What makes a "good" directory ?

Discussion in 'Directories' started by estateguy, Nov 28, 2008.

  1. #1
    Besides the obvious... (like the following)

    Page rank
    submission quality
    Look

    What are the building blocks to make real money off a directory?

    I think I have some good niche sites (see my attorney link directory below) but my submission volume is very poor.

    Any ideas to build a "good" directory that might actually provide enough income to fill a tooth?

    Is anyone on the planet making over $1,000 a month on a directory or are we all starving?

    If yes, tell us your success story... and advice.
     
    estateguy, Nov 28, 2008 IP
  2. pipes

    pipes Prominent Member

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    #2
    Does it have to be true or can i make it all up? lol

    A good directory? one thats looked after i guess, gets new sites added, affordable, loads quickly, minimal downtime, working categories, gives refunds, answers questions as quickly as possible.
     
    pipes, Nov 28, 2008 IP
  3. dsendecki

    dsendecki Peon

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    #3
    Fundamentally, the building blocks of a good directory are the same as all sites — provide useful info or a useful service to visitors.

    Lately, I've been trying to round out our offerings by providing reviews of featured links — in addition to adding a blog to the site (in order to make it a little more sticky).

    Of course, all of these things have been done and I'm not breaking new ground here. However, I try to separate myself from the rest by offering quality — quality links and quality reviews.

    And users and submitters have responded well — google analytics reported a 46% increase in visits month-over-month.
     
    dsendecki, Nov 28, 2008 IP
  4. newsniche

    newsniche Peon

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    #4
    I think there are 2 sets of criteria

    1. What makes a good directory in the eyes of a customer?

    2. What makes a good directory in the eyyes of the search engines?
     
    newsniche, Nov 28, 2008 IP
  5. Red_Knight

    Red_Knight Banned

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    #5
    .

    That's it, in a nutshell.

    But just any service will not do, and a mistake many will make time after time.


    Remember what you are running, a directory...... Presumably people go to a directory either when a big search engine lets them down, or to get hard to find information. They won't go to one to post to blogs.

    There are blog sites for that purpose. Try and determine what a user does and why they do it, don't take stupid risks because you don't know what to do next. Something I learnt many years ago.

    People go to search engines to search, not to hope the engine has it's own blog to post to.
     
    Red_Knight, Nov 28, 2008 IP
  6. dsendecki

    dsendecki Peon

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    #6
    I'm not providing a blog service, merely supplementing "featured links" with a review that is posted to a blog that is branded in the same manner as the directory itself.

    It's just a value-add that I feel doesn't detract, but rather supplements, the function of the site.

    It doesn't hurt that Google loves blogs and their spiders suck 'em up nice and quickly. Hence, it's just another way to appeal to visitors.
     
    dsendecki, Nov 28, 2008 IP
  7. stoner3221

    stoner3221 Notable Member

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    #7
    The determining factor for a directories value for many years has been based on the quality and size of its database. Page Rank and link sales have of course blinded many as to what makes a quality directory over the past few years however.
    Most directories are not making over $100 a month let alone $1000 but long well established directories easily make $1000+ a day.

    Putting a lot of money into well planned marketing and branding of a directory is one of the major keys to it's success.
     
    stoner3221, Nov 28, 2008 IP
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  8. syted

    syted Notable Member

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    #8
    A directory of any kind, by it's nature must be a resource of good quality content for the user. Besides that make it easy to use and navigate, visually attractive, fast-loading and user-friendly.
     
    syted, Nov 28, 2008 IP
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  9. Artifexus

    Artifexus Active Member

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    #9

    Boom! That sums it up very nicely in just two sentences!
     
    Artifexus, Nov 28, 2008 IP
  10. valterchaves

    valterchaves Peon

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    #10
    a high pagerank
     
    valterchaves, Nov 28, 2008 IP
  11. dsendecki

    dsendecki Peon

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    #11
    Pagerank does not a great directory make. Conversely, a great directory usually means that it'll attract good pagerank.
     
    dsendecki, Nov 28, 2008 IP
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  12. Red_Knight

    Red_Knight Banned

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    #12
    Agreed with totally.


    The above is a recipe for the following:

    • Bad or untargeted quality content
    • Added content without the user in mind
    • A directory built for PR selling
    • Will be penalised quickly by Google
    • Not taken seriously by important circles
    • Barely able to survive in the long-term
    • Driven by adsense earnings
    • A waste of time
    • Only appeal to webmasters, free link hunters and spammers
    • Ultimately lead to a crap resource

    A directory built with pagerank in mind, should be the furthest thing from everyone's mind. Directories built to sell adsense come next, and anything non-unique is third in my list to become another member of the 'me too' club.
     
    Red_Knight, Nov 28, 2008 IP
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