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How big is "big enough"?

         

Edwin

12:40 am on Nov 8, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



When launching a new local directory site about a particular locale, how big does it have to be to be "worth" launching i.e. to have any impact?

For example, if a place has 5,000 potentially relevant businesses, is a directory with 1,000 listings too small to be credible? That's an absolute measure - now what about if other directories covering the place only had <800 listings?

Do you have any specific metrics you apply before deciding when to stop building and start launching?

inbound

12:53 am on Nov 8, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



The measure has to be when the directory is genuinely useful.

Put yourself in the position of an average user (if there is such a thing) and think honestly if the site is good enough for them to come back to. It's people who return (or better, recommend) your site that count. One time visitors do not make for long term success.

Webwork

6:02 am on Nov 8, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



2 way street: Valuable to users = info. Valuable to advertisers = traffic that's likely to become customers.

Small local is interesting. I suspect that at the "small level" any number of people can access the same data and present it on a website. What will set your website apart? What will make it more valuable? How will you generate traffic?

I think small has its place but it will be a crowded place. I wouldn't count on retiring, or even making an income worth the trouble, unless I was the master of many such small places.

If you're simply doing it for love then whether it's 800, 1000, or 1800 doesn't much matter. Otherwise, see above.

Edwin

1:02 am on Nov 9, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Small local is interesting. I suspect that at the "small level" any number of people can access the same data and present it on a website. What will set your website apart? What will make it more valuable? How will you generate traffic?

Those are some very interesting points! I guess part of the puzzle, as you said, is to tackle multiple "localities" rather than a single one.

Chicago

1:11 am on Nov 9, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Specialization.
Utility.
Users.
Advertisers.
Deeper Specialization.
More utility.
More users.
More advertisers.

I would not want to be a little man playing a generalist game. At least not one who does so without realizing such.