how to make money from directory sites?

Discussion in 'Directories' started by zguoqi, Jul 14, 2005.

  1. #1
    I own several directories, I have no idea whether I would like to continue it or not? There is no revenue I can generate from them, but it does take a lot of my time to maintain them!

    What is the future direction of direcotry site? How could you generate revenue out of it?
     
    zguoqi, Jul 14, 2005 IP
  2. mystikmedia

    mystikmedia Jedi Master

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    #2
    Most people seem to use AdSense and paid submissions once they get good steady traffic. It's the kind of thing that you have to invest money into before you can make money back. Unless it is really, really cheap, no one wants to pay for a link on a directory that has no value. However, if you get a very powerful directory, everyone will be wanting to get listed, and ASAP. :) So, you have to put money into the site to get it ranking well, and traffic coming from as many streams as possible. Once you have that, you can proceed with the paid listings (probably optional first for faster processing and/or better placement...and then once you get really good, you can move to only paid if you want).
     
    mystikmedia, Jul 14, 2005 IP
  3. mystikmedia

    mystikmedia Jedi Master

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    #3
    BTW, I was not saying your directory has no value. I was just speaking in general. I didn't even have your directory in mind when I made the reply. I went to remind myself which one it was after submitting the previous message.
     
    mystikmedia, Jul 14, 2005 IP
  4. westhaven

    westhaven Well-Known Member

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    #4
    mystikmedia is right.
     
    westhaven, Jul 14, 2005 IP
  5. zguoqi

    zguoqi Well-Known Member

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    #5
    I did put adsense on it, but the revenue is so tinnny. Google display ads related to that category which most of people are not interested in.

    I think most of people on my site are those who is doing directory submission.
     
    zguoqi, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  6. 2003m2003

    2003m2003 Well-Known Member

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    #6
    What is your directory?, I might be able to buy some space.
     
    2003m2003, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  7. zguoqi

    zguoqi Well-Known Member

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    #7
    zguoqi, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  8. uca

    uca Well-Known Member

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    #8
    Interesting point. It might be the problem that needs to be solved in a way or in another. Although I have little experience about the matter, it makes sense to get the right ads on your pages.

    How? I'm sure there are ways...
     
    uca, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  9. zguoqi

    zguoqi Well-Known Member

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    #9
    thanks, but even Google display right ads, I still think the click rate will be very very low. It sounds like Google adsense is a good option for directory site.
     
    zguoqi, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  10. gdtechind

    gdtechind Peon

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    #10
    i will say adsense
    and if its a big site, you can even get ads from miva or findwhat
     
    gdtechind, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  11. egdcltd

    egdcltd Peon

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    #11
    I use AdSense, and initially clickthroughs were minimal, about 7c/day. In time, however, my revenues have built up and I often see $1-$2/day, which, whilst still not brilliant, is an awful lot better.

    Pay per impression banners are also a way of generating more income. Whilst revenues might be small, they increase as your sites popularity increases, and all you need is for visitors to visit, not click anything.
     
    egdcltd, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  12. zguoqi

    zguoqi Well-Known Member

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    #12
    1-2$ per day will not worth the time to maintain it...
     
    zguoqi, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  13. 2003m2003

    2003m2003 Well-Known Member

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    #13
    2003m2003, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  14. mystikmedia

    mystikmedia Jedi Master

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    #14
    If you decide to start selling links, let us all know the specifications (front page only, slidewide, etc.) and the price you settle on... I'm sure there are many here that would take you up on it, and that would be another way. However, you do need the traffic to get a good price, as I mentioned before.
     
    mystikmedia, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  15. zguoqi

    zguoqi Well-Known Member

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    #15
    Traffic is not a big problem. I can spend more time to get more visitors. I have a group of very cheap people in China doing directory submission, etc this kind of task.

    I have this price in mind.

    site: uudir.com

    Ad location: 4 ad spaces on right side of home page only. 150$ per year per link.

    Ad location: site wide footer link. 100$ per year per link. (price edited)

    Is this price reasonable?
     
    zguoqi, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  16. zguoqi

    zguoqi Well-Known Member

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    #16
    Got a few pms for buying links. not settle down deal yet. but it sounds to be a better way of making money out of directory site.

    Any one want to buys links?
     
    zguoqi, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  17. mystikmedia

    mystikmedia Jedi Master

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    #17
    Yes, that sounds good also. How many links are you going to sell on the site?
     
    mystikmedia, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  18. zguoqi

    zguoqi Well-Known Member

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    #18
    Home page 4 ad space. Footer link. max. 6. So in together max. 10.
     
    zguoqi, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  19. dvduval

    dvduval Notable Member

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    #19
    After you get some decent pagerank going with your directory, it is not too difficult to sell links, especially on PageRank 4 or higher pages.
     
    dvduval, Jul 15, 2005 IP
  20. zguoqi

    zguoqi Well-Known Member

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    #20
    Thanks, that is what I realize now as well.

    I offered a price of 60$ per year per link before, now I increased it to 100$. I got two people almost confirmed to buy it with 60$ except not yet pay the money. These two are confirmed. The rest min. is 100$ now.
     
    zguoqi, Jul 15, 2005 IP