What would be the best way to market a web directory outside of posting on forums, submitting to directoryplanet.net, etc? I understand that Google PR is based on a ration of outbound links to inbound links. If you are only providing outbound links, won't that hurt your PR?
I woulod recommend that in marketing a directory, your first step would be to get some PR, link exchanges work nicely setting this up, because you will get 1000's of entries into your directory and 1000's of inbound links. Works well.
it will be slow at first but if you make it look good and easily accessed, it will get PR fast. recipricolsrecipricolsalotl help alot. once you get a PR it will be good to pfree,paid. free,paid and recipricol is best that way you get a full directory.
Posting in forums can help you getting new websites listed in a short time. Once you get a good bunch of sites you can avoid posting in forums.
It has to do with outbound links per page that your trying to gain PR on. I manage a directory which I limit the number of outbound links per page and very few outbound links on the home page, this is so that I retain a lot of the incoming PR. Forcing reciprocals is a good way to advertise your directory, but only if its a popular one. Otherwise, spend money and spend time submitting to other directories. I would also recommend submitting to the VileSilencer SEO Friendly List, that is if it qualifies.