How to get submissions?

I bet this question has been answered 100 times before, sorry...

I run http://www.blogalore.com which is a nice blog directory. It's a couple of months old, but I have hard times to get it going. I do get some link submissions from time to time. But it's 90% Spam (totally inapropriate sites, affiliate links etc). I want to build a quality directory because I know that quality really matters when it comes to directory.

Do you have any startup tips? I don't want to blatantly spam blog forums just to get exposure. Maybe you can help me with a list of directory directorys so I can get a little initial traffic to get some real submissions. I fear that nobody is submitting because my directory is empty...but I don't want to import links from dmoz. I think that would be rather lame.

Thanks in advance for you help

 

Have you thought of building the entries yourself, by going out and finding blogs, rather than waiting for users to submit theirs?

 

I think part of your problem is that the existing categories are too restrictive.

 

Agree, probably need more categories

- like computers and technology
- sports and fitness


ideologys is probably better spelt as ideologies

 

Most blogs are about 3 things, gosip, personal and business. Need better categories

 

Yep, I thought about compiling a list of blogs by myself. Problem would be, that blog owners could feel misinterpreted. Moreover, I'd have to read constantly large amounts of blogs to get a grasp for each of them....

@macdesign
Thanks for the correcting the spelling error!

About categorys:

As I said, it's not a general blog directory. I built it to cater more "intellectual" readership. There are enough general blog directorys out there. The whole reason blogalore exists is to present a list of high quality blogs which focus around certain nice topics such as politics, education and science. No gossip, no sports.

 

Well, the design isn't that great and the categories are limiting. You will need to advertise or contact bloggers until you gain some clout in that market. Good luck

 

It's at least thousand times better than most rubbish directorys I've seen here on the board. I never said that it's perfect, but I'm not a graphics specialist either. I do my best. Thanks for your comments.

I'm propably better off trying to do everything on my own.

 

Considering the site is in it's infancy perhaps requiring a backlink is not such a good idea? I mena right now submitting their sites is actually doing you a favor IMO.

 

@sarahk
Thanks, you have convinced me to start adding links manually!

@GeorgeB
Recips were never requiered