Annual renewal fee directories SUCK - Page 4

Cornbread · 08-10-2007, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sitetutor

there are many many others, directories and niche directories such as blogcatalog.com
Also many sites which are not directories. SO basically, what I'm trying to say in this thread is that whatever your site is, is what your site is. People like Minstrel with seo tunnel vision will not understand that. Neither will 80 percent of the regular seo forum crowd. If all you know is how to follow someone who makes money and try to imitate that person, you will be a follower and pick up the crumbs. Think of something new and you might make something of youself

You really lost your focus on this post sitetutor. This post is in response to John Scott's dislike for web directories that charge a yearly fee year after year instead of giving a lifetime link. We got off topic slightly by talking about the directories that display the additional "authority" links in Google, but you are way off in left field. Can we get back on topic?

minstrel · 08-11-2007, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cornbread

You really lost your focus on this post sitetutor. This post is in response to John Scott's dislike for web directories that charge a yearly fee year after year instead of giving a lifetime link. We got off topic slightly by talking about the directories that display the additional "authority" links in Google, but you are way off in left field. Can we get back on topic?

The first thing you have to understand about Toots ("sitetutor") is that he has the attention span of a gnat. He rarely knows what the topic is because he can't pay attention long enough to actually read the thread. He just grabs a few "sound bites", chimes in, and then rushes off to spout them as his own ideas somewhere else.

The second thing you have to understand about Toots is that he has no idea what SEO is. He just blunders about with his particular brand of spamming and scamming, and exploiting kids for free design and graphics work, and he thinks that's SEO.

Bernard · 08-11-2007, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhnrang

Authority Directories
...
uncoverthenet
...

not anymore...

coolguy27 · 08-13-2007, 02:17 PM

Thanks for the post Sir John....

I agree with you better pay-off of one time than 1 year fee...

As what you said they are now in link-leasing business not directory business.. even if they are quality directories....

James Trotta · 08-21-2007, 12:50 AM

As a directory owner, I can see the appeal of charging an annual fee. However, I started my directory because there were certain things I wanted when I submitted to directories that none were offering me.One thing I want when I submit to a web directory is a one-time fee. So that's what I did for my directory.

I don't look at it as an ethical thing - all directory owners have to decide how to price and position their directories in the market. I do think that there is a larger market for one-time-feee directories...

Cornbread · 08-21-2007, 07:17 AM

So many web sites come and go and rise and fall on the Internet, with the continual review process that the good directory owners imploy they will remove the dead links and/or the sites that no longer meet the Directories quality criteria. If after a year the web site is still in existence and still quality, why make them pay again, those "time tested" web sites are the ones that you should want in a directory anyway.

Natural Elements · 08-22-2007, 04:22 PM

Well it is a free country, if some directories owner want to go with annual fee that's their decisions.

Honestly I agree with John, one time fee review is more appropriate for small and medium business.

Even Google give the chance to be on the top 10 whatever size the company is.

Why the big guys will have always the advantage even if the site is crap to be on the top? just because they can afford big bucks paid links, that's not fair at all.

When I am buying a car, you can find all kind of prices, but at least people with low incomes can buy a car.

So directories owners recently going on annual fees, should not forget how they started, I mean little guys like me at some point participated to grow your directories.

If you go on annual fees that's fine for people that can afford it, but let a door open for small businesses with one time fees, everybody will be happy.

! Ask ! · 08-24-2007, 06:42 PM

And what about a model based on a small yearly fee, example ($50 first year + $10 every year).

Natural Elements · 08-24-2007, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ! Ask !

And what about a model based on a small yearly fee, example ($50 first year + $10 every year).

Well if you ask me, I would prefer to see a Featured with yearly fee and a one time fee for a regular link, but if there is no choice, your suggestion is better than $50 every year.

I saw many paid directory owners going to full yearly fees, that's not good.

Just imagine if you are in a very competitive market you need a lot of power with directories or else. So if I need to list my site on, let's say, 100 of the most reputable directories it will cost me $5000 of advertising per year. That's not all, I also need to keep my products stocked. Let's not forget all the products that don't sell, which will bring you zero benefice.

I don't even talk about all the licences fees, corpo list names, professional copyrighters etc.... plus regular fees for running your site (computer, hosting, domains, SSL, pakaging, and time, etc...)

So, increasing the price of directory submissions or reviews has a heavy effect on running one of my business.

I am running two small directories, so I have an idea of how much that costs too. I don't think because you advertise your directory everywhere you will get more submissions but it will cost you thousands. You need to pay off your advertising campaign, in the end submissions will cost a lot. The question is: are they worth it? Some yes, some no, but you will never know exactly right away.

What are my options for my e-commerce? Submissions will be not be 100 as mentioned above, perhaps much less if I need to pay annually, and what happens if some of these loose power? This is another reason why it is a good idea to be listed on thousands directories annually? I don't think so.

I bet some directories with annual fees or reviews will not get as many sites as they've gotten before with one time fees or reviews.

So let's stay fair and accessible for all businesses.

! Ask ! · 08-24-2007, 09:25 PM

For keeping the directory integrity you need continuous review of listed sites so I think a small year review fee is a good model.
The second best model IMHO is featured (yearly), regular (permanent)

Bernard · 08-24-2007, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ! Ask !

For keeping the directory integrity you need continuous review of listed sites...

90% of this effort could be handled with a bot/spider and a similarity checker

Natural Elements · 08-24-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ! Ask !

For keeping the directory integrity you need continuous review of listed sites so I think a small year review fee is a good model.
The second best model IMHO is featured (yearly), regular (permanent)

Well I still thinking a yearly is the new fashion to make money, 2 years ago directories owners were on one time fee, so directory integrity, like Bernard said could be made with software or script.

The second model is more logical for me. But like I said before it's a free country, market or else. Try it and I will be happy to hear the results.

Good Luck

John Scott · 08-25-2007, 09:57 PM

Of course the annual review fees are great for making money. I just don't think it's a smart investment. Ask yourself, would you rather pay $70,000 one time for a Lexus? Or pay $70,000 every year for the same Lexus?

Natural Elements · 08-25-2007, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Scott

Of course the annual review fees are great for making money. I just don't think it's a smart investment. Ask yourself, would you rather pay $70,000 one time for a Lexus? Or pay $70,000 every year for the same Lexus?

That's very funny John, because I hesited again to give a car example in this post, lol.

What I tried to explain to ASK, annual fees would not bring more money, because a lot of e-commerce owners will not go for that (we all know we need to be listed on a decent quantity of high traffic directories ONE TIME FEE/REVIEW, so directory owners will loose the main clients for this type of links in my opinion.

Honestly I have listed my e-commerce on a few yearly, that will give me the time to find the type of directories I want to submit permanently.

Anyway, I don't know if my competitors like yearly fees/reviews, if they go for that, next year that will cost them a bunch of money lol

There is an excellent fable of Jean de La Fontaine:
http://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Le_Li%...e_et_la_Tortue

I hope you can translate this in English ;-)