Should Joe Public expect to have a link in a directory for free as standard practice? Was we wrong to impliment a feature in the Lynx script that can insist people pay before they get their link otherwise it gets automatically deleted? I read lots on SEO friendly lists that the criteria is that directories must offer free listings to qualify? Who pays the bills of hosting, the script itself (if its a paid one) and the work that goes on managing the links? Are we to cross our fingers that adsense will cover our bills or perhaps a few sponsors? Are we directory owners justified in making people pay to advertise their site or not?
LOLOLOL There is no free lunch, someone as to pay, if the submitter doesn’t pay, adversities pay or the directory owner. If people want to give their time for free is their option. It’s all in the business model, the money most came from somewhere.
My hat is off to those that run free directories, but my take is this, making people pay for directory listings is justified. I look at this way people need links to their site in order to rank on the search engines, without links you can not do anything it is that simple. The same goes for gas, people need gas in order to get where they need to go unless they plan on walking. Therefore, as long as people need gas companies will keep charging of it, even when the price of gas is raised to insane prices people still pay whatever the new cost is, sure they cry about it but they still pay. Why? Because they have to. The same goes for links, if every directory charged at least a $1 for a listing then almost every directory out there would make some good money. Supply and demand always rules, and there is always a demand for more links and there always will be. So why not charge them there is nothing wrong with that. I understand some wanting to have a free directory so they can get more traffic and maybe sell a few sitewides, but if you ask me I think they are only hurting their own pocket. The truth of the matter is, if there were no free directories out there then people would have to pay. Sure they could write all the good content they want and hope that some will link to them for free but that is a long process and most do not want to wait that long. So yes, I think it is ok to charge for directory listings, why not get paid for your time.
There is nothing wrong with a free directory but paid directories offer you a lot more for your submission. All directories should not be free because some people want more than a free directory offers.
I think all supermarkets should be free, because people really need food to live, you should only pay if you buy wine or other non essential products.
Yes I agree with him Some webmasters may have money and pay for the listings while others may not have enough money to pay for the listings but their content may be good This is where the free directories comes as they provide a link to webmaster without getting any thing from him
so we should only let charities in for free? maybe google will start charging to index your site(s), we will see if you change your mind about it then
I'm a believer of free things, the internet itself consist of many free things and i'm not going to list of what that is as I know you know what it is. I'm also a believer of paying for things of quality in service or products. Free directories, though this can mean of anything, it can mean that the admin of such's a directory can be doing it as a hobby or he/she could be doing it as a promotional method, or he/she could be doing it as a starting method until such's time allows it to become popular. Free does not always means that it will be of low qualities, this goes not just in a directory topic we speak off, but it goes on any subjects. Being paid also does not guarantee that it will be of quality. It all goes on who is running or giving such's service or product. So yes, Free is always a good thing and depends on what this Free thing is. Is it free with no strings attach? Is it free with obligation to [input reasoning here] or is it Free just because. If some of you could remember in the late 90's and early 2000's when FREE was everywhere (can still find that today) So see Free ISP's, FREE Hostings etc,... Much of those "Free" ideas went kaput when that bubble burst and when they became big the competitors merged and formed as one, but no lomger offered Free stuff. One example is the NetZero.com with the motto "Free Internet for life!" and the competitor was Juno.com which to was offering Free and Paid ISP, but when they merged as one it became Paid.
A great pos, rep added Everyone loves free things, but I want to have the option to pay and demand for quality. Saying that all directories should be free, is like saying all cars should be free, all services should be free, all houses should be free etc..
whats the point of having a paid directory then :| its life, you either find a way around it, or go bust.
Like another poster implied, this question could apply to anything in life. In the end, it is your (the directory owner's) business. You do what you want with YOUR business. End of story. A great Dilbert cartoon had Dogbert planning a theme park with rides that would physically hurt the customers and make them sick. Dilbert questioned him, saying that wouldn't be a fun park. Dogbert's reply was that if they wanted a fun theme park, they could build their OWN!
It's better if both free and paid are available Free listing: with a certain criteria to keep directory quality, to respect the human visitor Paid listing: auto inclusion to interest the submitter, but the webmaster may change or delete if it's againts the TOS, the directory owner should make make money to run the website
i have been running my directory with free option. Do you know how hard to maintain such free directory, given no of spam submissions pour in? Each person submits a handful and they comeback for more submission As long as directory kept open for free, many just dont care to write title, descriptions and yet they ignore terms. All they want is just rush in to submit as long it is available for free. The good part is there are some people who pay for express submissions.
I've always offered both free and paid options on my directory. I've found that there are many quality web sites where the web master may not have a budget or even the desire to spend any kind of money on promotion. Without a free option I would never get the chance to review them. My paid option has obvious advantages for those who can or will spend a couple of dollars promoting their sites. Having both free and paid option has been a successful model for me and my directory.
But if the directory is offering free lisitngs who is going to pay for other listings? Can we cross our fingers in the hope someone will pay? I'm being honest in saying that I would only list in smaller directories to get a backlink, as if I am realistic with myself, people won't visit them until they get bigger, by then I am already listed.