Suggestions needed: Should I change my free web directory into a paid one?

Hi guys,

I need your suggestions - I run a PR2 free general web directory, based on PHPLD script for quite a while, and I'm thinking about changing it's free status into paid one.

Please have a look: camrosecs dot com

It currently has 18,000+ manually approved link, with about 100 submissions a day.

Is it time to change the free listing into paid listing?

Thanks for your suggestions in advance

 

you can change to paid directories any time depends on your own business plan.

 

i agree with @WallaceYeung, but you should try for advertise slot before you move to paid listing... also provide more content to your directory will get more visitor..

 

Why not keep the free listings but also offer a paid option for faster review times and a more prominent placement?

 

I say go for both Paid and free. You can offer free listings, and paid listings being above the free ones for a small (monthly/yearly/one time) fee just to be sure that you wont lose any of your new visitors.

 

I think that you should include both options (Paid or free).
Thats way you will keep the 100 submissions aday and add more money by adding the paid listing.

Give the people with a paid listing extra priviliges, such as higher listing etc..

Hope that helps

 

You can go ahead with one of the two task I am going to suggest. First of all, if your directory has already achieved high PR on home page as well as on the category pages, and primarily if you consider that it can genuinely provide quality backlinks, you can make it a 'PAID' one. Otherwise you can keep it free and rather you can invite revenue generated ads to keep your business interest going.

 

sound like you try to sell PR... herm.. beware about that...

 

Hey guys,

Thanks for your suggestions! I did offer some advertising spots, but not many would like to advertise in a PR2 directory that much... LOL

Anyhow, I am interested in pursuing what you've suggested - keep submissions free, while giving perks for paid submission.

Cheers, guys!

 

You will not be able to succeed with this directory as you have given links to sites in unrelated categories.

 

I am personally against paid directories as very few offer value for money.

Someone mentioned earlier about advertising and you interpreted that as paid for advertising. It doesn't have to be just paid for advertising, it can be affiliate advertsing or Google Ads as an alternative revenue stream.

At the end of the day, you have to be honest with yourself and say 'would I pay for that link?' (taking into consideration what you could get for free elsewhere).

Hope that helps??

Lee

 

@madhavweb - um, thanks - that's quite a suggestion...

@bumble - I have adsense on the web dir, but the performance is simply awful. I agree that only a few paid directories are offering good value for money... That's why I fave on those that suggest free/paid combo. By paying, a certain perk is given to the submitter - maybe a faster inclusion, maybe the URL is placed on top of the category... Cheers!

 

Yeah, don't get me wrong. I often think about this (as I have my own directory) and personally, I think good luck to anyone who can charge for inclusion into a directory. I know only too well how much time and effort goes into creating and running a directory for very little return. I believe the free route, pushing for a reciprocal is the only way to suceed with a directory.

I probably shouldn't say this but there are a few successful directories out there and you only need to look at their business model to see why they are successful. I'm sure you have run into them already....freeindex.co.uk and business-directory-uk.co.uk to name but a couple. There is nothing special about these directories at all other than their business model. You just need to be patient!

 

To be against paid directories is all fine and dandy, and I can truly understand from my own perspective why I can agree, in a sense.
It's due to people grabbing a free crap script, using a crap category dump, and charging for review only to see them gone two days later.
As if that is not bad enough, they just rinse and repeat the same cycle with a diff username, domain name, and crap free script over and over again. That is what killed the integrity of what directories used to have. It's sad, but a fact.

How many people even put anything back into their directory these days?
All I ever see is some free template, on some dropped domain, with some douchebag talking about PR.

 

This is the free directory for submit your business...
bherudirectory

 

I would go for free and paid, more options to the user

 

Free & Paid is definetely the way to go. This stops you losing traffic and sites that are only after a free submission. But allows people interested in a higher quality link the option to pay for it.

 

Hi,
Here are some of the highlights and my views as well

1.) You Directory is PR=2 , So very less chances of getting people to compel to Pay
You answered yourself , You tried for Advertising space and didnt succeed bcoz of PR=2

2.) There are many PAID / FREE Directories available
FREE are more then PAID one's so there is always a choice to skip PAID ones for low budgeters
There are more more more Low Budgeters then really High budgeted websites

3.) Idea will be to attract a MID-Budget websites as they will approach directories. If they are really High Budget then wont need directories. Low-budget wont pay to PAID directories, Fact is they will skip and go for FREE ones

4.) Lastly one of the DP friend above has explained the business model and its really correct, Go and analyse what their business model and how they get returns as I agree with one of the comment above that yes you get very less ROI for directories especially if you are relying on PAID links to SUM UP it wont and especially if its PR =2

So Key would be patience, Continue giving it for FREE as more people will visit , it will popularize more with patience in turn your PR will increase. PR=5 will be really compelling me to have a PAID link otherwise not, I will go and buy a link on DP on Non-directory website for cheap in BUY/SELL Link section

So I would say your patience will drive you to success. As one of the friend above said understand business model of successful directories he already gave you the clue and one more hint these SUCCESSFUL people dont have just 1 directory to get them returns they have 100 or 200 directories, ONE GUY own chunck of directories. You can make it out if are regular directory submitting person and who really check emails coming as confirmation you can find out through various ways that it belongs to one single person/companys and also after mails you can also figure out their business models and how do they sell their menus differently such as starters, salads, main course, desserts.

So all in all Research And Patience would be the KEY

Thanks,

 

Cheers guys for the fine suggestions!

I've decided that, according to most of you recommend, allowing for both free and paid link submission. I think I'll let all options open: paid for featured and regular links, free for reciprocal and nofollow links.

I hope this works and pleases everybody

Thanks again, guys!

 

Seeking advertisers would allow it to remain free and it would continue to grow.

Just my 2 cents.