How do you get people to pay to be listed in a brand new directory?

LennyP · 12-18-2006, 08:48 PM

I started a new directory and I have already seen the amount of junk that gets submitted when you allow free listings. Problem is I made a very small fee and the submissions just stopped. How do you get people to pay on an unknown quantity? Is the only way to get people to pay having a high page rank?

ninjashoes · 12-18-2006, 10:08 PM

Get better PR or noone will ever pay its just not worth it unless you have PR of 5 and up.

LennyP · 12-18-2006, 10:15 PM

I am working very hard at pr but it takes time. Many people have said that if you plan to be paid you should start paid. Did they promote an empty directory?

rankland · 12-19-2006, 12:28 AM

Lenny submit your back page categories to be seen by acual buyers. I hate to say it , but i will directories are not going to make you a living ......late.

LennyP · 12-19-2006, 09:13 AM

I'm not trying to make a living off of it. I just want it to be able to pay for itself and grow.

rankland · 12-19-2006, 10:43 AM

Well try looking at your site content to see how to get the best submission you can for spidering. make sure your site content will let you change your script from time to time.

people talk about pr. like it shows power.... well there wrong or new, because without high serp how can i posibly show anyboby my back page on key words , but let them believe it, and we'll see whos at the top in the end.....

sizzler_chetan · 12-23-2006, 02:40 AM

The best thing i would say is that you should promote a brand new directory to some extent then u should announce it if u are going to make it a paid one.

jumpenjuhosaphat · 12-23-2006, 02:57 AM

I made money off of a 2 day old directory, and I wasn't trying to sell any links. The thing is is that there are so many cookie cutter directories out there, if yours is another one of them, the only thing you can do is deal with the junk until you have some standings. The other thing you could do is get rid of the cookie cutter script and come up with a unique idea (or I'll sell you mine for $25,000..

)that will attract people to the concept of the directory instead of its PR rank.

DebbieV · 12-23-2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LennyP

How do you get people to pay on an unknown quantity? Is the only way to get people to pay having a high page rank?

It's all about perceived value. You don't need PR in order to receive paid submissions. If a submitter feels a listing in your directory will have a good ROI, they'll submit. You have to be able to convey that point, through creative marketing, PageRank or salesmanship. It's unfortunate that PR still has such a big influence...so until it comes around...

Offer incentives initially, everybody loves a bargain.

Get creative, 2 for 1, offer to upgrade a few listings, or a free annual featured listing for those that reciprocate, buy AdWords ads on sites with your target audience. If I see an ad, I know you're making an attempt at marketing, if I see your ad in a few places, I'm likely to check it out. It doesn't have to be strictly AdWords, it can be small banners, buttons or text ads (psst - look at the top of the page)

Grab a few cheap featured listings when you see new directories starting up - it'll get your directory seen by others, contact some other directory owners and see if they're interested in a cross promotional exchange (on your submission pages, exit pages, email confirmations).

And by all means, use a unique or custom template, if not initially, as soon as you can. They're available for $100 and up. It's hard to convince some that you're building a quality directory if you're using a free script with a free template.

tantantin · 12-24-2006, 09:05 AM

You can use this template its brand new. http://www.phpld-templates.com/web-directory/

! Ask ! · 12-24-2006, 10:51 AM

- Don’t offer free listings; populate the directory yourself with authoritative sites.

- Unique look is essential even more when you don’t have PR.

- Try to get traffic from forums and directory lists.

- Try to offer something unique to differentiate yourself.

I did all this and have no problems selling paid links on my PR0 directory.

simple · 12-25-2006, 11:14 AM

As long as you have a unique design, people well pay.

Hostnetric · 12-25-2006, 08:07 PM

You might consider adding content that is related to the sites content if it is a speciality site or simply adding content that is related to areas of high interest based on popular keywords. This will have the effect of helping your sites relevance when it comes to PR and if you submit your site as a directory on other directory sites with good PR's you can only help your cause even more in the next round of updates.

Content while not normal on many directories has become a noticeable change to the themes at some of the larger directories especially those that specialize in say hosting, electronics, etc. One thing it will do also is draw in visitors to read more about the articles you have written or commissioned to be written when they perceive your site as having value then your visitor counts will go up thus giving you more leverage down the road to sell your link submissions and advertising spaces.

Also consider as said earlier to putting an advertisement up with adwords even if it not the top position you will gain some traffic and lend more credibility to your site with webmasters who might consider adding their site to your list.

Finally do populate with good quality sites at first. This will help to add an image to your site as it begins and by all means try to have an original look with a decent link directory script that you purchase instead of the same old free ones you see that have no real features to them.

Good Luck!

-MGS- · 12-26-2006, 03:29 AM

Also, you have got to show that your directory is going some place and just not there for money.

Start to build backlinks and get good linkbacks to you

-Dan

sniperhiga · 12-26-2006, 05:18 PM

Even SEO professionals promote their directory to get good Google pr.
People add links in new directory with pr0 only when this directory appear on very popular website with huge traffic such as Teoma, Ask, SeoTool, SeoChat... Also people trust famous people. Pixelotto is a good example. MillionDollarHomepage creator or Bill Gross (overture creator) can just hint about small paid directory they created and hundereds webmasters will pay to submit their websites.

Hostnetric · 12-27-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniperhiga

Even SEO professionals promote their directory to get good Google pr.
People add links in new directory with pr0 only when this directory appear on very popular website with huge traffic such as Teoma, Ask, SeoTool, SeoChat... Also people trust famous people. Pixelotto is a good example. MillionDollarHomepage creator or Bill Gross (overture creator) can just hint about small paid directory they created and hundereds webmasters will pay to submit their websites.

This is true. The more well known you are or if you look to be rubbing shoulders with the well known people then you have a real shot at accomplishing this much quicker.

sniperhiga · 12-27-2006, 06:41 PM

With pr0 you can get advertisers if you create something extra in your directory... For examle: Create some promotion such as "submit website and you will get a chance to win 200 manual directories submission", or "submit a website, and get chance to win my homepage link".
Tell people from the homepage things like "We are new but websites like ... talk about us!" and give examles of your best link partners with urls.
Donate! for example: "submit link and 50% of your money will be donated to..."
Good luck!

simple · 12-27-2006, 07:27 PM

Being creative can be very rewarding. Offer something that your competitors don't offer. Something unique.

sniperhiga · 12-27-2006, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simple

Being creative can be very rewarding. Offer something that your competitors don't offer. Something unique.

Yes, but even little things like surveys, calendar, little tools, click counter, popular websites chat, statistic, search box will attract people. It is way better than Plain directory with stupid logo like "SEO friendly directory, we are #1. Get millions clicks"

Hostnetric · 12-28-2006, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniperhiga

Yes, but even little things like surveys, calendar, little tools, click counter, popular websites chat, statistic, search box will attract people. It is way better than Plain directory with stupid logo like "SEO friendly directory, we are #1. Get millions clicks"

True, You are never going to be known for all the traffic you send a client. In fact your directory will be utilized as part of someones link strategy before they believe that they will receive a world of traffic from it. Directories are just simply not normally traffic generators.