Need advice on business directory website

Rich Struck

13 years ago

I think you would have better luck if your site was about a specific topic.

Thanks

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4324645].message }}

lotsofsnow

13 years ago

This depends largely on the traffic that you can generate.

If you can get lots of traffic to that directory and it's listings people will have no problem to pay you for it.

HP

Thanks

Signature

Call Center Fuel - High Volume Data
Delivering the highest quality leads in virtually all consumer verticals.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4324655].message }}

stephencc

13 years ago

I run three business directory sites, city specific, they are all free to sign up and I monetise with adsense, they have all main categories, I have 2 more ready to and
am considering paid options.

I can give you more details of my process if you wish.

-SCC

[ 1 ] Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4355341].message }}

Brazilraider 13 years ago

hey stephencc,

i'm in Brazil and working on my 1st project. A niche specific business directory. Can you give me some pointers? Maybe we can skype or e-mail since I cannot PM
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4356886].message }}
- stephencc 13 years ago
  
  Hi, I cannot PM either as I spend most of my time consulting and 'doing internet marketing but as a part of my strategy I need to build my presence here. Anyways,
  I run business directories in some of the major cities in the world. They all include the major categories, business, finance, building, law etc, etc.
  
  I monetise with adsense and some affiliate sales/banners.
  
  I/we perform traffic generation to all categories so people searching for plumbing / city name - will find our site.
  
  We also go for the main keyword eg. 'Sao Paolo Business Directory' for the homepage.
  
  We allow free listings, very difficult to get paid listings when you are under a certain level of signups !!!
  
  Now we have 100s of free listings all with contact details and email addresses !!!! now we can go back to them and market to them for monthly payments for banners etc.
  
  There you have it, my strategy - the key is to get ranked so people find your site and sign up though - it is a bit like an empty restaurant - why go there if it is empty ??
  
  Hope that helps,
  
  SCC
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4360345].message }}

davidtong

13 years ago

Originally Posted by stephencc

I run three business directory sites, city specific, they are all free to sign up and I monetise with adsense, they have all main categories, I have 2 more ready to and
am considering paid options.

I can give you more details of my process if you wish.

-SCC

Hi Stephen, I had a plan a few months ago to start a business directory towards a certain niche but I'm stumped as to how to execute it online.

I wanted to start a directory helping small-to-medium physical stores get more clients as this segment tends to lose out on online stores... I wanted the site to be a membership site (where the stores pay a low monthly subscription) where they can list their sales and discounts that can compete against online stores.

Then I got stuck as to how to execute the site and how to get customers to sign up, particularly those NOT in my local area. My main clients would ideally be US, UK, and Australia stores, and the scalability is HUGE, but I don't know how to deal with the sales-convincing aspect of it.

I was planning to start with our local (Singapore and South East Asia) market first, but they're not really 'threatened' by online stores due to warranty and shipping hassles dealing with US sites.

It seems so broad and promising, but the scale is too much for me to find out where to start...

-Dave

Thanks

Signature

░NO OPT IN - Best Themes for Amazon Review Sites Compared░

No Opt-In | How To Hire Niche Site Writers The Right Way

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4362433].message }}

stephencc

13 years ago

Hi,

I cannot PM as I dont post much [I am busy consulting with clients and running my own sites !!], but now want to raise my profile here so need to do so.

Yes from builders to doctors, arts and entertainment.

I get traffic by using my team and the tried and tested methods, link building, social media, articles, pinging, etc, etc - they work every time.

You can earn as much as the traffic, if people are looking for plumbers in say Boston and they come to your directory, some WILL click on the ads !!

SCC

Originally Posted by geraldlum

Hi Stephen,

When you mean main catorgies do you mean all e.g from books to baby products?

How do you get traffic and How much can your adsense earn you per websites?

Love to learn from your experiences!

Rgds
Gerald Lum

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4360355].message }}

David A Griffiths

13 years ago

stephencc is right - that initial content is all important, but once you get going they can be quite profitable and once they gain traction the site owner can leave it to run under its own steam and move on to the next idea. It has worked quite well for me in various niches / locations.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4360356].message }}

geraldlum

13 years ago

This reminds me one of the china biggest e commerce website "alibaba" tactics. They provide free of charge for a year before starting to charge. Now the lst thing is to promote our websites. Got to spend on advertising lst.

I'm planning to start a affiliate program lst but since it is still a empty restaurant I doubt affiliates will promote it.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4360729].message }}

stephencc 13 years ago

Hi,

Yes alibaba is a great example, I was in Shanghai in March consulting and
training on internet strategies and was trying to push this concept about
giving things away for free .... it works.

I started two directories in the last month, they are just sitting there now,
in a couple of weeks they WILL be on page one or two and then the signups
will ramp up.

After that you can market to the companies, offer consulting, SEO services,
etc, etc, etc.

SCC
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4361650].message }}

amritrr

13 years ago

Anything will work. All that matters is traffic. General or specific could be very much up to your liking. The question you should be asking is "How do I get traffic?" This is the first most important factor that will decide your directory fate.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4360807].message }}

agababryn

13 years ago

I prefer specific but if you have the traffic then specific or general does matter

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

For SEO, Website Hosting and design - http://agwebconsult.com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4360898].message }}

stephencc 13 years ago

understood but if you treat each category as a seperate site and drive traffic
to each one, then in the end you end up with a bigger presence as you are
catering for all businesses in a town.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4361652].message }}

geraldlum

13 years ago

I will set up a general directory and a specific directory. See what results I will get.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4361970].message }}

stephencc

13 years ago

Hi Mr Affiliate,

I do have a specific process that I follow, all signs up are 100% real businesses,
we login to the admin and check twice a week then approve, we almost always
approve all, sometimes you can see one company adding multiple pages from
the same site !!

Note - the main thing IS the traffic, and our team takes care of this using the
process that I developed over the years in Internet Marketing.

The PAGES are important, driving traffic to category specific pages e.g.
"plumbers in austin texas".

Hope that helps,

-SCC

Originally Posted by mraffiliate

I would be interested in your process on building directory sites.

Do you see that most of your sign-ups are from automated software?

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4362339].message }}

tmoby

13 years ago

I see it as the more targeted the traffic, the more its worth. Depends how much a client is worth to the business. Laser targeted niche specific directory's is what I'd go with

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4362552].message }}

Need advice on business directory website

Trending Topics

How did you turn it all around?

A healthy fascination for Hollywood...

Any thoughts on golf's latest phenom...Scottie Scheffler??

What's the Best IM-Related Skill to Learn Today That Can Help in the Future?

best high quality crypto traffic.