My new portal will be running shortly - but its empty

[Andrew Thomas]

I have a new portal/directory (county specific)which should be up and running by the weekend. One problem I have nothing on it! :( as it is brand new. So its not even in the Search engines

How do you suggest i market this, so people are aware of the site and add their listing to it asap.

I'll be offering free and paid listings, maybe an offer like the first so many free for whatever type of listing.

The main problem is getting people to the site, do you think adwords would help my problem or just be a waste of money. Or should i advertise in the local papers, send out flyers/emails etc...

The directory will offer business listings, jobs, houses, classified ads, forums etc..

im sure this will work as there are other directories for this county (im on some of them for other businesses) that will not be as good as the one ive developed, and i know most of them charge £50.00 per year to advertise on.

So i just need the companies to view the site

any ideas?

[christopher]

Even if you current customers like the press release idea, that doesn't mean anything. You must get millions of companies posting the press releases - then you've got something to shout about, otherwise it's pointless doing it.

Directories allowing press releases to be posted - it sounds a bit desperate mate. I've never heard or seen any directory on the entire WWW do that.

I can't see how it's going to do you any favours. My concern is that the masses just won't go to a directory to view press releases - why? I'd just pick up a copy of my national rag for that.

It is most unusual. Sticky me your URL, so I can check out your web ranks. That way I can find out if you get enough traffic to warrant doing this release thing - then I can advise further.

[dickbaker]

My own experience pretty much mirrors what Christopher is saying about his site. I have a section on my site called "industry news," where I post new product releases (press releases).

The number of people viewing those is very, very small.

I will probably eliminate that section and replace it with a "goodies" section that has how-to articles, and other information that would be of interest to my niche visitors.

[christopher]

Articles are better than offering press releases, as people always write them and will post them. They are soooo desperate for a link here and a link there, it's a win win situation.

But the articles need to fit a site's theme! Get that right, and you're there. I also like sites that keep themselves updated. I like to be assured of the latest and accurate news about whatever.

That's advertising power..

[christopher]

My new advert promoter should be ready soon. We've had problems with a designer, which slowed down the design, and as this is a major project, and will give incredible benefit to whoever uses it, it must be done right before selling it.

I got rid of the original site designer, as he couldn't make up his mind if he was a web designer or not, so this hasn't helped at all, but the new guy I'm using seems more committed, and so far has been most helpful. It will be done.

Web designers eh.... Phew.

Has anybody else had web designer problems?

[dickbaker]

"Has anybody else had web designer problems?"

Oh, yes. I had a guy I used once who doesn't own a PC, just a Mac. He refused to believe that the site wasn't functioning properly on a PC. (I own both just to check things out).

I'm glad to hear that things are moving along fairly well, Christopher. As I mentioned before, the past couple of months have been very tough with regard to getting trial subscribers. All of the store owners are just too busy to take time to talk.

There's also been a few more "no's" when I call. I attribute this to the season: the stores are busy now, the cash registers are ringing, and they think they don't need to advertise.

The best times to advertise are when things are going well and when things are going poorly. Unfortunately, it's a concept lost on many business people.

It looks as though I may have to have a second source of income (SEO, anyone?) while I get this site to where I want it.

[christopher]

Getting companies to fill the directory isn't easy - and telesales works, but it's expensive too.

If your paying for calls, then what about using PPC adverts instead (to get companies)? Have you got a merchant account set up to a payment screen? As this will save you a ton of phone time, and you won't have to ask for the cash - they either sign up and pay, or they don't.

Currently I'm getting about 20 businesses per week into the directory, and it costs me nothing. But the downside is that it's slow, so I'll start using PPC soon instead. The new promoter will give unlimited service and will compete against subjex.com.

I hope this will be completed within a month's time, then I'll sell it big time. Was going to wait until the new design is done, but I can't wait for that, when I can make my move now, get the companies in, and then promote them all at once!

[The_Expert]

I had problems with designers, but hope to get started on advertising the directory quite seriously from Jan 2005. The redesign will happen in the new year also, and some stats for the 2 main ad sections too.

We will then seek partnerships from some major UK retailers, look into starting a Games Portal and maybe even a new kind of UK search engine. Certainly a Games Portal for sure though!

[The_Expert]

Our Ad promoter is coming along nicely.

A couple of changes need to be made to the way it will display the companies/clients, and I have to select the colours for it (which is not easy!). But so far so good.

Onwards.......

[The_Expert]

I hate web designers! God, why are they sooooo slow to do even the most basic things?

(pulling my hair out)