Creating a directory

[kweiss]

Hey BHW!

I was wondering if anyone here runs or ran a directory before? I am planning to create one for a certain niche where I live. What problems did you guys face and is monetization easy?

Are directories still doable as in do people still use them in this age of Google maps?

 

[KenWalker]

following .. do share more when you can .

 

[SEOzack]

I have built one with around 200 listings, it isn't finished yet.

Google has pretty much taken on everything, but it doesn't mean they can do everything well.

They aren't really a big investment so why not just build it and see what happens.

 

[kweiss]

I have built one with around 200 listings, it isn't finished yet.

Google has pretty much taken on everything, but it doesn't mean they can do everything well.

They aren't really a big investment so why not just build it and see what happens.

Yeah, was thinking the same.

Are you making any money of your directory?

 

[ritafairclough]

I'd love to run a web directory. Problem is I find the latest wordpress directory themes completely overkill, bulky and ugly.

Around 5 years ago I had a couple built using esyndicat script (no longer operational) and made money through AdSense and direct ad sales.

Have you found a good script?

 

[SEOzack]

Yeah, was thinking the same.

Are you making any money of your directory?

Not yet, but it is the only one of its kind. I need to do some 'tidying up' to make it a little more presentable, and a few hundred more listings and then begin marketing it.

 

[Seo82]

I think the main thing today about directories is the SEO value they pass. If you want people to use your directory i think chances are slim. If you market your directory to SEO agencies you might make some money. I have 2 directories, one global and a second one which is focused in a specific state.
You need many links, in order to start making money you need to spend a ton. I still dont know if its worth if. I do have people signing up but currently only because its free.
Once people need to pay its much much harder to get subscribers.

 

[webdim]

Following this

 

[kweiss]

Around 5 years ago I had a couple built using esyndicat script (no longer operational) and made money through AdSense and direct ad sales.

Have you found a good script?

I did a small directory with classified ads on it for Students in Germany around 10 years ago. I used Wordpress back then and monetized using adsense.

It was a different (SEO-)World back then. I launched the site with like 10 listings and people just kept on finding the site and added listings. Income was around 30 EUR. Not bad for starters and no active work done on promoting the site at all.

My plan is to go back and make a directory in a different niche. I will stick with Wordpress. Monetization will be through Adsense and paid listings for premium positions and extra features.

 

[dichotom]

i think you are talking about business listing directories. right.
I think it is good way to get natural traffic from google if you have businesses listing searching for hotels in california etc for example.

 

[Dopious]

Make a very specific niche directory for a specific group of businesses and blog a lot on that niche, get some businesses in for free first and then charge for including businesses, it costs money to build a great niche directory resource and businesses want´s value when they signup, not just another free directory.

 

[grexy]

Oh man I can sing a song about this.

I have a directory & local product listing site with over 1 Million products. At scale any type of ranking is so hard to control because you have to do everything in bulk.

1) Monetization doesn't really pay off. If you aren't letting customers pay for results they are unhappy and leave, if you do let them pay for results you earn shit because well the type of traffic you need is super expensive

2) If you are literally just showing where the place is then it is utterly useless. You will never be better than google maps. If you are showing the exact services/products with reserve/checkout options you have a chance because you are actually doing something.