Will the creation of new directories ever cease?

I think it is time to make these directories have a little more use than just cloning one that already exists. My thought is to make them as a compliment to a site that offers other stuff too. Like if I was to take the aquarium site in my signature I could add a directory of sites that offer things related to aquariums. That would be useful to visitors coming to the site.... Had to vent that, thanks for reading.

 

There will always be a place for niche directories. The "general all inclusive" directories though are another story.

 

The moment Google drops the bomb on them and doesn't give a $hit about their links anymore they won't be interesting anymore and be left alone.

 

TOPS30 is absolutely correct in my opinion - while they still have any sort of influence on SERPS people will build them, because it is a way to influence the results.

If the bomb gets dropped so that only a few remain, then the effort won't be worth it for most people and they will die off.

 

Actually, adsense is not a large part of most directories revenue model.

I think there are more directories as a result of the poor model set by DMOZ.

Keep in mind that the directory that appears to be the "Made for Adsense" site today may be something quite extroardiary a year or two from now.

 

I haven't looked into building one, but they seem easy to set up and promoting them isn't that hard if you're not too ambitious. A thread on DP already gives you lots of submissions!

Easy to set up >>> why not set one up?

And there you go, you get and you'll get millions...

 

From what I have seen there are more directories because people see it as a good way to promote websites. Nothing more. They don't do it because there isn't a good enough directory out there, they do it because they want a "piece of the pie".

 

Right you are Alucard. They are poping up because people are seeing places like bluefind charge $50 per link and they want in on the action.

 

People have been doing that for a long time.

They conduct their link exchanges in that format, such that they have related links to their site, and can link to a lot of sites without it clogging up a single links page on their site.

 

I think if you measured the number of normal internet user who relies on any directory to find sites on the internet, it would be miniscule. I think, as others have noted, it is simply to play the system and help with rankings etc. I am not sure how profitable any ad-based directories are, since I imagine 99% of their traffic is from submissions.

I am curious about the profitability of those who charge for listings, espeically the smaller ones, but I imagine it is free money at that point, and at least you can guarantee a place for all your sites.

I have a bunch of directories that are in very small niches, and are actually focused towards actual end-user traffic. I think there is still a lot of room for such things, especially if maintained because most niche link pages are horribly maintained.

In fact I imagine someone could go in to scores of old established niches and fill a void just by creating a relevant and updated directory point.

 

It's really a good thing having all the directories out there. With such a saturated industry especially with general directories I found myself getting on a few pr4 pages yesterday on a couple of just regular joe ones. When I started out I was paying and I don't see that happening again.

I started mine (in my footer) to make some potential $ but moreover to just get a feel of it, and I find it fun. Got really sick of the redirect urls on some sites and wanted to offer something back.

I agree as soon as G drops em like linkfarms interest will cease but I think the niche ones will stay.

 

1. I have some directories, simply because i enjoy classifying websites.

2. I built some directories, because i had to offer to some of the directories i submited to, a reciprocal link

 

Right now they are all just a way of inflating link popularity that Google hasn't dropped the axe on yet.

 

I think that might be a little cynical. I think there are definitely some niche directories out there whose creators have other motives.

But I would agree that most of them are just for link populatiry.

 

At the start of this thread I did say niche directories are valuable.

 

Gazelle .. Just as a personal question ..

Would you find this niche directory interesting ?

www .seo-xperts .com ?

 

The idea behind a niche directory is to have it as a feature of a site. Yours would be a useful feature to have on a website about SEO. Then people visiting your site would use it to find SEO experts to fit their needs. Hope this made sense.

 

I see .. You have a ration in your thinking.

In my opinion ... People are making directories these days, because they are so easy to implement (rather than a content rich, built from scratch website) and so easy to maintain.

And eventually, some do this for pleasure/passion, but the most : for IBL's.

 

I agree. Not just directories at all though, the huge surge in blogs is amazing. Lots of people are just waking up to the internet as more than an email.