Help me in building a directory

[nandini]

Guys I have decided to build a web directory., on the same lines of wow, yahoo, dmoz and bluefind...

I have done all the paperwork and now I am about to start to code, even chosen a domain name..

Now please help me by telling what the problems I am going to face.. And if I am not able to answer any of your questions, this means I haven`t done my homework right..

But first few things..

1. It will be a paid directory, but submissions will be as low as US$5., to avoid spammers.
2. I am having a small and decent budget right now, but i do have a monthly budget for it , and I have decided to support it for 6 months, till it becomes self supporting. I am targetting PR7 by six months..
3. Design wise, I am going to be a bit different, will promise you all to give it a fresh, clean and refreshing look, which all the directories are missing???
Obviosusly vesy less graphics, but very neat and clean.. which I currently find no directory to be that refreshing.
4. I will be taking help of human editors, to filter things..
5. PHP based...
6.
7.
8. This list will go on.. lets hear all you people first...


Thanks ..

[awall19]

best of luck

[younghistorians]

I'd consider raising the submission price. Even though that $5 will make the directory alot easier to get into for some people (even kids), but $5 really isn't that much. I don't think it would actually stop any spammers.

Were you considering making the directory more like Dmoz, with volunteer editors, or more like Bluefind, with paid editors?

[awall19]

Originally Posted by younghistorians

I'd consider raising the submission price. Even though that $5 will make the directory alot easier to get into for some people (even kids), but $5 really isn't that much. I don't think it would actually stop any spammers.

Were you considering making the directory more like Dmoz, with volunteer editors, or more like Bluefind, with paid editors?

$5 does stop spam entries as the whole idea of spam entries is quick automated submissions.

free - $200 is a reasonable range depending on what you are trying to do and how hard you market your site.

[UKZJ007]

Very true - Even $0.01 would reduce spam submissions.

[nandini]

Originally Posted by younghistorians

Were you considering making the directory more like Dmoz, with volunteer editors, or more like Bluefind, with paid editors?

Actually i will ask my content writers to act as editors.. So I will be using paid editors.

[nandini]

Originally Posted by awall19

best of luck

awall19 being a SEOguru I was expecting some more inputs from you...
You are so successful in your projects. Give me some tips...

[UKZJ007]

Theres just too many directories at the moment, thats why he is saying "good luck" - too much competition

[Pinyo]

There should be no problem. PR is still a hot commodity (although you cannot sell PR, you can set up your directory with this in mind).

Based on some of the other directories shortfall you can. Create Directory that is:

1. Has PR on sub pages
2. Spiderable, esp by Googlebot
3. Allows flexibility in having short key words in the anchor text

BlueFind and my directory meet these criteria above, but BlueFind is general topics directory and has higher PR.

You can also look at uniques idea like.
1. Natural search <-- Gimpsy
2. Review and ranking <-- JoeAnt
3. Cross-referenced by topics/regions
4. Specialized directory <-- directory and link exchange in one, etc.
4. Niche directory <-- REALS.com

I hope this helps.

[stoner3221]

Build your directory for webmasters. Give them what they need “lots of links” and offer exceptional customer service and you will do fine. The web always has room for more quality resources. It already has an abundance of poor quality directories that offer very little service and take months to get your submission in. Be prepared for a lot of work. Don’t make your directory public until you have all the bugs worked out and a reasonable database developed. First impressions last a long time with webmasters.

[awall19]

Originally Posted by nandini

awall19 being a SEOguru I was expecting some more inputs from you...
You are so successful in your projects. Give me some tips...

I am really not all that successful yet...I would listen to the stuff Bruce (Stoner3221) says though if I wanted to make a directory.

[nandini]

Originally Posted by awall19

I am really not all that successful yet...I would listen to the stuff Bruce (Stoner3221) says though if I wanted to make a directory.

Thats the understatement of the year, i joined this forum, when one of my collegues showed me posts and work done by you, and I was told you are an active participant here. (and actually you turned out to be moderator ... )

Anyway I will ask Stoner3221, can you pass me his some more details.

[nandini]

[quote="nandini"]

Originally Posted by awall19

I am really not all that successful yet...I would listen to the stuff Bruce (Stoner3221) says though if I wanted to make a directory.

Thats the understatement of the year, i joined this forum, when one of my collegues showed me posts and work done by you, and I was told you are an active participant here. (and actually you turned out to be moderator ... )

[nandini]

Originally Posted by stoner3221

Build your directory for webmasters. Give them what they need “lots of links” and offer exceptional customer service and you will do fine. The web always has room for more quality resources. It already has an abundance of poor quality directories that offer very little service and take months to get your submission in. Be prepared for a lot of work. Don’t make your directory public until you have all the bugs worked out and a reasonable database developed. First impressions last a long time with webmasters.

Yeah I doing that.... its a great advice.. And I am prepared for a lot of work... I will be working on it for 3 weeks, adding all the categories, before launching it. This is the only reason I haven`t disclosed the name...

I will be adding few quality sites myself, and a list of friends site...for starters and then will move forward...

[awall19]

Originally Posted by nandini

I will be adding few quality sites myself, and a list of friends site...for starters and then will move forward...

make sure to add me with "SEO" in the link text

once your directory is up and running submit it to http://www.directoryarchives.com & the other sites I listed here
http://www.directoryarchives.com/index.php?c=335
and many of the other web directories and whatnot.

BlueFind's directories category has decent PageRank too. you want a PR of 6 almost right out the gate. listing it in DirectoryArchives, BlueFind, and a couple other sites should give you a 5 or 6 right away.

[John Scott]

My tip:

Never, ever underestimate the work involved in building a directory. We're talking a min of 1000+ manhours just to get it so it resembles a general web directory, then tens of thousands of manhours listing sites to get it half-way useful for users.


And even then, you still need the #1 ingredient: Promotion.

[nandini]

Originally Posted by awall19

make sure to add me with "SEO" in the link text

Awall is a gem.... the first directory to be listed will be none other than seobook.com and with SEO in anchor text. Thats for sure.
I am going for sponsored listing in Bluefind and others too.

Originally Posted by JohnScott

My tip:
Never, ever underestimate the work involved in building a directory. We're talking a min of 1000+ manhours ...
And even then, you still need the #1 ingredient: Promotion.

Hi John! I don`t have that much promotion fees like you are spending. But I am targeting a base PR of 7 within 6 months. I have fixed a monthy budget for myself, until and unless it becomes self supporting.

I have made a team of three people who will work as programmers and editors the directory will be ready by next month. Testing things on local server though. I understand you point...

But whoever posts in this thread giving some tips will be given two life time submissions free of cost...lol


Lets starts from here only..

[semji]

Originally Posted by nandini

Guys I have decided ...

Wow thats good idea, at once that idea also cross my mind. I hope somebody should go for that kind of directory for India only.
All the very best.
thanx and rgds
semji

[nandini]

Thanks semji for you suggestion...

[thebassman]

I think you can get to PR7 in less than 6 months. 3-4 tops.