while but never bothered, but with the post it prompted me to do so. As in the post it suggested we all have competition, and on the surface most would say yes, but i tend to think that this is not the case and feel i have no competition. Based on ( as above ) that as a directory owner you are there to promote those businesses and or sites that choose to list ( provided they meet site terms ) in your directory. and with that thought there would be no one who met requirements that i would not list if they applied. In that for me to think about not listing any submission based upon my thoughts that they were oposition / competition would only show my own insecurities and self doubt in my own work. In addition i also believe that any business or site must spread it's advertisement across many sites and or outlets as they can within budget once again ruling out ( for me ) any fear of being afraid of any other site. Any intersting topic but wonder what others may think on the topic or have people never thought of this or feared approaching the subject ?
I understand where your going with that thought DownUnder. I can see both sides of the coin... What I mean is that I understand what your saying in that if a competitors site (directory) submits to yours you have an obligation to promote that competing site just like you would any other. I agree with that thought whole heartedly. At the point they list with you they become a client as well which trumps any competition. I also understand how other directories are viewed as competitors or rivals in the services provided. Every site is looking for an edge over the competing sites to bring traffic and links that come with providing a good resource. That edge could be anything - say a feature they provide on their site that is not available elsewhere. How would it make you feel if someone copied that feature and took away some of your edge? It is frequently done as you know. Typically what it means when that happens is you go in search of another edge or a compilation of services that together give your site an edge. I think that there is competition between directories as there is in any business. As far as advertising or marketing (as you know there is a difference) - There are many factors for me that go into it. I think that diversification is good in order to increase your reach in targeting different markets and demographics. Plus you have to continually monitor the returns and effectiveness of any given venue or message your are trying to convey. The advertising within any marketing campaign needs to be cost effective.
I think directories are an interesting beast in that in some ways we need each other while we are competing against each other. Submitting our directories to other directories will help submitters find us but there is only so much time or money for paid submissions so in that sense we are competitors. While at the top end, Yahoo! may not have any viable competitors, the rest of us do. Then again, if the sites that I see when I wander the Solicitations area are any indication, much of that competition should be easily defeatable.
We dont see anyone as competition but agree that thieving codes and stealing is for losers with no imagination whatsoever. Just today we found a seo site that stole our variables and stats that we keep at biz-giant and notified them to remove immediately being its "identical" to ours as well as contacted icann and his registerer to have the domain blacklisted or dropped. Well getting back to the competition thingy... The directory field is very large and while you will always have competition only those that are smarter, faster, trusted that can offer more to submitters regardless of price asked will succeed thx malcolm
Not really, most who submit at my sites also submit to all of the directories I would consider any competition.
Some intersting thoughts, i can agree that there are many less than business like who steal ideas and act in a less than professional way ( as in any industry ), these people are probably more in the pest factor than competition. A sad set up we have in this world, the almighty $ brings all sorts of vermon out of the wood work thats for sure. I often ask myself is it the challenge of making the impossible, possible, the magic that lures me to the industry ? if it were easy i would get bored in minutes.
What's your business now Pete? I suspect you actually know full well there is competition and probably meant to reword it differently? Every business on this planet has competition at some level, if they don't then they aren't a business, they can't be. YMC gave a good account when she said directories to a large degree rely on each other but are still competition. Put the whole argument in a nutshell. @Malcolm; and slightly off tangent. I've read two posts now about you getting your site ripped, hope everything goes well for you. I think its really unfair that you have to take the hit regarding costs with little or no chance of recovering it from the offending party except for them losing the domain name, and even that's not guaranteed. There are easier ways though and a lot less expensive.
Yes Jamie its probably worded wrong , and probably a question best shared with good company, fine food and a decent bottle of aged red. It was more in the lines would i list or promote what some would deem to oposition to your business, when as a directory owner it's your job to promote others as best you can. In that context of the question i see no oposition and would do my best to promote that business as i would any other business. I clearly understand the consumer in general only has a finite $ budget and yes in that they must choose which of the many mediums to spend that advertising $, but i see then more down to the promotion, presentation, reputation and many other factors as to where those $ goes. a cryptic or difficult question that crosses borders perhaps with no real answer ? except more red and good company with a challenging topic.
I'm with you on the good food and fine wine bit. Even after several bottles of 1998 Grange I'd still stick to my guns that there will always be competition in business though. As young in years as I might be I'm still very much old school in business values. I hope this topic goes on to a good discussion, its about time we did get some real meaty debates going instead of half the pathetic nonsense posted here.
You have taste after all, they make that rough drink just a stones throw down the road from me, this years release ? not sure what year is going at around $500 odd a bottle.