How to create a successful business directory

[tinakramer]

I was thinking about setting up a business directory for my county. I figured it would be small enough for a first project but still large enough to not be a waste of time. What are some of the ways to best get the word out? Signs? Advertising? And how and how much should I charge for the listings? Yearly? Also, to get it going, should I populate the directory myself at first?

Thanks

 

[ginasims]

Your local chamber of commerce would be great place to start. Also have you thought about cross sells like banner design, web page creation, g00gle places and facebook pages. If you going to take the time to go offline to get clients, try and get them to buy all you can. As for the pricing I would offer a reasonable price for the listing try and use that as foot in the door for other services, just don't sell yourself short.

 

[the_demon]

I'm not sure if you have YellowPages or Google Places in your country but I think local directories are going by the way side.

 

[tinakramer]

I'm not sure if you have YellowPages or Google Places in your country but I think local directories are going by the way side.

I was thinking that a local directory for a smaller community would be more appealing to smaller business in the area. I would like for it to be one stop site for people that live in this county. And everything in the directory to only be related to the region.

 

[tinakramer]

Your local chamber of commerce would be great place to start. Also have you thought about cross sells like banner design, web page creation, g00gle places and facebook pages. If you going to take the time to go offline to get clients, try and get them to buy all you can. As for the pricing I would offer a reasonable price for the listing try and use that as foot in the door for other services, just don't sell yourself short.

Yes I have thought about banner ads. I was wondering if I should stop by each store and tell them about the directory, send out letters, or email?

 

[sicnarf]

Yes I have thought about banner ads. I was wondering if I should stop by each store and tell them about the directory, send out letters, or email?

My brother has a business directory in his community and does b2b (business to business). He's been doing it about a year and a half. It's really up and down. His problems - no way to pay online on his site, no upsells (websites, facebook, google places, mobile sites, review sites, etc.) and he undervalues his product (1, 2, or $300 a Year), they do beat out yellowpages and some other directories price wise. But, I think his customers undervalue him and his company since he charges so little.

He has a good concept, he just needs to expand it and charge more money.

 

[tinakramer]

My brother has a business directory in his community and does b2b (business to business). He's been doing it about a year and a half. It's really up and down. His problems - no way to pay online on his site, no upsells (websites, facebook, google places, mobile sites, review sites, etc.) and he undervalues his product (1, 2, or $300 a Year), they do beat out yellowpages and some other directories price wise. But, I think his customers undervalue him and his company since he charges so little.

He has a good concept, he just needs to expand it and charge more money.

Does he use a script, wordpress theme, or just html site? I dont know how much to charge. The template I was looking at lets you use paypal to charge when people sign up online. I wonder if it should be free and just charge for featured listings and ad space.

 

[lucky17]

Does he use a script, wordpress theme, or just html site? I dont know how much to charge. The template I was looking at lets you use paypal to charge when people sign up online. I wonder if it should be free and just charge for featured listings and ad space.

Can you pm me the link to the template that lets you use paypal

 

[ntnsllc]

Here's the one I'll be using. http://directorypress.net/ I'm going to create a niche business directory with categories for major US cities/regions using this template. I bought a PR5 domain for this. never done this before though, so learning as I go w/ the directory stuff. My thought is that it will be easier to charge for inclusion if I have a PR5 domain. I plan on charging $99 per year for a basic listing and $199 per year for a featured listing.

Anyway, you might check out directorypress.net. I am currently using the ShopperPress theme for an affiliate store and love the theme. I'm sure directorypress is just as good...built by the same people.

 

[MorganX]

@ntnsllc,

Thanks for the useful share.