Surprising results of poll assessing market demand for more directories

Hi all.
I conducted a poll with close to 750 people to try to understand the phenomena of the directory. Everyone seems to have 15 of them, so the issue was to understand the point of bringing to life another one.

I polled 3 different groups :

• Webmasters - the ones who own the directories.
• Business owners - the ones who submit to directories
• websurfers - the ones who visit them and use them as a reference.

The results are of course in no way indicative of what a directory should or should not have or be. But its a small sampling that i think gives some good feedback.

So I would like your feedback. I'd also ask you for your comments because I want to extend on this 'study' by updating it as more info comes in.

Thanks a bunch.

The link is : http://lychee-omelette.com/blog/2006/11/09/theres-demand-for-more-directories/
(i'm new here so i cant put link live)

 

Wow, tremendous job!
You get green rep from me!

 

Here is the live link:
http://lychee-omelette.com/blog/2006/11/09/theres-demand-for-more-directories/

Very interesting poll!

 

Tahnk you so much for your feedback. Glad you both liked it.
Do tell me what more I could add there so I can freshen it up.

 

what about directories /about directories /about directories...

 

as long as people are making money there will be more of them

 

yes...great analysis!

 

Fantastic work, man.
Well worth reading if you own a directory or if you're a regular submitter.

 

This is the best one

http://www.frogengine.com/search/Internet/Directories/Directories_of_Directories/

 

Greaaaatttt Work, Thanks. rep your way.
I think that more quality directories are really needed.
Cookie cutter directories I think we have enough

 

Great job well done lychee a lot of time and research has gone into your data

 

britishguy

Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,999

only +1 post to 2,000

This work is fantastic, loot of working hours on it.

 

Hey guys.
Thanks so much for your feedback. Means my work was worthwhile.

If you find it helpful and worthy, a digg would be much appreciated.
(The link for it is there in the blog-post)

 

Dang, better make your next post count, Pete

 

I dugg your poll because you deserved it...well done.

 

I think the statistic about business owner's preference for general directories is the most surprising, when you consider that general web surfers prefer to look in niche directories. I suppose that's because the large general directories have greater visibility through advertising to business owners.

 

Actually, I think its to do with websurfers feeling they can find what they're looking for more easily in a niche directory directly related to the subject they're searching for. It somehow transmits a sense of getting "safer", or, more "credible" results.

We also have to admit that webmasters today dont give too much thought to originality or credible information. Its adsense that matters... and websurfers are beginning, iMHO, to retaliate against such 'trash' in the web.

 

As far as credible results go, I can see why websurfers would be looking for that. But surely business owners are websurfers too, to an extent. Why would they be so much less savvy about such things than the general surfing population?

My guess is, they are aware of a number of well-advertised general directories that inspire enough confidence in the credibility of their listings for business owners to pay for listings. But these same general directories expend less effort in advertising to the general web surfing public, because it's the business owners who bring in most, if not all, of their revenue.

 

great job! on that write up. you definately get some rep from me.

very interesting too. and these were all randomly selected people, or webmasters themselves?

 

Well, considering that 80% of web directories out there are owned by DP members, I guess that's good news