Article Directory - Still a Viable Business?

[bannor32]

Anyone in these woods ever (or currently) run an article directory? It is a business model I've been considering for a while, but I would love to hear some anecdotal evidence from anyone who has tried to make a go of it and hear how it went (is going) in terms of revenue before I pour a whole lot of time and effort into it.

I plan to build the directory around a single (though broad) niche rather than the EZA model that incorporates every topic under the sun. I am planning a few incentive strategies to attract authors willing to provide the directory with unique content, rather than just getting thousands of duplicate articles from Article Marketer, iSnare etc. The main monetization would ideally be from Adsense.

Any advice/tips/words of warning from someone who has been there, done that would be greatly appreciated.

[dexterc]

Hey bannor32, guess you and I are in this together. I have just set up a new Article Directory but the categories are very generalized like EZA. Thinking of whether should I niche it as well.

Hope to hear from what the other successful warriors here have to say.

[Jay Sullivan]

Been thinking about this too, in the health/fitness niche.

[Eric Lorence]

Just be ready to put a lot of time and energy into it, directories are not "autopilot".

Use your directory only as a part of a business plan, and focus on a niche. General directories are too numerous to really have any advantage.

Remember that the article directory model is just another form of managing content, it's the content and niche that matters more.

So in other words, pick a niche with a potentially huge following of active users, and plan a hub or system including the directory, a blog, forum, community network ect.

The general directory competition is just to great to focus on one site/system for your business.

[Tony Dean]

I run a new article directory for the last few weeks only because I am connected to hundreds of more article directories who in turn rotate my articles with in-text links and I do the same for them

It is not run for money just for the backlink 'juice' for two of my newer web sites that need a boost.

The article directory system I belong to you can check out in my sig. below, if you want to run one just for the backlinking and traffic then it is free. The script is so easy to install and you are up and running right away.

You can upload any amount of unique articles a day- no limit.
Just make sure they pass copyscape!

[Rob Anderson]

I agree to make it niche specific.
like in my case - crafters and work from home moms and small businesses.
BUT...
why cant i rename it and not call it a directory?
Call it an "article RSS storage site" so i sell the idea as simply another place to post your article - but you get something extra, like a rss aggragator, or a membership site, or a forum, or a full page per 4 article set, or something.
i do not know if the software can handle being twisted easily.

but if you look at sites like SEARCHWARP then you can see that they have respect.
respect = google love = traffic = money

rob

[JohnMcCabe]

Another vote for picking at least a general niche, and specific is better. I have one site left, not as broad as EZA but about 10 broad niches.

Drawing traffic without a lot of work is getting tougher, and the returns aren't justifying paid advertising. Right now, the returns from one ad network pretty much pay the monthly hosting bills, another kicks out a check 3-4 times a year (enough for a nice meal out, but not going to change a lifestyle).

I could probably squeeze more out of this site, but I have other projects that interest me more.