Hi I just finished completing and fine tuning my Directory Health Reources I am not sure whether to keep free submissions or not(there are free reciprocals and paid right now) as it can really invite tons of non-relevant sites Brickbats anticipated...
As with a lot of people who submit their directories i shall dish out exactly the same advice - despite feeling like im constantly repeating myself! 1) Get a decent template custom designed - you've choosen one of the most recognisable templates imaginable. If you want to stand out and be unique you need a unique design. 2) Your only allowing paid listings unless its with a return link. This is totally pointless at the current stage. Your directory has no links and no PR and theres no way anyone will want to pay to add a link at this stage. Make it completely free (perhaps keeping sponsored links) and get your site listed on Info Vilesilencer. This will bring you a lot of visitors and submissions - sure not all of them will be relevant and will get approved but thats better than having a dead directory with no links. 3) And finally get your site submitted to lots of other free directories. This will build up back links and make other directory owners and visitors aware of your niche directory. Best of luck.
Thanks sabian for generous comments, actually I don't have fund to spend $xxx for new template so that is why I went for customzed css I just wanted to have a complementry directory for my site http://www.mymedicenter.com I have no plans to make any profit fromt the directory its just that I don't want to spend lot's of time in weeding out unrelated sites Anyway I will modify my thread about this and will accept free submissions from now on. Regards
Do a search on google and have a bit more of a look around, there are loads of free templates (especially for phpLD) around - u've just choosen to use a template that has had the most exposure and most downloads - hence its used by quite a considerably number of directories. Try and find a new template design that has recently been released, that way your design (although not entirely) will be slightly more unique.