Build Your Own Website Directory

[vasperm]

It seems everywhere you turn on the internet today someone has started another low-quality general web directory plastered with Google Adsense ads in the hopes of making some easy money from other webmasters who are trying to acquire backlinks and traffic to their site. These directories have several things in common that dooms any possibility of them becoming a success:


poorly thought out or copied directory categories
default script template installed and not personalized
Google Adsense or other affiliate advertising is plastered all over the site
site is poorly marketed and will never provide traffic to links in the directory
site will accept any link to fill directory categories rather than focusing on quality listings

You can see these new directories popping up daily if you are a regular reader of any of the popular SEO forums. It seems that anyone who learns a little about search engine optimization gets the "original" idea to set up a website directory. With a market so saturated with bad content and greedy webmaster's it's hard to imagine that anyone is financially successful running a directory, but there are financially successful directories on the internet so it can be done.

To Niche or Not To Niche

There will always be a market for specialized directories who focus on one discrete topic and organize the resources within this topic logically. While search engine's are the internet user's first stop when trying to find resources, high quality website directories within any competitive industry can be found on the first page of results for popular searches at any search engine.

If you are going to start a website directory the first thing you need to decide is "what is this directory going to be about?". If you want to start a general web directory of resources you will be in direct competition with internet search engines and several directories that are already well established.

For the average webmaster that wants to start a web directory my suggestion is to pick a topic you are knowledgeable about and interested in and create a niche website directory about this topic. This approach has several advantages over starting a general website directory including:


you are knowledgeable about the subject and will know what categories are important to people in that industry
traffic to your directory will be targeted and industry specific benefiting the sites with outgoing links in your directory
less competition since you are specializing your site making it easier for you to become an industry authority
branding yourself is easier if you choose an industry to associate your directory with

If your goal is to make money with your directory make sure to consider this last, well after finalizing your directory topic, category choices, site layout and marketing plan.

Your goal should be to gain credibility within your industry first not plasture your site with advertising in the hopes of getting a few site visitors to click on the ads you have placed there.

Too many would be directory owners place affiliate ads ahead of their directory listings and above the directory categories on their main page.

You have to stop and ask yourself, what does this say about your website? Are you more concerned that your site visitors see your paid advertising or your directory listings?

What message does this layout choice send to businesses who may want to list in your directory? It's a safe bet that no one wants to see Google Adsense results listed above the directory listing that they have paid you for and you should keep that in mind when working on your layout.

Paid vs Free Directory Type

After selecting the main topic for your directory you should choose the business model that makes the most sense to what your goals are with the directory.

There are several popular directory business models on the internet including;


Paid Only - as the name suggests, you are required to pay to have your site listed in a paid only directory. Generally, sites in a paid directory are of higher quality since the webmaster's of these sites care enough about their business to spend money on them.
Free Only - you will not see this type of directory anymore as pretty much every directory script now comes pre-installed with a payment module.
Paid & Free - the most common form of directory model. Free links can be considered one-way or reciprocal since technically a reciprocal link does not cost money. Payment will usually make your listing appear ahead of other listings or with bolder styling to make it stand out over the free links.
Reciprocal Only - a common directory type but is getting a bad reputation. Some people view reciprocal only directories as link farms used to artificially drive up link popularity for a directory by forcing a return link prior to inclusion in the directory. While there are legitimate directories that are reciprocal only I would suggest going with one of the 3 previous options so your site does not get confused as a link farm.

The choice is yours but I strongly suggest using either the Paid Only or Paid & Free model. If you choose the Paid & Free model, after your directory has been in existence for a while and has gained some reputation you have the option to switch to a Paid Only model so you don't have to wade through 100's of low quality submissions a day.

If you want to keep a free option for webmasters you can make the free links "reciprocal only" in combination with your paid options. This will give your directory the added benefit of boosted link popularity from webmaster's "linking back" to your site which will help you become the authority site in your industry that you should be trying to be.
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[riderbabygurl]

It seems I already read this is other forum I wonder if you are mperreal in webicy forums
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[SearchTroop]

Great post... Question though....

What software platform would you suggest building a niche directory on?

I agree that NICHE is the way to go with everything on the web today, and I have a great niche with multiple sub-niches... I was looking to build out 3 directories in my sub niches... They are big enough to get tons of traffic, but I am stuck on which software to use to build it out?

Any suggestions?
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[DansMuayThaiMMA]

good post. ill admit I am guilty of that. I should have started a niche directory, since I have already seen the success with niches elsewhere.

live and learn
www.flaveslinkdirectory.com
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[betty]

This is really good information regarding creating new directory. I was thinking to build my own directory, hope this information will be helpful.
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[vikas.kukreja]

Hi,

thanks for the article. I totally agree with you for the importance of making a directory. That's why I've already made it up. Check my signature for the link.
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[mdamin76]

Agree. Good info.
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