Why did YOU start a Web Directory?

Hi Everyone, wanted to find out some of the main reasons why anyone would want to start a web directory.

I started my directory some time ago to boost the page rank for some of my main websites (pass on PR). That method proved very profitable back then, but seems lots have changed in the past 6 months.

Is anyone running directories full time?

Why did you start your directory? Was it to sell advertising space and make big money? Google Adsense? Thanks.

 

For the learning experience and the SEO benefit from it, which I have been able to achieve. Money is secondary to me.

 

In no particular order:

• I had never built a directory so it was something new to try
• I got fed up with putting my sites and client sites in amongst blatant spam
• I needed a test bed for our directory script before we started selling it
• At the time I started my first one there were no art only directories that I could find so started one
• I'd lie if I didn't say money was a factor, my company is a business therefore everything it does needs to return a profit or it's not worth doing

 

to promote your brand name

 

i think increase traffic for site

 

I believe 99.9% who start a directory do it with the hopes they will become one of the big directories and make a fist full of cash. I seriously doubt those who say they are in it for the love of the link.

There have been many people who have come and gone during the last couple of years that have made decent money and as soon as Google hit them with the penalties they sold and moved on to the next thing.

Speaking for me, I started mine get a piece of the proverbial pie. And like most, I got my piece and have eaten it long ago... There is no more pie...

 

I started in the business around 10 years ago to develop a useful quality internet resource. There was no real money to be made in the business back then for a second tier directory.

 

For business, for money.

 

agree with pipes, this is business at all.

 

I should think for money (though I don't know how much money is still in this business) and for the SEO experience.

 

For the potential of earning cash.

 

These are all awesome answers and thanks for the response. Like I said, the main reason I created my directory was to pass on PR to other sites and it turned pretty good as everytime I added a site to my directory with a specific keyword or keyphrase in a "non competitive" niche, the rankings were amazing. Then it became difficult as nobody wanted to exchange the favor by linking back to the site. Thanks again and take care.

 

I started for a three way linking, it worked in the start but lot of spam links after that, and then i never bothered about it

 

compete with DMOZ.

 

To Make Money Online

 

I like compiling and categorising lists of Websites. You can learn a lot by creating your own category structure and then finding sites to populate them with.

I honestly don't expect ever to make a profit from my venture - but it keeps me out of mischief.

 

I see majority of the people here starting directory building and then progressing from thereon to earn online.

I am new in this field and hence am thinking on the same lines.

Regards,

RightMan

 

Very interesting post. What you have not told us people is whether you were all happy in the end-did you achieve your objectives?

 

to make easy money, Fassssst.