Webwork - 6:08 pm on Nov 12, 2004 (gmt 0)

I'm not looking for answers or "the answer", as we are talking about the future and the only answer to that is "Who knows?". That said, here's my conjecture.

1. Yes, there's room for a straight links directory. There's room because it's the WWW and you can publish anything you wish. You can do it as a labor of love, for that reason alone.

2. As a commercial entity, a stand alone niche directory will probably have some possibilities so long as people continue to start their search for such directories in search engines - AND - your niche directory (for the moment) is liked (ranked) by the popular search engine of the moment. (Heavens, it might not be Google forever.)

3. If it's a pure links only directory it's commercial potential will be limited to the ROI value of a link, and again, that's limited by the friendliness of SEs.

4. If it's a niche directory 'with something extra' - like an active community - then it's value is likely to increase.

5. If it's a mini - or larger - portal, including a directory plus all manner of industry related functions online then it becomes a matter of popularity in the industry. How you get there is the question: Time, money, technology, connections, timing, good management, etc.

I imagine a future with a great variety of niche directories, coming in all flavors and a continuing jostling for position.