I always ask myself sometimes...how much some directory owners have thinked about it before establishing a fair price for the web directories they own. I saw low quality web directories, with low traffic, with no extra features, etc with high prices...to high for some of them. I usually think like this : better have 50(links) x 4$(per link review) = 200$ instead of 15(links) x 10$(per link review) = 150$. The more links included, the more money, the more categories with useful information, the more satisfied visitors, the better it is. Another question... For a submitter...if he sees that you have no links in a category he is interested in... why should he submit as featured when he would be the only one listed there. Why to pay more and get a "higher" placement in an empty category ? The more links you have listed, the better it is...or at least this is the way I see it (hit me if I'm wrong). What do you think of when establishing your price for your listing reviews ? the money you invested ? the traffic you have ? the features you have ? I am curious how you think about this. I started this thread because I just saw a PR7 "new discovered"...uhmm.. nevermind. your feedback appreciated ! Thanks, hyper
I have pretty cheap prices compared to the competition. There are weaker directories out there that charge three times what I do. It depends how long you expect to take when reviewing a site.
I know im cheaper than both of you above so i know im keeping prices very fair. Hyper regarding buying featured in an empty category, well the category isn't always going to be empty, makes sense what your saying, but its the buyers choice. At the end the price is up to the owner, its their right to choose the pricing that they want. Again its another thing that adds variation to the business, rather than some constant payment levels set somehow, instead you have choice, theres budget, theres premium, theres directories at both ends with no extra features and some brimming with features.
I wish if you know where those keen submitters are with $2 and $4 submissions please tell me. Only in my dreams do things go that well.
Turn PR7 and they will be knocking on your door in the hundreds. I expect John, that its because there are free directories similar to yours, so they wonder why they would want to pay a few bucks when they can get it for free.
Well similar regarding use of free templates and things like that yes, not regarding included listings no viagra or anything in mine, thing is my directories should still be around when many free ones have turned into blog pumpkins.
Right answer again (I'm turning into a fan here! ). The difference next time though Mikey is that PR if and when obtained will be legitimate and worthy of submitting to.
As to why someone would pay for featured in an empty category...that's up to you and your marketing. Since very few order their listings by date order with oldest first, most directories could easily craft a "sell up" for a featured listing based on that fact alone. Even if you do order by date that way there's no telling how many folks will later come and pay for featured. I would also make it clear in my pitch that featured listings are ordered by date purchased in ascending order (you do do it that way don't you?). So even if the submitter comes back at a later date and upgrades their listing they could still end up only on the second page of listings depending upon how many folks have already upgraded their listings. All that aside, it would certainly be easier to upsell a listing in a category that is several pages deep. My point is that it can be done for an empty category, it's just a bit harder and requires some salesmanship by the directory owner. IMHO, pricing should reflect potential traffic rather than PR as we have all learned that good PR can be fleeting while traffic continues to be a much more valuable asset.
I guess that if any owner is feeling not right about featured listings being available for an empty category then im sure you could probably have something coded to make the featured listing option disappear for all empty categories and set it to be available again upon 1+ regular listings being submitted and approved.
99% of the cases, the submitter will prefer a regular listing in an empty category. The rest of the 1%, are those who have huge budgets, or try to ensure that their links will be up even if the category gets "filled" or not. That would be something, but you might miss those who are looking especially for featured listings. I think a better mod will be the one who offers a 50% discount of so for featured listings if the category is empty. Example: Submit as featured and be the first one who gets 50% discount for a featured here. Code (markup): and this could be extended for the first 3 featured link submitters hit me if I'm wrong.
Yeah that could work too hyper, people always love when they feel their getting something cheaper, with perks or whatever else than the rest, its a good idea.
Offering a discount would be a great solution to getting paid submissions as well as premium sales. I could see it being offered to 1st listers as well as ones submitting to a paid directory with an already over-crowded category (of course creating a new category would be the best option in this case) as those folks on anything past about page 2 of the category are unlikely to get much traffic or SEO benefits from their listing.