Ok here is a question that I don’t have a clear answer and I would also appreciate some feedback. According to my observations there are three common things that succesful paid for inclusion directories have.
In order of importance:
1. Brand Name
2. Medium to high PR
3. Large number of listings (obviously that takes time and is related with the age of the directory as well)
Let’s look at them one by one
Brand name is probably one of the most important factors. How can you build a recognisable brand name for your directory? The lucky ones where the ones creating directories early when they were just a few of them and webmasters could list by heart the available free and paid directories. However unless you can turn back time that’s not an option. So what can you do?
Name: pick a brandable unique name that others will remember along with a nice domain of course. I see directories named keyworddirectory and there are other directories named directorykeyword. Big mistake in my opinion. Take a look at Umdum, hah! Umdum, wtf does that mean? yet I remember it and that is what is important. Of course this doesn’t relate directly to the initial question but it is an important factor that we shouldn’t forget. Other methods of getting brand recognition, drop the name and a link to your directory wherever you can (don’t spam but don’t loose any opportunities either). Think a couple of ways to differentiate your directory but don’t apply them from the start, apply them gradually and always make announcements about them and turn the announcement into discussion. And yes announcements announcements and again announcements about everything redesigns, new features, promotions, number of listings reached, categories restructure, anything at all. Finally, banner advertising at webmaster related sites could be really helpful although I haven’t done any yet for my directories. Even if you don’t get good ROI you gain brand recognition and to be honest you can never pay enough for brand recognition.
I almost forgot, building a name for yourself at webmasters forums and in general in the webmasters community, that is corelated with the directory is also important.
Medium to high PR: Although I hate it most people prefer to submit to directories that have a decent PR, above 5 is the most common although I have seen successful PR4 directories. Very few people will pay to get listed in a directory with lower PR. Getting a PR of 4 or 5 shouldn’t be hard for most webmasters and I don’t really think that this need any further analysis.
Large number of listings: Ok this isn’t exactly essential but it helps, why? because whether we like it or not webmasters are like any other shopping group, they follow trends, if others submit (especially competitors) they are more likely to submit. So offering free listings at the start is essential for people (that are not well known by webmasters) starting a directory if they want to get their directory populated. Of course there is always the solution of submitting sites manually but it’s not fun 
. However manual additions by the owner is probably the best way to populate a directory because the quality of the sites will definetely be high. Now that I think of it I could have probably saved a lot of time if I manually added all the links in my directories, I would’t have to spend all that time renaming, changing descriptions and moving submissions **Hint Hint to submitters**
So what is the conclusion of all this? I guess for a guy like me with a directory like Your Index I will have to wait definetely until the next PR update and until it has at least double the listings that it has now. Now about the brand name, I really doubt that I can manage to create a recognisable brand name for at least 6 more months. So I will try and move gradually (Even if I turn to paid and then back to free and then back to paid that’s three announcements 
) and see what happens.
Related Posts
- Free Directory Scripts Name: Site-Sift Listing Language: PHP Paid Version: Yes (59.95$) Name: PHP Link Directory Language: PHP Paid Version: Yes (25$ with footer link 75$ without footer
- Directories and Adsense I have written this entry about a week ago, it was all ready on my external hard drive and all
- dirSpace Web Directory Review This is the first of a series of Directory reviews (mainly paid) that I am planning on writting mainly because
- Best Web Directories Let me start by saying that I haven't been a webmaster for that long so I remember quite clearly how
