How to promote a new web directory?

Web Directory Promotion

[kashifkb]

Hi everyone:

Can any web directory expert tell me please how to promote a web directory?

When should I expect to get payment for sponsored submissions in my directory?

Any help will be highly appreciated.

Best Regards
Junaid

[edited by: Webwork at 2:04 pm (utc) on Jan. 2, 2007]
[edit reason] Charter [/edit]

[Quadrille]

If you want your directory to do well, it needs a USP - something to differentiate it from the other 20,000+ directories out there.

You'd be wise to offer free submission and quality, rapid editing to build up to 'critical mass' - no-one but a fool would pay money to be added to an empty directory (would you?).

Promotion is much the same as any other site ... start with submitting your site to Quality Directories ...

[centime]

a question please, is there any advantage to be had from scripting a directory instead of getting a templated/prescripted directory

[Quadrille]

Depends.

If you have the skills to avoid the mistakes and shortcuts of the clones, then you'll do better.

Example: most 'off the shelf' directories produce duplicate URLs like they are going out of fashion; they often have multiple gimmicks that are difficult (or impossible) to turn off, and each throws up a multitude of URLs.

And there's plenty of other problems. But it's like anything else; only do it yourself if you can improve on the free / cheap / ready to go alternatives.

[Jordo needs a drink]

One way to promote a directory and get links is through RSS feeds.

Create RSS feeds for things like recently added sites, most popular sites, site of the day, etc...

Then submit those feeds to RSS directories.