Greetings, I started a local business directory that lists companies and I targetted car dealers. I'm starting and I'm having a hard time. I need to find a good strategy. So far I have visited 10-20 car dealers in my city and I asked to list them on my web site for free, in exchange, I asked them to put in front of their brick & mortar company a 40x20-inch plastic banner saying that they are proudly listed on my web site, and I also asked them for a backlink on their website (for those who have a website). None of them has accepted. How would you explain it? What do you suggest me to do? Thanks!
Perhaps they don't feel adding a link and banner is worth it? You mentioned you were just starting out. I suggest first building up your website and perhaps listing them for free or something. Then you can go for promoting your directory through them.
Thanks, actually I haven't asked any money from them, just a banner in from of their store, and a backlink on their website. To advertise the web site on the web, I need a good base of car dealers listed...Any other suggestion?
Heh, I can see your dilemma... hm... Maybe sell yourself better? Tell them the benefits of being listed in a directory and how it'll get new customers, etc. Ask for a backlink and a banner but don't be too pushy. Just list them anyway to get some content. If other car dealers see some competitors listed, they'll be more likely to list themselves.
I have owned a few local directories and its hard to get people to even submit a link for their site at first. I would focus mainly on loading your directory with A LOT of high quality links. Do something unique for your directory that sets you apart from the rest, otherwise your just another directory online competing with some guy over in Hong Kong. I would spend the day driving to each one of the dealers and taking photos of their lot and adding it to their listing. Focus on providing a quality services and the money and respect will follow.
Thanks guys. I'm sure most of them are so narrow-minded that at least now, they won't accept being listed on a freshly launched business directory. Do you think I should stop visiting further car dealers and just add the rest manually without asking them? I could have the benefit of the doubt It seems going from one store to another is a huge waste of time, compared to the low return on investment. Don't you think I should only advertise on the Internet, or maybe in local newspapers, and specialty magazines?
I think you should start by building up the content and traffic on your site first, then later on you may be able to sell top listings to the dealers. The only way I could see getting a backlink before your site is well know is by checking to see if the dealer sites also have blogs that you could leave a comment on.