I just wonder how to get the traffic to the directory? Since there are not any substantial content in the directory,but only the links and description.
First try to get a nice traffic by announcing it in forums for submissions, then i see many dir. owners placing their dirs. in sites like topdirectories.info, top.seo-links.org, topdirectorys.com, snurff.com and they get traffic very easily. There are other ways of getting traffic too...
Try to get listed at Search Engine Colossus I have a listing there for Ask Directory and I get loot of visitors from this link.
If you own a free directory you shouldn't have problem getting traffic in the future, you just have to wait. For a paid directory this is another matter, people are not so keen on visiting your directory when its PAID. When i wasn't in the directory business, i was blaming all those paid directories out there for not letting us submit free... Traffic comes mostly with tons of links and if you've a good PR, find ways to get links and you'll get traffic.
Many excellent posts here already from ! Ask ! , sizzler_chetan , & irka We have both paid and free/paid directories and they all get good traffic as they are effectively promoted and marketed Visitors will visit sites irrespective of the whether the directory (is paid or free) as they are all in search of information and data
Yup i see many threads about dir. advertising but how many times the same can be said to all So i tell something different to each and every other member.
Most of the visitors over a web directory are webmasters, its pretty rare to stumble upon a normal dude thats searching info on the web on one of your directory, there are directories made for that, for user search > IWD is free and it'll always be free , every monthes i get 1000 more uniques in the statistics... I just hope that the search engines will give out some respect to it so i receive more traffic... I hate that google aging factor for the domain name of a site... Its pretty slow...
Also, whenever you see a list of directories, contact the one who compiled the list, and tell him to add your directory. You will get a lot of traffic like that too.