So how much value do SEO's put on getting there clients into B2B's, which actually are of no use if only us Anoraks know they even exist.
Part of the problem, as I see it, with b2b sites in general is they promise too much. In addition, the "community" that many refer to either just doesn't get off the ground, or, if it does, it soon runs out of steam.
The best b2b sites are highly focused in a business sector, rather than trying to be a catch-all site.
I too ran a test with Tapaz and I've seen only one benefit - it's provided a link.
Have just had a mail offering me a free listing to this new site
"As a pre- launch special offer we are offering directory listings to a selected number of UK businesses FREE of charge. You will be charged no fee for your first listing and there are no hidden costs. In order to obtain a FREE listing for a whole year all you need to do is place a www.britishinformation.com button somewhere on your website."
As engine said about Tapaz, its another link.
Who wants a 10 quid bet that this time next year they will have joined thsose other B2B's in the Cyber Graveyard :)
I run a couple of business directories (split into b2b and b2c) which actually have well developed directory structures as opposed to the majority which simply search on a database. I do also provide keyword searching though.
Using this approach enables me to pull over 10,000 unique visitors per month from google.com and .co.uk simply by bottom feeding.
Since the visitors arrive as a search engine referal the traffic should be fairly relevant to the companies listed, and one would think that the visitors (being of a b2b orientation) would add their own companies to the directory - after all - there is a free option!
This is simply not the case, and growing the directory is proving very difficult. As a result I'm spending more time on optimisation in a bid to drive up traffic.
I think that part the problem is that the UK lacks a good and popular search engine from which to obtain referals. Google.co.uk is great but is not as popular as it should be in the UK. MSN.co.uk just shows so much crap from looksmart that for the most part, it's useless. Even though I appear on the #2 position in the MSN/looksmart results for my chosen keywords I see very little traffic from MSN uk.
Because the site is mainly a bottom feeder I need search engines that will spider most of the directory.
So I would be very interested to know what you're looking for in a business directory and where you would look for it.
Any idea where I can find some hard info on which are the most popular uk search engines?
Traffic, it's as simple as that.
>and where you would look for it.
I would look for a directory that ranked on my keywords or one that appeared in the logs.
MSN uk doesn't lend itself to SEO because so many results are returned from Looksmart for business directories and Inktomi doesn't appear to spider, but I have set up some keyword loaded pages through PT which are revealing some interesting new keyword combos.
My directory pages are lifting in Google with a little fine tuning, but I have a feeling that this may bring more traffic but will not significantly increase submissions.
The problem may lie in the ignorance of UK businesses and the way they use (or don't) use the web. Once UK companies have a web site they think they've arrived. What most of them actually have is an expensive and probably invisible online brochure!
I'm very surprised that I can attract so many individuals, searching across so many keyword combinations, without more of them recognising that my directories could be of use to them and not just a source of suppliers and services.
I must be missing something very obvious.
I do want my dinner. I do want a drink and I do want a B2B to generate "B"
** March 2002 ;)
My own approach has been to allow submittors to suggest new categories (on the basis that they know their markets better than me) which enables me to evolve the site, target more relevant keywords, and attract a wider audience to the benefit of everyone listed in the directory.
It's very difficult to explain in simple terms the benefits of a SE optimised, keyword loaded, well structured directory to the average person outside of this forum, who is more likely to be swayed by the big purple-headed guy in the back of a cab or a fish on a scooter whilst watching TV.
What specific market sector are you in Videoman?
Firstly, I'll go into a no-hopers directory for the link (Providing they dont want money).
I have never understood why a commercial site gets excited about hits when they have a conversion factor of 0.1%. If I stuffed my metas with all the XXX Keywords then I might get 1000 hits a day but it not going to bring me any extra business. From a SEO point of view to tell a client how many visitors are coming is one thing but if they all timewasters, so what.Trouble is there some Mega Gullible's and more!!
