Think of or already own a web directory? Please read this!

I like that list as I've already followed a number of them on the directory I have in development

Your suggestion about meta-tags is a kick up the backside for me -- I'd better get on with it (one of those jobs I'd been avoiding)

Thanks

 

What you have listed should be a Stern Warning to ALL who are currently
in the business as well as Thinking of becoming a directory owner.

The idea that you will build the next best directory that offers more then
the other millions already in service are very doubtful but not impossible if you work on it.

If your New and think that....

Hey! Ill just go get me a free script and im in business! Wow im Now a directory owner.

lol ok...go ahead and waste your time and learn what it takes to make a buck
in this industry.

EVERYONE off the suggestions implied should be done if you want to exist
as a web directory or owner.

Very Good work on this post GREEN LUV sent!

thx
malcolm

 

I think that the best thing you can do is generate a lot of traffic for your directory, wherever the traffic is coming from.

 

another advice:
install the PR update tool on the phpld forums and after every PR update erase the sites that dropped to 0. this would clearly increase the the quality of your
directory.

another advice:
don't allow submissions from the homepage. make your users walk through categories to be able to submit in your directory (remove about 80% of spam).

I'll come up with some more advices soon. I'm tired of seeing 500 new default directories appearing every day.

 

As long as you don't reciprocate the link with the directory, which I personally never do, you cannot be penalized.

 

I always cringe when I see a directory announced and go an look and sure enough is nothing more than a unique url with the exact same look and structure as the default template.

Unfortunately I think directories will be a thing of the past before long...

Green rep sent your way for making a great point!

 

Yip agreed 100%

Most never bother changing anything to distance themselves from the others using the same templates.

This Proves to me that...

A. Directory Owner cant handle his current stock of directories and/or Really lazy person with no vision.

B. They have no intention of working the Directories and just throw up Clones in an attempt to "Catch All" but then find themselves screwed.

If action is taken soon this will be the end of directorys....

It doest take money to have a Great Quality Directory..... Just someone with Skills or the desire to implament them and achieve success.

thx
malcolm

 

I hate directory sites.. they get you to work all day... and you can't do anything else (work wise)

 

First ... I have to agree, this directory business is a lot more work than I anticipated ... certainly no get rich quick scheme

You give search engines far less credit than they deserve ... nobody is going to write off a whole industry based on the actions of a few fly by nighters.

The combined actions of the top 10-20,000 directories makes DMOZ look like a hobby site. We out-number their active volunteers ... and most are motivated by the only thing that really matters --- cash money. So good directories will continue to thrive.

I really believe the market conditions are ripe for a category killer to rise up soon. Current leaders (read DMOZ, Yahoo!) are bloated, self important, overly expensive, and could care less about customer service. Exactly the same environment that Google was created. Who knows it could even be someone already on this forum.

Now back to the OP ...

Monitor your supplemental index pages ( a clue to duplicate content)

Write category descriptions so people know what goes where

Reduce empty categories (remove or add some listings)

Keep the total number of links per page to a reasonable number

 

nice peice of advice. and after reading this i dont have any plan to start a directory.

 

really great tips and highly appreciate the information.
Now days competition in increases day by day if u provide some unique idea than and than u will get more money and traffic.

 

Julia, thanks a lot! Hopefully this will initially filter-out the wrong and scummy people and keep the net cleaner!

 

THanks for this VERY REALISTIC post