Since I am starting see threads on this I have just written an article talking about some of the questions and thought processes I use when deciding whether or not I will invest in a directory or ad sponsorship. I use the word invest in more than one way. First, invest should describe what you are doing that will benefit your site directly. After all you want some benefit from your spending right? Second, you should think of every spend that you make as an investment in the the site/owner that you are spending your money at. Anyway, I someone finds some useful information here... Lance Arrghhh.. almost forgot the link again! lol How To Determine If A Directory Is Worth The Investment
Seems you took too much to write that. You have said, "As I look the forums, it has become clear to me that there is a credibility crisis with directories and even more specifically bidding directories." Are you sure there is Credible crisis? I believe there must be more than 10K online directories min. and its growing every day and many sleeping as well. How many people use it effectively apart from those who try to bring up their site PR and SEO guys? I dont see any general public to use so many directories apart from us trying for a business cloning so many directories.
I agree with you. However, how many of the, as you say 10k directories online would you invest in? What percentage of them are scams? What percentage or link farms? What percentage are a waste of money? What percentage are just there to rip people off? Don't you think that if there are 10k directories out there it creates a "credibility crisis". How many of those 10k+ owners you talk about would respond to an email today? or tomorrow? My bet is, if there really are 10k+ that less then 1000 of them would respond. It's just my guess...and if that is true, don't you think that makes a "credibility crisis". I mean, would you buy a car or a house from a dealer that wouldn't return your phone call? Or explain why the car house was good to you? Lance
You've some nice tips there,thanks and good luck with your directory Lance! Ps:I noticed you posted the non-www version in your OP and www version in your signature,maybe you want to do a 301 redirect.I'm talking about the domain name.
yes... I do need to get that set up.. Thanks for the reminder Richie and glad you found some useful information there. Lance
I mean exactly what you said. There are many that are waste of money spending on it for submission are sleeping or dead dont know what is happening. I agree to what you said that only a few respond to enquiries. Its mainly coz many create directories work on it for few days and create another and go on. after a while when it reaches some PR, people try make some money saying I have PR4 /PR5 dir. Then leave it to rest for couple of months and do the same for the remaining. DO u agree to this? I feel only a few 100'rds are really doing/working on it to bring something like GII and some more good directories. Than saying it as "crisis", I would say, its a bit crazy thing that many are doing. All for good. Every single directory is contributing for a growth in business, more jobs lol and lots more. Thats why I said "goodluck " in my first post. Over all you have done well writing something usefull. GoodLuck again.
Yes, I think the ones that do not continue to work on their directories. Just let them sit are part of the "crisis".. They are bad for the whole industry. If some end user stumbled across a couple. And they happened to be ones that provide no customer support, the customer is left "with a bad taste in their mouth" and that means that potential future customers are left thinking it is scam. The point of my post was simply to provide some tips on how to decide whether or not to invest in a directory and some of the calculations I use. If nothing else maybe it will force some owner to look at how all of together can change this perception. After all, it is a business and in my mind all owners should treat it as one. Not get a PR 5 and let it run on auto pilot.. I do appreciate your comments.. A good discussion is good for all of us ! Lance
Very nice post, some of the points are the criteria I use when submitting my bid directory to other bid directories. Speaking of which, you have yet to submit your directory to mine, I hope its not because you think its a QBC
Thanks for the compliment VCTech. I have no way of knowing whether you are QBC or not, as I haven't sully evaluated your site Are you? lol Also remember these are just a few criteria that I use when deciding. There should be a a number that you use in order to make sure you are following your business plan and meeting mile-stones and goals for your directory. I have a very specific business plan with ratio's of advertising type's I need to hit as well as separate budgets for each. I track each one and compare my returns and revenues and goals in very specific detail. I recommend every directory owner sit down and make a business plan if you don't already have one. Also find some good accounting/money management software so you can track your milestones.. Lance
I guess there's something wrong in his .htaccess file. You can read the post here http://beacon-directory.com/blog/
I think he intentionally direct the link to his directory and its for us to click on his blog. It's another way of making some visitors.
Thanks! Really a nice post, especially like following two points: - Keep good company. - Evaluate the owner. I will just add one more point while evaluating a owner and that is look at the history, his past records.. though these points are covered under the reputation clause.
Sorry guys... yes, I had a problem with .htaccess file all should be good now! And no, I didn't do it on purpose.. lol.. although you are right, that isn't a bad idea.. lol Glad you are all finding these articles informative! Lance