I've been busy with other projects lately and feel I need a break. Fruity directory is doing nicely so I thought I'd make an addition to my portfolio. Its been almost a year since I created FruityDirectory and whilst I've come a long way, I think if I worked harder I could be in a much better position. Which is why I've just dived into a 48 hour niche directory setup experiment Can I set up a niche directory in 48 hours including - Chose and research niche; An on-topic and brandable domain; A fully installed script with all features & settings set up; A unique directory template (can be derived from existing templates but must be unique); Has a decent category structure in place consisting of main topical categories branched off into several sub-sections; At least 5 quality edited sites in each category; At least 1 indexed Google page; I'm currently around 35% into my time allowance. How quickly could you do this? Do you think it's possible? If I do manage it, will it make you realise how easy niche directories can be setup, customised and populated? Will it make you realise if so much is possible in 48 hours by 1 person, how much could be done in a month by you and a friend? I hope this brings something positive to this forum for a change i do try
Hello.... Well i suppose that depends on how well you know that niche Getting the site up and running with atleast 1 indexed link in google and not to mention a complete unique category structure might be a bit much to ask for 48 hours so id say "Take your time and do it right" as there is never a rush.... good luck with it mikey PS... i already know that niche beats the pants of general directory thx malcolm
Hmm, interesting experiment. I doubt it could be done by someone who has not set up a directory before. The learning curve to edit the templates and to properly set up the categories would probably put the 48 hour target out of reach for many. Of course, much of it will depend on the niche you have chosen. Some are so stuffed with junky Adsense sites that it can take an hour or more to find something worthy of being added to some categories; unless you cheat a bit and use About, Wikipedia and other huge sites. How are you defining "decent category structure"? My categories are constantly being refined as folks submit. Both of my niche sites also depended upon forum research - as in researching what are folks interested in that topic are talking about. While I think it is an interesting concept to show that a niche directory is as easy to start as a general one; I do think it might also encourage the get rick quick folks to make even more useless directories. All that aside, I do look forward to seeing what you come up with.
The basics. I can only develop it further when I've added hundreds of links. For now it will be 5-10 main categories with 2 or 3 sub categories in each.
wow... your fruity directory have a good index... congrats... i will take a look for this new experiment...
I'd say the design is temporary. I only used it as I like it, in time when the directory is more developed I'd likely hire Zeb to do a professional design. I just wanted to show what was possible with only the cost of a domain. And no Steve, I registered it late on Sunday night when the 48 hours began
Nice job. Like the dark colored template. Had to laugh at this part of the submission rules, "Try and use a title that best describes the site, as opposed to one that suits your SEO campaign nicely!" I am a bit curious, Internet as a subcategory? I suppose with some thought one could make an entire directory just about technology and the Internet. Do you plan to keep the site going?
I finished yesterday with 2 hours spare. I planned on it being the technology of the internet. The protocols, development, science behind it. I guess i'll eventually expand it to cover the web itself, just don't want it to be the typical web design/web directories/seo firms type category. It would have served me little advantage working so hard yesterday if not I'll let it get indexed, mature etc from the search engines and i'll slowly start adding to it. Theres no point rushing, i wont see any decent search traffic for a 6-12 months.
Does the search field not work? More broadly, why would a customer use this website instead of a search engine? I am working on a niche directory now, so I appreciate all the work and commentary you have made over the years on this subject, btw.
Mike, even though you turned this around in 48 hours, you also have many hours under your belt that would have helped (which is a good thing), and with many apps now becoming more and more turn key it helps even more, plug this in, add this, turn that on etc etc. With that though I am looking at your project / skills from another angle, and in that even though you could do this in a short space of time, a wally like me would take a bit longer, plus probably get lost when working with a new script for the first time. What I see here is an opportunity in a sense that there will always be new players wanting to set up a directory (niche or otherwise) and these people may not really want to travel the set up phase / nor take a chance on buying some unknown directory. So why is that you could not develop some complete niche / other directories as you have here, in a sense birthing them, then placing them in your nursery with other baby fledglings built, feed and nurture them while breeding some more so to speak. with a simple value appraisal tool each child directory could grow in size and value and then over time new parents could come along and adopt (buy) their new baby that has been raised and developed in your nursery. all outside the square, but i see a market there if done right.