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Thanks
Thanks
Firstly check how much cash you got to blow on links, then go to the sites and check them out. You want established ones that are in it for the long haul, don't spend over 5% of ad budget and get the main ones out of the way first.
You have Yahoo, Zeal - that's good. Try MS Small Business directory, Yell.com then leave it at that and monitor the traffic from those first. It'll take some time to get the figures and get an accurate measurement, but is worth it. Measure and monitor.
Business.com hmmmmm - nicely ranked and established, but it's only doing well from it's domain name, business keyword is one of the most highly searched words there is, and this is why they have done well.
I've heard conflicting viewsabout them, but haven't used them myself so can't say. Might be a 'safe' option though.
How come?
Most directories, even dmoz, are relatively useless for building traffic since most web users (99.99999%) have never even heard of them. As far as I can tell, they only serve the purpose of building backlinks.
Yes, they are crap backlinks. But I know of a couple sites that have gotten to the top of VERY competitive niches by simply having tons and tons of these crap links. Based on these very recent observations, I can only conclude that to google a link is a link is a link. And while some links are more relevant than others, in most situations it simply does not matter where you get your links from. It's freaking sad, really. It's like the articles sites. Want a couple thousand backlinks? Write 10 articles, submit them to 20 articles sites and once they syndicate those out, you'll have all the crappy, but google-recognized, links you need to ride the spam highway
Only use directories for this if they are A) Niche B) Established. Buying a link on some enhanced listing won't give you the results - ofcourse not, but that's not the reason for directories anyway......
Directories aren't designed for the visitor anymore, and that's problem number 1. Problem 2 has already been solved. And directory problem 3 is about to be sorted once and for all.
Customer trust in the directories is the toughest thing to overcome and the most expensive.
Sorry for my apparent brain damage today, but what was problem 2 and what was problem 3 again?
Thanks for the info so far I have submitted to Zeal Yahoo MSN Allestra a few niche directories I found
Excuse my ignorance, but is Allestra that big a name that it is named along-side Yahoo, MS small biz directory, and within the TOS of this forum?
Problem 2 is how to compete directory-wise at any sort of level, and is why 'niche' areas were and are still being looked into. The problem here is that the money maker niches were thought of a few years back, and any new niche will depend on big cash to make anything from it.
Even the Looksmart with it's 180 vertical additions will find it tough going to spark that interest, not to mention for every one of it's 'verticals' there is a major competitor that was established long before Looksmart dreamt of entering the vertical game. People use what they know, and the main players are still being sought after for search results, although some may be getting a little nervous with the new portals opening up. Like I said problem 2 has been done.
Problem 3 which applies to any search site is not about 'how to search or difference in search technology' but is about being BIG, power - that sort of thing, but it still won't solve the problem of keeping visitors or inventing new resources or attracting new audiences. I'll give a pointer in the right direction, and that is any new site/directory/engine or whatever MUST greatly improve the way visitors are being served, figure that one out and the rewards will make that person rich beyond the dreams of many. The problem is directory owners have the idea already, they just don't have a clue about how to serve visitors and make something passable into something fantastic.
I say again, you need 2 things for success:
A unique idea (selling point isn't enough)
or Major cash
Any old idea will not work, neither will copying UK General or niche directories etc - the next world-beater will be completely new, will be more of a resource than a directory or search engine, and will serve rather than take from advertisers, er but I point out that when serving, you will be making huge profits - it's just the service has to be maintained for the profits to be there year after year.
I don't think the answer lies in any forum, a simple pad and pencil will suffice, and probably take less time than frequenting forums. Time and effort is needed but unfortunately people just don't want to do that - they want the fast result, so they can bank it and enjoy life from an early age etc etc etc - well, it doesn't always work out like that, and sometimes good things do take time to perfect.
Think new, unique and perfection. Life is on the wire -everything else is simply waiting.
