Most Basic/Common Categories

What are the most basic and common categories and sub-categories that you should have on a directory?

 

I wouldn't say that you should have anything in particular, often many look so the same.

But for top il name a few, Shopping, Computers, Internet, Web Directories, Sports, News etc...

For Sub Cats theres just too many to start suggesting.

For ideas take a look at 5 directories that have different category structure, get some ideas, mix up what you find, and throw in some of your own.

Look for a pattern of the categories you see in directories that never seem to get a listing, it may be worth leaving these out, theres quite a few that are never used, either in the dumps or copied from another directory when putting their own together.

Im guessing that you were reffering to a general directory.

 

I've always used Yahoo directories as a reference point. Pick the most popular categories and mimic it.

 

if you mean general web directory,
simply take reference from dmoz, botw or business.com etc.

 

Don't go for common, your only entering a market which is already saturated. Just a view but going with a niche category structure unique to you would prove the most beneficial.