How many categories/levels to start with?

In your experience.

[fischermx]

I already have a big list of categories with up to 3 or 4 levels, which I madeup taking ideas from here and there.
But, to start with, I'm thiking may not a good idea to have such list? May be start with two levels only? What do you think?

Also, in your opinion which are the most popular first level categories for a general purpose directory?

[hutcheson]

I think you've got the curse before the hurt there.

Start with the information you want to present. It doesn't matter what someone else is looking for -- if that is not what you know, then you're just spamming the search engines. Focus (and I mean TIGHT focus) on what YOU know (and I mean, know better than 99 of the next 100 people.)

What kind of websites do YOU want to look at? What insight about that kind of websites can YOU provide from YOUR own knowledge and experience?

If you have something to contribute, the right people will appreciate it (no matter how many there are). If you don't, then theren't any "right people", you're just throwing swine patties before earls.

If you can look at some ODP or Yahoo category and say, "I could do a better job on that subject than they do!" -- then you've found the place to start. If not, then you've found out you're not ready to start yet.

[fischermx]

Thanks for your input.

Now, for the rest of the world, those which are not dmoz editors, could anybody give your opinion on this :

In your opinion which are the most popular first level categories for a general purpose directory?

[hutcheson]

There's no reason to suppose the most popular category at the ODP would be the most popular category on any other directory. On YOUR site, YOUR most popular category will be the one YOU do best.

[fischermx]

categories plural (not "category", singular.)
Like :

Arts
Business
Computers
Education
Entertainment
etc
etc

So, if the thread had some audience, it could go "I'd prefer to join Arts & Ententainment", then some other, would tell, "I like better to put Software outside of the computers category" because this and that, and on, and on.

I thought it could be a usefull discussion.

[Event_King]

Surely the most popular categories are based on the most visits each gets. eg:

Education 3700 visits

Business 34000 visits.

Mobile Phones is always popular, as buyers are looking for the best deals or to upgrade to the latest model etc. It might be Gifts nearer Christmas time.

I could administer any category well, but that can't 'make' a category popular. That's like suggesting you can force people to visit.

(Wow, if I could do that I'd bottle it and sell it for a fortune).

People decide if they want to visit a certain category or not - it's a lot to do with interest or what they are searching for at that time.

(Back to original post) Anyway, starting off with tons of categories is fine if you can get the clients in there, but even if you could, how will you handle the established ones. In other words what's your strategy for stopping say MSN, from crushing you once they discover your idea?

See this is what people don't realise, they think they can do what the yahoos can do. It's all very well starting a directory, but why would the traffic come to you, us or anyone.

Bit of a problem ain't it!