cornwall - 2:10 pm on Oct 18, 2002 (gmt 0)

but the directory I'm thinking of would be tightly focused on a specific industry, which I think changes things quite a bit.

with a tightly focused directory I can see paying $50 or so for the link pop and the targeted traffic

I am with you all the way on those sentiments.

Specific sites that I have had indexed by "small" general directories like JoeAnt, GoGuides or Abrexa_UK produce very little traffic. However I have found that industry specific mini portal sites I am developing, but not promoting (to the extent that I am wanting to build traffic before I actively sell inclusions) are already attracting interested individuals who are prepared to pay for inclusion (or the opportunity to alter the directory entry ;) )

In other words the targetted traffic is already showing up in people's logs and that is driving them to investigate, and indeed be prepared to pay sums larger than the $50 you mention