I would like to hear from some of the more experienced and profitable directory owners about this situation please. Took a site that was not making any money but has a pr5 and put up phpld v 3.10 on it - In your opinion - what would be the best path to promote and what is the correct price to charge for links for such a site? When we can get a few paid submissions done - we will be getting a custom template done for the site - and a couple of mods.. Also - when reading the forum about promoting directories - the phrase "heavily promote" comes up - what is the correct way to "haveily promote" a directory. Thank You.
Usually by buying lots of advertising to the directory's target market (part webmaster, part searcher). And by doing lots of SEO and link-building. Really you should be thinking about ploughing a percentage of takings back into promotion.
Firstly you've taken the right step towards getting a custom template design done - this should do wonders for your directory, attract visitors and really make your directory stand out from the crowd! Look at getting the person providing the template to include a section for sitewide linkage (this will allow you to sell text links), a seperate TPL for the submission guidelines (this will make it easier for you to edit in the future) and an additional TPL for banners on the individual cateogory/link pages) as this will also allow you to generate some more income - even if it is just in the form of Google Adsense. Promotion wise presumably your site wasnt originally a directory? This is likely to mean as you have completely changed the concept of your site that your PR is likely to fall either in the up and coming update (14th January or something) or the following update. Obviously because its technically a new directory but on an established domain you also dont benefit for PR and indexing of any pages other than your index page - this obviously needs to be reflected in the price (if you choose to go down the paid submission path). Ideally whether you have a PR5 or not you are essentially a brand new directory (presumably) hence you really need to offer free links in order to build up your site and its content. Here obviously highlights your need for promotion! If your able to offer free regular links - get listed at: http://info.vilesilencer.com (via the forum) and then start submitting your site using the excel spreadsheet (which contains a quality list of search engine friendly directories). Further to just submitting to directories (both general and niche - if your directory is niche in content) add your link into your forum signature, buy some quality sponosored links on other related directories or niche sites and even write an article on something relating to your directory or its content in order to attract more visitors! Your promotion has already started - you just need to tell us what your website address is Best of luck!
Thank You for the detailed and useable information - Could you or one of the vetrans out there suggest a reliable and good template designer? I have been looking at a couple of web sites that advertise this service but not really sure of who to use yet. Thank You. The Directory is www.ppcfix.com I have also set up another with pr0 that is called www.linksalad.com - I really feel like a fish out of water with this directory thing - so your input is very appreciated and valuable to me. Thank You Again
Until the inner pages dont have pr many people are hesitant to buy, but if you have enough backlinks people will be fine with it.
Thank You Seiya - I have noticed that a lot of pr4 and p5 directories do not have inner page rank - is this the norm for most?
Well i designed - www.voisd.com And theres various other here that im sure will chip in an offer their services - www.osdesigner.net is very good. PM if you want to discuss pricing etc. NOTE: And to whoever just gave me negative rep from this thread with the comment of 'You cant code!! Your designs are ugly!' grow up you pathetic loser!!!