Interview is with Temi Odurinde owner of Haabaa.com

[-MGS-]

Hey Guys,

This interview is done by Directory-Owners.Com

Well this interview is with Temi Odurinde owner of Haabaa.com


Q. Are you able to give us a short insight into your background?

I started my Information Technology career as a Novell 3.x administrator,
Novell was the dominant software on LANs in those days, over time, WindowsNT eclipsed Novell, I moved with the industry, trained and became MCSE, whenthe Internet started growing, I upgraded my MCSE to become an MCSE+1, since then I have worked more with the Internet side of things and less with LANs until, I got out of networking altogether. I also have a joint honours degree in Psychology and Computing.


Q. What is your internet experience?

My Internet experience is vast, it started when I work on LANs, I had to
installed TCP/IP protocol stacks on Windows 3.11 and Widows 95 to get then to connect to the Internet on 14Kbs dial up modems.

Q. How did the idea of Haabaa.com come to you?

I relocated from London to the West Midlands about five years or so ago,
prior to moving I worked for ICL/Fujitsu (or whatever they call themselves
these days) In the part of the West Midlands I moved to, huge LANs that
require my experience are thin on the ground, so I started Velnet Web Hosting and Haabaa.com.

Q. What was your biggest challenge getting the Haabaa.com to where it is
now?

Haabaa is not half way where I want it to be yet, my biggest challenge to
getting it where I want it to be is the correct software to get the
directory to work exactly how I want it to work, there are lots of
features I would like to add to make it a better directory. I commissioned a new software recently but what the company I awarded the coding to delivered was not to my satisfaction. If I can get the software to power Haabaa EXACTLY how I want it to work, then I would have over come the biggest challenge to making Haabaa a truly unique web directory, at present, it runs on a script that powers hundreds of other directories, that I am not proud of.


Q. What promotion methods do you use for Haabaa.com?

A mixture of promotion methods really, it ranges from submission to other
directories to promotion in forums, paid adverts on some websites
and of course links to Haabaa from users who like it or find it useful.

Q. Who do you think is your direct rival in the directory sector?

I cannot think of specifics, but I think any web directory that accepts
submission, be it paid or free is a potential rival, hence Haabaa needs to
work hard to ensure its one of the top directories on the shopping list of
webmasters when they are Identifying directories to use to promote their sites.


Q. In your view what is the biggest challenge for directory owners in this
day-an-age?

In my opinion, there are two major challenges to web directory owners; first
is to put clear blue waters between their directory and a link farm, there
is a very thin line between the two. Secondly, they need to justify the
existence of their web directory, it is very easy to start a web directory
but what is the point of a web directory if it is only repeating what
hundreds if not thousands of other web directories are already doing.


Q. What are the main points that make Haabaa.com stand out from all the
rest?

To be very frank on this question I do not think Haabaa standout
significantly from other directories, Haabaa Version 2 which I am working on at present will do that, current Haabaa.com

I try to set the inclusion fee very high so that it will keep away poor
quality websites I think this policy is working but we still come across poor
quality website that are able to afford the inclusion fee but we reject such sites.




Q. Have you got any future plan to expand Haabaa.com features?

Yes, there are plans in place to expand Haabaa features and distinguish it
from other directories. I am currently in the market for the right
programming company at the right price to implement the plans.


Q. With many website owners now placing high level's of attention to SEO, do you think that directories will have to evolve to keep up with the changes on the internet?

Yes, directories need to evolve to keep up with the changes, not only
because of SEO considerations but to give value for customers money as well. Most people submit websites to directories not expecting any significant traffic from the directory but just for SEO benefits, I think directory owners should evolve their directory to deliver traffic as well as SEO benefits to customers.

Q. With so many directories, what do you see for the future of the directory
industry?

I think over time, the directory industry will peak, and the difference
between the 'premiership' directories and 'division two' will be more pronounced. The premiership directories will prosper greatly and the division two directories are unlikely to.

Q. Do you own any other sites or scripts?

Yes, I do own other sites and scripts including a shopping cart script
called Boss Cart, which is undergoing a major upgrade at present.


Q. In your view what are the benefits (or disadvantages) of running a
directory?

I think the benefits of running a directory if you have other websites is
that you can give yourself free inclusion, the main disadvantage as far as
I am concerned is the non stop battle with spammers

Q. What do you think are the main key points to a successful directory?

A successful directory needs to have a unique and fresh approach to the
industry, there is a new directory called Deeply Linked, created by OWG, I
think it’s a fresh approach to web directory. Successful and fresh
directories should not do the same thing that thousands and thousands of other directories are
already doing.

Q. With so many directories, what do you see for the future of the industry?

I really do not think there is a bright future for the web directory
industry in its current form with most directories powered by the same script, creating the same categories, the industry needs to innovate and diversify to be a significant force in the internet marketing mix.


Q. In the history of Haabaa.com directory which days stand out most?

The days that will stand out in Haabaa.com history are yet to come, it will
be the day that Haabaa V2 goes online, then I will truly accept that I have
achieved some of my dreams for Haabaa.



Q Are you able to run a very successful directory and still have a personal
life?

Initially when Haabaa used to accept lots of free inclusions no, there was
hardly any time left for other things. Now that there is not guaranteed inclusion time for free submissions there is time for personal life and other projects too.

Q. How do you relax at the end of the day?

I love watching comedy DVDs and keeping up with premiership football.



More:

http://www.directory-owners.com/showthread.php?t=646

[sizzler_chetan]

Great interview

This :

I really do not think there is a bright future for the web directory
industry in its current form with most directories powered by the same script, creating the same categories, the industry needs to innovate and diversify to be a significant force in the internet marketing mix.

It is truly said but not for all of the directories.
aviva, alive, v7n directory, haabaa all are well established and specialised from the other loads of directories so there is a good future for those directories which are already well establised.

[Tyler Banfield]

I've never heard of Haabaa

[Vegabond]

Nice interview Dan, Thanks again Temi Odurinde is the most active person on the directory field.

[-MGS-]

Originally Posted by Tyler Banfield

I've never heard of Haabaa

what OMG, I quite a lot of poeple did. Well now you do

[stoner3221]

Nice interview, I can relate to developing a script that does what you want it to. It took me three years of development and a great deal of frustration to get the WoW script to where I wanted it.

[-MGS-]

Originally Posted by stoner3221

Nice interview, I can relate to developing a script that does what you want it to. It took me three years of development and a great deal of frustration to get the WoW script to where I wanted it.

Happy you can relate in some way

[sim64]

I've never met Temi, only exchanged emails, but just from those I got the
impression he was one of the good guys.
It's amazing just how many sites he appears to run, don't know where he
finds the time.

[urlstand]

Great hear from Temi..wish him best of luck

[-MGS-]

Glad you like it

-MGS-

[SA007]

Awesome interview Dan
Keep it up
Saad

[-MGS-]

Will do SA007

[SA007]

Originally Posted by -MGS-

Will do SA007

okay thats great news i hope he will be free since he is lost in directories
btw i mean Dan from that http://info.vilesilencer.com/

[talkwebz]

Originally Posted by sizzler_chetan

Great interview

This :


It is truly said but not for all of the directories.
aviva, alive, v7n directory, haabaa all are well established and specialised from the other loads of directories so there is a good future for those directories which are already well establised.

true..
i have heard of all these directories...

[-MGS-]

^ I agree with the aove. i have heard of them all

May people have. only a few would not

[vistadivine.com]

Nice interview.

Akash

[-MGS-]

Thanks

Glad you liked it