Hows about this then wwws? The phpLynx script has put these measures in to stop or limit spam, have a read and then my comment on it, see if that changes your mind. Spam takes advantage of weakness in a script, you can only spam if the script allows this. There is no way am I going to mention other scripts anymore but take my word for it that only today I recieved a 'paid' submission, it got through the captcha the paypal link and the rest, until my version of phpLynx is ready I use another one here just to keep my content updated and live. This is where all the spamming happens and it gets my goat when I look forward to seeing the payment sitting in my paypal account as it should be only to find it is a spammed submission. So here's what I did, I thought how do I stop theses shits from spamming, First I introduced as strong a text anti-bot captcha system that no bot will fool for a long time, one where you make up your own questions and answers, and where you can upload images and so on that you can change each day if you like. Then I introduced a method that eliminates the false hope of the 'pending payment', if the payment isn't made the script recognises this and auto-deletes the submission. Then I went one step further, I implimented a ban word feature, I like this as it gives you a level of control over what gets through the system, for example if you don't like porn in your directory, add the word to the ban list, and when someone submits they get an automated polite e-mail telling them they aren't listed and the reason why. The ban word is unlimited and you can add/remove any words or phrases you wish. The beauty of this system is that even if you did get a spammed submission they would have to pay for the privalage As you said, there will always be someone who will get around all this, but if, and by the time they do get past the systems on the lynx script the programmers will come up with yet more features to make this as difficult as possible.
I think will be less free directories on the future, as people realize the junk that gets submitted, and the myth that you have to be free at first just fades away.
I couldn't agree with you more, and thats the very reason why I had my programmers design the phplynx script to do just that. You make it paid only and you'd be surprised at how many people will want to submit to it. And by giving the submitter the ability to suggest a category at the same time as a link you are effectively able to build the directory with the help of the submitter, which is unique until now. By doing this as well you won't run the risk of being accused of running a dupe directory either, which is another plus. I do honestly think though that to be realistic you do need at least some content to start you off, but that can be done in a number of ways which is well worth the investment in time.
If you kill the free model, then your competition will increase tenfold. That in turn will force you to drive your price down to compete with the new influx of paid directories as most people have limited budgets. We could end free directories tomorrow. How about if I removed the "criteria that directories must offer a free listing to qualify", since I was the one that introduced that. Watch the paid lists get jammed full of directories and the free list disappear. No more free links, and a lot more money being thrown around, probably with you getting a lot less than you expect to. People that have the budget will buy links. Those that don't use a free option as a launching pad before taking part in other promotional methods to help make their site competitive. I know, from dealing with you and the directories you own, that you don't like the free model. The trouble is, there is a strong market for it, as well as the paid directory model. The only model that I think does not work is the reciprocal-required one. Which is why these days most directory owners offer a number of options for people. Free model directories generally have a featured listing option. Since their categories get swamped with listings and massive traffic, the featured listing option is a good one for those that can afford it because they get high visibility on a high traffic page, instead of being on page 20 of a category. The free model works, and in doing so ensures that the paid model works. Don't mess with it.
Free dirs can take advantage because of paid dirs because more people are interested in free stuff. But it can mean free dirs rely on paid dirs. If all dirs become free, then free dirs get too much competition, and it would be very difficult for people to know which free dris are better than others. By the way, there are tons of free dirs already. So starting a free dir is not too easy any more. So I don't see their advantage over paid dirs now.
That's what certain quarters may like you to believe. Free directories are often only beneficial to the people who charge clients to submit to them. They offer very little if any qualified traffic, also there is less incentive to monitor them as they generate little or no revenue, this is not a critisism its an observation of fact. To the diligent few who do take pride in thier free directories respect has to go out to them, but they are far and few between the quagmire of duplicates out there. It would only be the un-educated who would say that 'all' directories should be free, that is economically unviable for the serious directory owner. Free links are fine as a loss leader but there has to be some structure of payment put in place for a variety of reasons. I agree with you there certainly are thousands of free directories out there. But I strongly disagree with you that starting another one is not easy. Its as easy as buying a domain name for a few dollars, getting free hosting and a free script and within an hour you are a directory owner. Perhaps you are meaning it isn't easy to start a succesful free directory anymore? The free -v- paid debate will continue for a long time to come, as there are a lot of people both for and against, neither one can be deemed as 'better than the other', they both have merits, but even then its only after a long period of time and a lot of hard work. Paid Niche directories look the way to go from the way I look at it, but all said and done I'm neutral on the point as it stands, that's the reason why I started the thread, to gauge general consensus.