hi I like phpld very much.. i want to create a web directory with it. I doubt it ll not have load of traffic. So tha question is What a directory can do for me? is there any chance to earn some money? Please guide
I am considering starting a directory too, would be interested to know how much can be earn't from a free directory
The only way you will earn money from a link directory is if you manage to get a high PR on it, i.e. PR3 or greater. No-one will pay you to have their link on a low ranking directory. Featured links on the front page of a high PR directory will sell but if there's no juice on the main page, no-one will buy a featured link. You can sell side ad spaces (120x120) or banner ads in the header and footer or text links in the footer, etc. but you will need to get the domain ranking high before anyone will pay. Start off free and get as many links as possible. Get as many backlinks as possible (easy enough to say lol). If you think you can create a directory and simply make money from it, you won't be successful. You need to put a lot of effort into it, building seo and backlinks. It won't happen overnight and will take a while, at least 3 months.
you can try to create a new directory but it's very hard to make money right now. without quality content, design and promotion, you will probably be disappointed.
Hello... Owning any directory is a job within itself. Before building one from scratch id consider buying one at a reasonable price since most off the nitty gritty work is already done for you and all you have to do is promote that directory and continue building its links. We might sell a few of ours at sitepoint forums soon as we have to many and not enough editors. regardless wish you success laterz malcolm
Personally a directory is hard work and time consuming but can be very profitable. Just ask Ezines. No matter what kind of directory you make, it's all about the traffic. You need to drive a boat load of traffic to it.
Chances are slim to none of making a dime off another link farm directory trying to sell page rank. It's long been worn out and a fools game. if your considering a real directory and unique from others they take about a year to develop prior to going public and several years to hopefully show a reasonable income. They also require a $20,000 to $50,000 investment to get launched and develop popularity.
With respect to your suggestion "unique" would then make it not a directory any longer, it would just be a more expensive directory launch mostly. 20 - 50k into a completely different type of project would make sense now but not for a directory. You would have to be soft in the head to start investing big money into a web directory, too fragile and cant touch any directory outside of our world.
Why is a directory any different to another site like a blog or forum? Get traffic, make money. Simple formula, so a popular directory - whatever the topic - should no different. Well said Stoner.
I think the internet has too many directories. Also, they are becoming less effective for website owners who want to submit themselves to them. Directories are like proxies in a way. All webmasters starting out will try making one, fail and learn from the experience
With all due respect, stoner, that seems excessive. That formula might work for you, but I have to believe that you can make some money without that type of investment. Not saying it doesn't require work, but I think it can be done with less resources than that. Of course, that's an opinion, and not one based on my personal success/experience. Hope to prove you wrong, though!
I have to say that if you motive for starting a directory is to make tons of cash, then I would suggest doing something else. Not that there is not money to be made. Its just that a properly run directory should be more concerned with keeping, clean, up to date, well organized content in check at all times. The biggest priority should be having a good directory that offers value. Do that and you will find a revenue stream. If you are hoping to set up an automated link collecting system that just lists sites and takes money, again, I'd suggest doing something more constructive. Hope this helps.
I definitely agree with that of "clean, up to date, well organized content ..." but as the size of a directory increases how do owners manage to control the quality of their directory?
In regard to what it'll get you. It'll get you a few hours less to work on other projects. The days of making a quick buck on directories are over. They are long term projects.