Is my website a sinking ship?

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Affiliate X

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I just spent a few thousand dollars developing a local business directory focusing on one fairly small city.

With Foursquare and all of the websites and apps gaining so much popularity, combined with some advice I got from a semi-expert, I'm starting to think there isn't room for a locally focused business directory anymore.

Should I get out now before I sink more money into it? Or is there still a market for a local directory?
 
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My entire plan involved competing against Yellow Pages, but I neglected to consider all of the web apps and other things that are being developed. Very concerned so any input would really be appreciated.
 
Depends totally on the niche. If it's a business where the people in it aren't very technical, you won't see them going to Foursquare because they won't understand it (but they will understand business directories).What have you spent the money on? Business directory sites can be big for SEO (though I did read somewhere that Google has said they are devaluing business direcrories with receiprical links, so getting a good page rank can be more difficult)You can integrate your directory with Foursquare too btw...
 
I wouldn't say its a waste. As he said it depends on the niche. Or area even. Age. Everything. People use yellow pages a lot?
 
kiggd said:
Depends totally on the niche. If it's a business where the people in it aren't very technical, you won't see them going to Foursquare because they won't understand it (but they will understand business directories).What have you spent the money on? Business directory sites can be big for SEO (though I did read somewhere that Google has said they are devaluing business direcrories with receiprical links, so getting a good page rank can be more difficult)You can integrate your directory with Foursquare too btw...
Click to expand...

Well most of the money went towards developing a custom database scraper/poster to populate my site with all of the businesses listed on Yellow Pages, but in my own custom format for my site. Then I hired a couple guys to research established businesses not already listed and list them. I also just started paying people to recruit business ratings/reviews from the public which is working great for rankings but is becoming quite expensive.

I didn't know I could integrate with Foursquare. Seeing that I would be their competitor (as far as their new business directory app goes) I would have to imagine they wouldn't give me much room to work within their platform.
 
TehEpidemick said:
I wouldn't say its a waste. As he said it depends on the niche. Or area even. Age. Everything. People use yellow pages a lot?
Click to expand...

In my city the first thing people think of when they need to find a type of business is Yellow Pages.
 
I am going to go with get out now.

I personally don't know a single person that even use the yellow pages.
 
Affiliate X said:
In my city the first thing people think of when they need to find a type of business is Yellow Pages.
Click to expand...

They do that in my city too if they are 80 years old. Everyone else uses the internet. :)
 
Just make your directory "social media" friendly. It shouldn't be that much of a task now that you've got the system in place.
 
Turn that scraper/poster into a product, and sell it to people like me who want to do the same thing.

(But give me a free copy for giving you the idea.)

Seriously, that scraper, a PLR theme and a business directory plugin, and you have one hell of a WSO!
 
I also have an idea similar to yours but i have no idea how to make a database driven directory site. This can be huge for me because this site can easily get 1000 visitors daily and earn some adsense cash. Try to implement , your method
 
sldebo said:
Turn that scraper/poster into a product, and sell it to people like me who want to do the same thing.

(But give me a free copy for giving you the idea.)

Seriously, that scraper, a PLR theme and a business directory plugin, and you have one hell of a WSO!
Click to expand...

+ this. you can actually recoup the money you sank into your venture, if you reallt believe that it is a sinking ship. maybe JV with some guys with email lists to promote your WSO and you might even make a profit
 
Getting some mixed opinions here so I'm still unsure of what move to make. The site has great potential but will a business directory be useless 5 years from now?

I like to fully focus on one single project instead of having many different ones dividing my attention. Should I scrap this or can it be saved? I have a feeling even if the apps don't screw me, G will once enough business have websites or G+ pages.
 
I think you solution could simply be a matter of adapting your idea a little...Perhaps change the directory to cater for more of a defined market. Perhaps make your strictly a medical directory, if you look into the medical sector there is a massive sub niches within this sector.. from various specialist and all the way to alternative therapist for various illnesses. Build up a massive listing of medical professionals who will pay you advertise on your directory, created a second income stream by monetizing also with CPA offers like weight loss trials, men's libido trials, anti-ageing stuff and skin care trials...etc..etc... Hope this helps... keep us in the loop and let us know how it goes....Good luck dude.
 
As an additional to the my above comment, something else occured to me also... JV with people from BHW who live in developing countries where Internet use is experience massive growth and the potential to get in quick is huge...so perhaps take the above directory concept and get ur JV partner to get local country domain and then get the directory ranked well in that specific country.....due the country being developing there is less competition to get your stuff ranked. Example of a country that this COULD work in is South Africa :) where I reside :P
 
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