Which is the best way to go?

I have just started 2 new directories.

Having fun keeping me busy but just want a bit of category advice.

I get lots of people stating I need many more categories.

Currently I am using the submit a site and I will create the appropriate subcategory approach, as I don't want a directory full of empty categories.

Is this the best way forward? or do most create many categories and leave them empty for people to submit too?

Thanks for advice

 

You will have a hard time getting folks to submit if you don't start with a number of categories. At a bare minimum you need to have most of the typical top level categories in place when you launch. Most people expect a new directory to have empty categories and will often seek out the empty ones to get better placement.

Submitters will expect some categories to be missing but they do not want to build your category structure for you.

 

Thanks for that YMC.

Both directories have now got around 20 top level and 110+ with sub cats so getting there slowly

 

Go to dmoz and see inspiraton about categorys

Main and sub categoryz

 

Why two directories? Are they going to have identical category structures? Try building one with unique if they are general purpose directories. You need some categories at the very least to let people have an idea of what they can submit to, also offer the option for them to add or suggest a category while they are submitting as this gets them to build the directory for you.

 

Sorry I forgot to add in original post that of course there are general categories to submit too over 100 in each. I just have read a lot about category dumps and seeing many young directories with thousands of categories wondered if this was an acceptable way to go. Yes they have category suggestion links.

Thanks for the great advice guys