How do you start a Directory? (A serious question, I kid you not!)

Sorry for the silly question .. but I'm new in this area and was wondering what platform or scripts one can use to set up a directory?

There seems to be a lot of experienced directory owners out here so thank you in advance for any snippets of advice y'all can offer..


Thanks!

 

It is a serious question for a serious business

You need a number of basics
The powered by script application phpld or similar
Custom Designed Template if you want build a Directory with integrity
A coder to code the script to the Template Interface
Marketing Resources
Support Resources
Commitment
etc etc

Thats just for starters

But if you are in fact serious and not another QBC then go for it

Think long and hard before you enter the Directory Market, Please do not enter as a Member of the Quick Buck Crew as you will not get any respect and you will not stay around very long

Join and welcome if you want to build a Quality Directory

If not just don't bother Thanks

 

Please don't start another directory. There are already too many out there.

 

THanks a lot for the quick reply .. I googled Phpld and found that it was selling from 25 to 75 dollars. Not to be a cheapo, but are there any free scripts available?

And btw.. what's a QBC?

 

Please if you don't have $25 for phpld, just stop here...

QBC - Quick Buck Crew , people that want to make big bucks quick and not interested in delivering quality or value to clients.

 

Your choice of script is important, you also need to of course have a hosting platform to host it on.
PHPLD or eSyndicate seem to be the two leading directory software.

 

yes

www.phplinkdirectory.com

download the free version of phpLD.

than upload it to a webhost server.

Install the script, get a database, and add categories manually preferred. But if you want to be lazy find of the category dumps.

Than get a good template which can be found at one of template sites for phpLD. www.phpldtemplates.com to name one there are several others.

If you want a custom template, contact one of the designers like aspidov, balkanboy, coolweb, myself etc .. just search the template thread you'll see alot of good designers for phpLD.

Advertise as much as possible, keep the quality up high..

To tell you the truth, to have a good directory you must be motivated. Starting a free one is not easy.. you'll get loads of submissions, and you have to be very picky of what you want in your directory. Than ofcourse you'd have to answer the people who got rejected and why they got rejected etc etc.

if u got more questions list here.

 

I did some edits above for QBC etc

But would like to add these points to set up a Quality Directory expect to pay for the set-up between 300 to 600USD for script, template, coding, URL, hosting etc

And that is without costing for the time you will spend on the set-up

Not cheap but if you are serious well worth the investment

 

Really if you want to start directory with good budget and you are ready to do a lot of work go for it. If you want to start it with low or no budget just forget it and start different type of site in field of your expertise.

 

Excellent posts everyone .. thank you for answering my question. I really don't mind forking out a few hundred bucks to set everything up.. some capital is always necessary for any successful business..


Which brings me to this question .. are directories profitable? For those of you who own directories ... how much do you roughly make from one every month?

 

I maybe wrong but I don't think many Directory Owners will tell you that, but yes they will make you money .............. and I know many of my buddies here on DP make good money from Directories

But guess what, how do they do that ?

They work very hard and provide excellent services

 

I keep reading this and it is just not true! I have managed to make 11 directories in 2006, and only used money on my domain and hosting and this is today my only income and I cannot complain in any way. (I did get one paid link in aviva in december, but that is not the reason for my succes)

If you want to make a new directory, it requires really hard work, and alot of hours. I'v been at it at fulltime basis, and if you feel you can throw the time and work into it, there is nothing that can stop you from breaking through.

A directory is not something you just make, and let it run by itself. It needs constant nursing and adjustments to meet standards for the present and future, and a fulltime job in reviewing sites

 

profit .. you only make after a while once your site have good ranking in search engines, and you have a good PR, and traffic.

Than you can sell sitewide links, featured links etc ... (you'll get good profit)

Plus the more services you add to your directories like blog and such it 'll increase the profit because you can charge people for blog posts and such.

these are just some ideas to get profit. Than ur friend adsense is always there to get profit.

Affiliate banners works too..

To actually state the profit, i dont think i want to share private info... look for the sales thread if i post for my directory

 

You just defined it within your post. Mr. 'QBC'

 

98% of directories created weekly end up not making anything in the long run (You may make $20 the first week and nothing after that). There are quite of bit of quality directories here, but most of them created these days are simply not for the purpose directories serve (turn out to be crap).

If you are truely dedicated (as with any niche), you will see your work pay off if you make wise decisions and invest (time & money) into your directory.

I'd advise against it unless you are 100% dedicated... I'm not kidding...(99.9% - don't even try)

 

What you say was almost one year before. Today there is much much more competition in low level(starting with 0$) directories.

Again 11 months is a lot of time and you must make some money for working in that period even if you cut woods to make toot picks and sell them after.

My point is that you can make more money in other niche than in directories business if you want to start with low ball budget and/or time, but I guess everything depends on your goal and commitment to reach it.

 

You are probably prove that you can make it if you put your mind to it and give it enough time, but 99% will not make it pass the 6 months.

 

if I recall correctly, he wrote his own directory script. (please correct me if i am wrong though)

And if above said is true, you know that took time to create, tweak, perfect.
So now we come to the issue of time involvement vs pay. If one decides they can say they work for free and create their own script, then hey, I guess it doesn't take any moolah. But, is your time valued? (sh*t I know mine sure is)

 

The main thing is you can't buy your succes with money - to state it in a different way. The marketing value of spending money is only one little aspect on running a directory.
I just stated it because I read this so often; If you dont use $xxxx you are sure to fail. Money is not the key, dedication is.

I did code my own directories yes, but even if I had bought some finished script, my point would be exactly the same

 

You chose to spend your time, others chose to spend money in exchange for others people time or for a quicker delivery.

Both are different strategies, both can work.