Hi guys, I'm just wondering, if it is important how your directory looks like? Some SEO specialists think that the simpler the better... Thanks...
This topic has been covered before and I would say with the amount of competition in the directory market these days, the way your directory looks is very important for long-term success. There are many folks that are putting up a 3 or 4 directories at a time with crappy templates and then they sell cheap site-wides. My guess is that type of directory is destined to fail. As a rule I will not invest in paid links on directories that look crappy.
It is very important, I couldn't agree more with jg123.. The other hand is to make your dir standing out from the default template or "free" ones..
What a directory is like on the inside is only part of the picture, why wouldn't a directory owner want their directory to be great inside and out?
Yes, you are right I am hopping the owner will change it soon; we already exchanged PM’s about this subject, and he assured me that this was on is short-term plans.
Well yes we are working on a theme, but in my personal view i am first trying to get the directory a strong page rank, which is important. Whats the use of getting listed on a wow awesome looking directory which does not help your listing. on the other hand dont you think if you get a listing on a strong PR directory it will be a better ROI Iam still in search of something which rocks till that i will work on the promotions of the directory [edit till now 5000$ Links purchased ] Amit
Well I very much agree to amit here. I have seen a lot so called "good looking" directories, with just very little promotion and nothing else. Its better to have a "strong" directory than a so called "good looking" directory. I have purchased so many links in gii. Why so? Who cares whether I am in a good looking directory, google doesnt see the design of the site and pass me the PR, its sees how strong is the directory I am listed in. Will anyone buy a link in a useless "good looking" PR0 directory or will someone buy a link in a strong directory, even though it may have a free template used?
And there are freebies and freebies... I own squidlink.com, which uses the same free template coolweb designed originally, but now check... On my dir I've changed every single image, the complete header, part of the colour scheme, etc.. etc... it's what I'd call a "unique template", even though the work basis was a free one.
For people starting a directory, I think it’s the first investment you should do, a good skin will cost you from $100-$600 if you want people to pay you for the listings you must transmit the message that you are going to give something back. And some submitters don’t care about PR they whant a nice place to put the link. Also if the directory doesn’t have a custom skin, it confuses me because I never know if I submitted or not and have to do the search .
in short wll you like getting listed on dmoz or wowdirectory [a neat looking directory] Oh yea seeing your points i guess you want to get listed on wowdir because it makes the submitter happy for a few moments but will never get any ROI which is paid for the listing No offence meant but just a small clarification.
yeah.... make a skin I mean superb good looking skin, get no backlinks. WOW, I am a great directory? If tomo Alive or Aviva chages its to default phpld skin will someone stop buying links there? Is dmoz soo very good looking? people still submit links there isn't it?
I would personally Judge a directory as a place which is a powerful medium helping your site which you want to get listed. It should either get you Traffic back Pass Page rank If the directory gets a authority then it will rock. It should have a good Page rank, Traffic, ILQ, Strong Backlinks count ,Page Strength , Links from edu or .Gov though there is a saying that they wont help but i guess if you have it , the site may get a authority level in future, and some other factors and in rare 1% case the design because who knows if that directory gets tons of traffic for its designs viral marketing and passes some traffic for our listing Amit
I'm running OnlineWide directory, which is one of the strongest directories with page strength 5.5, and yet uses a cookie cutter template.. Custom template can be used as one of many marketing techniques, but that's not everything..
Submitting is also an emotional thing, if I find a very good looking directory I am temped to submitting. Also if you get visitors probably they will stay longer and browse if the directory is good looking and intuitive. I think good looks are a very important part of the equation. Offcourse backlinks are very important as traffic also. I would put it like this for me 30% the looks and usability 20% traffic 50% baclinks.
Dude get a custom template or else its not a worthy directory lol If you dont use a custom template i guess you will get a page strength of 1 heh Clear me one thing, How will you know about the 20% traffic before submitting or getting listed, as this can be known after getting listed and checking the returning traffic. 30% Looks practically what and how does it help you? Does the design pass you something? Its just an asset for the directory owner and something we could talk about for something Always see where the directory is linked from, does it have any authority links? Is the directory Listed by smart linking i mean links from good sites not just links from some crap sitewides which show thousands of links but dont turnout to be beneficial.
Very well said amit. I agree to you 101%. exactly romow buddy, who cares whether you got a gr8 skin, for me your directory is a powerful, its got the PR to pass me, its more than enough. People tend to use "design" as its marketing technique, but really well its gone overboard now. Show your strength and not design, show ur power and not your looks. If one is powerful and strong, people automatically come to you.
I have a few directories and up to 50% more traffic on prettier ones. People like it to be unique and nice
I am not saying is no worthy , only if you have a custom template you have a higher perceived value, and with 100 directories poping up everyday day differentiation is very important. I look at alexa bar for traffic