Try making it to the list of directory of directories. Also, try for featuring in the list of top 100 or may be 500 directories. These are searched quite a lot. Regarding directory of directories, getting listed in directory critic can get you substantial daily traffic.
The best way to increase traffic of a directory is to undertake marketing mix strategies. They should include: Social bookmarking Forum participation specific to your directory Blog comments Article/PR submissions SEO - on page PPC if you spend a few dollar targeting content network Enlist your site in other directories Try for signature link in the forum like digitalpoint
i am currently trying to get traffic to the sites in my signature. i am writing articles and submitting to directories in order to get backlinks, along with using this forum. it's slow, very slow, but i'm getting steady traffic coming through. i need to get some PR on the sites before anybody is interested though - getting people looking at it but not bothering to submit.