Traffic from directories?!

Lots of directories offer free and paid inclusions, where for just few dollars you can get a bold link, or a premium link. The question is does it worth the money?

IMO People go to directories only to submit their sites, the only traffic you can get from an average directory, even with high PR is from the admin verifying your listing..

How much traffic do you receive from directories?

 

Last time I checked the top one was site-sift... some 60-70 visits for the month... so you won't get loads of hits from them.

 

I recieve lots of traffic from directories. Some directories create more traffic than others, but imo traffic is traffic.

Check these threads.. http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=35965 http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=38620 and or similar threads (all the way below)

 

In my opinion, the traffic you receive from the "average" directory would not be worth the extra cost.

On the other hand, it may be worthwhile if it makes the difference between being listed on page 1 (PR5) versus page 14 (PR0).

 

I wouldn't pay extra for a 'premium' listing on a directory. People rarely search directories for the site they want to find, instead they use search engines.

 

I agree with Momo, I won't pay to get a premium listing is a directory! I rarely or never get any traffic from them!

 

I'm paying for premium listings so I get on top the the category pages and receive therefore traffic from that directory. If you're all the way down on the 14th page with a listing visitors will not be able to find your website.

See also post from CanadianEh.

Maby we should ask Chris to comment on this, he's a directory submitter specialist, I'll send him a PM.

 

For me, it depends on a few things...

1) if the site is already strong or I feel it has good potential (if the latter is the case, I sometimes also try to do what I can to help the site / owner)
2) if there seems to be a perceivable benefit of having a paid listing (more traffic than being on page 4, 14, or whatver; more PR from being on the first category page vs several pages or more deep, etc.)
3) sometimes there are other benefits for premium listings, such as additional links
4) I often submit as many as 25 listings to a directory. I do not submit them all as premium. So, I will often submit some as premium in appreciation for the site listing all the others free. On the other hand, if the site does not allow my multiple submissions, I usually won't be as supportive.

 

I forgot to mention...one other factor is the theme of the site. If it's a music directory or setup in such a way I feel it is more relevant to my listings, I am more likely to go premium on that too.

 

You can get traffic from directories provided people see your listing .
First , It should be on the first page on your category .
Second , generally this page holds a good google PR which is passed on to your website in turn getting you higher ranks in SERP'S .

New directories are better because they are cheaper to get a first page link and because the admin is trying to build a database so they promote it all over the internet .
Older directories specially those showing up in SERP's also are getting good traffic so you have better chance of getting your ad/listing being seen . But these are costlier to get a featured listing .

Links in BOLD , Italic should hold a better value than simple link in search engines view . Although with google becoming stricter may not count this type of a link as it may be a paid listing . But the time of the link on a page along with a few more factors is also considered to conclude it as a paid listing .

Traffic will also depend on where is your listing being displayed . Some directories show it only in your category while others display it on home page and other categories also .

Additionally if you have something which interests "webmasters" then there are better chances of being noticed .

The time when a webmaster sees your link is also worth counting . Like a flower website may pull more visitors on Valentine's than the rest of the year.

Plus the actual ad content holds the highest credit for pulling traffic .

Regards
jeet

 

Who uses directories to find sites???
I never browse any little directory (even PR6 one) to find any good sites, so I can't understand how actually directories can produce hits?

 

Probably others visiting to submit listings. I don't know...

 

That's exactly what I thought too. Anyway I've been submitting my sites to different directories during last month or so and all the traffic I ever received was from the admin approving the link. I could see from the ref link in my server logs..

 

Niche directories might be an exception. Just yesterday I was researching travel sites and I couldn't find much in Google. I looked at specific categories in a travel directory and then click through to the next directory. From there I would find more quality sites that were bang on for what I was looking for.

I admit that this was one of the few times that I have done this, but I will probably do it more. Maybe niche directories are the future.

 

That's a good point, thank, I'll look for some hiche directories..

 

Depends on the directory.

If its a off the shelf one, I would say usually no traffic worth getting.

If its a niche one, off the shelf, then maybe some traffic.

If its a niche one, custom done, then probably more.

If YOU find the directory useful, then so will you customers.

That cuts out 80 percent or so of directories (made up stat, but probably not far out) from the useful list for most people.......

 

Have to agree there are very few categories worth being on the first page of.

 

I've recently even purchased a sponsors listing from www.businessseek.biz - a strong PR6 directory with high trafic and didn't receive even a single referral from there ...
So only content sites links count for traffic..

 

Yeh, very few dir's are worth it - but some are. You just gota look around

 

I finally got my first visitor from a directory!
It was from here: http://www.123kidzarea.com/1373_Investing.shtml

So if your site is not listed yet in this directory, you should get in now