The short answer is, no traffic. Phone calls, yes, from people trying to sell stuff.
It's a very comprehensive directory, but, not a great driver of traffic for me or my clients.
Worryingly, they are using telecanvassers to sell the priority listings making impossible promises about top ten rankings on major search engines as a result of their listing, (Dohhh!!)
They promised this to one of my customers who is already top ten across the board for all his relevant phrases, which says everything about their profesional approach.
b) This is my vision for a UK business directory:
- Clear logical directory categories organised into industry market sectors with pure UK focus
- Generous (500chr) descriptions
- Additional keywords
- Full contact details
- Option to inlcude logo
- Appear in more than one category
- Suggest new categories during submission
- Free submission
- Get listed within 48 hours
Sounds too good to be true?
It exists. I created 'b' to offer an alternative to 'a'. In fact it exists as 2 seperate sites for b2b and b2c businesses.
Unfortunately that's as much as I can tell you!
Which brings me on to a topic related to the above - I thought WmW had a policy of not providing website exposure in postings - I may have missed something, but how did the Moonmist thread get through?
<side issue>
>Which brings me on to a topic related to the above - I thought WebmasterWorld had a policy of not providing website exposure in postings - I may have missed something, but how did the Moonmist thread get through?
Just to clarify things - there is a provision for you, and all users to place their url in their profile, as was done with Moonmist. They are developing a search capability which may benefit the general user base here and none of the discussion is of a promotional nature. The full terms of WebmasterWorld service are here [webmasterworld.com] and we do our best to keep this wonderful place on and even keel for the pleasure and benefit of ALL users. Please feel free to contact me via Stickymail if you'd like further clarification, and also, to keep this thread on topic. ;)
</side issue>
The problem with so many directories is the relatively high cost in running a telemarketing operation, thereby increasing the cost of entry. Promotion of the directory is the key to getting users to use it, not hassling poor unfortunates to spend a few hundred pounds on getting listed and achieving no traffic.
It is unfortunate that these companies put more effort and resources into telesales than the actual design and integrity of their websites.
But then is this the difference between a good website and a good business. I make only a trickle of income from a small percentage of affiliate links on these directories which doesn't even cover the hosting costs, let alone all the time I spend checking entries and developing.
Even Scoot's army of telesales people are struggling at the moment though, from what I see in the press locally.
