Question, Poll for Diectory Owners

I have started a Best Directory Site here TopDirectorySearch.com and I am trying to figure out what is best for the directory owners to participate.

I got a nice banner for owners to display and you can see it on the bottom of http://www.criticdirectory.com/ I have heard from some directory owners that they don't really want buttons or banners on their pages. So I have been thinking about offering a choice between the stats banner or invisible code, would offering invisible code be more appealing to you?

Mmmm, I guess I didn't start a poll, so here are my questions:

1. I would register if invisible code was available.
2. I am fine with a banner or button.
3. I Would not bother placing code on my site.
4. Not sure, would depend on the Top Site.

thanks
Jay

 

1. I would register if invisible code was available.
No.

2. I am fine with a banner or button.
No.

3. I Would not bother placing code on my site.
Correct.

4. Not sure, would depend on the Top Site.
Oh, I'm sure.

First, if you are setting up visitor expectations for the site to provide value, then the site should provide visitors that value. A site promising a critic's choice of directories should not deliver the critic's choice of who agrees to prominently link back. It should deliver all the directories worth submitting to even if you have to find them yourself...and weed them out yourself when they become not worth submitting to.

Second, since there are a growing number of sites that provide exactly that value, why should a directory owner look further?

Third, selling links and adds is how free directories bring in revenue. Every unpaid link out from the main page costs the directory money. This is how you expect to make friends? Although it's being done - and is being done by a growing number of sites - there are better business plans available to you.

 

1. "critic's choice of directories" is not mine.

2. "prominently link back" is not required, I am asking these questions to find out how much interest there is in an 'invisible link' back. The link back is required so the stat information on the directory is available.

3. There is a comment and rating section for each listing so visitors can contribute to the listing being more accurate and "valuable". After all what does the site owners own opinion only really matter? He could be gettng paid for his view

thanks

 

I can see the thinking behind this, but it's unlikely to prove very popular. I wouldn't go for it personally.

However, there are other ways to measure directory traffic. Alexa stats are notoriously unreliable for most categories of site, but I believe directories are an exception. Many people with the Alexa toolbar are webmasters, and this corresponds to the main traffic source for many directories (particularly general directories).

So you could offer traffic stats from Alexa for all directories, and give your directory owners the choice of having a link back as well, so users could compare both stats.

 

Masetek, I clearly state the name of my new directory in the first sentence of my post. Please read it again. I have nothing to do with criticdirectory.

 

My apologies jg123

 

Hey Masetek i'm the owner of criticdirectory?

 

i thought criticdirectory was yours Masetek
i thought you finally launched the critics directory (footer of directorycritic)
you have legal rights to that domain registered trademark or not..

 

Obviously he has directorycritic.....

 

Using Alexa numbers instead of generating your own works for me. Good idea!

 

Alexa can be faked as easy as downloading a program and clicking a button

 

I have found Alexa to be so-so-so far off that it is useless most times. I had a directory getting around 40-50 uniques a day that had a Alexa traffic rating of 12x,xxx

 

That's about right for a directory with that kind of traffic. Basically, all directories should expect to appear around 100 times more popular than they are, when compared to other categories of sites that don't interest webmasters. But because this webmaster bias affects all directories, you should be able to compare them with each other.

Not that Alexa is very accurate, but it does give you a guideline.

 

Well I have decided to stick with my custom made button with stats for now. If I was charging for inclusion then I would be more inclined to offer an invisible button but I am offering free listings to the first 100 directories (limit 3 per person for now please).

I will be able to give traffic and page rank so hopefully directory owners will see a value in that. I will limit my list to the top 100 directories so those who get in early are guaranteed a spot. Those that appear in the top 25 will have page rank, screenshot and full 468x60 banner shown.

thanks