Making money with a free directory?

**stickycarrots** · 1 January, 2009, 01:25 AM

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

phpLD does seem to have completely dominated their niche.

Now it looks like they hope to expand out of it.

Here's part of their latest sales pitch:

While phpLD can still be used strictly as a link directory script, it has evolved into a full fledged CMS that allows for page creation, article submission, user submitted content, and the ability to customize nearly everything to fit the needs of your website.

Yeah, I noticed with every update they add more and more "CMS stuff"

**bullshitwebsites** · 1 January, 2009, 01:28 AM

Different niche needs different format of theme.

Don't care much of PHPld

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

phpLD does seem to have completely dominated their niche.

Now it looks like they hope to expand out of it.

Here's part of their latest sales pitch:

While phpLD can still be used strictly as a link directory script, it has evolved into a full fledged CMS that allows for page creation, article submission, user submitted content, and the ability to customize nearly everything to fit the needs of your website.

**elishevadpw** · 1 January, 2009, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

While phpLD can still be used strictly as a link directory script, it has evolved into a full fledged CMS that allows for page creation, article submission, user submitted content, and the ability to customize nearly everything to fit the needs of your website.

But I guess this version does not come for free?

**Charles** · 1 January, 2009, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

phpLD does seem to have completely dominated their niche.

Now it looks like they hope to expand out of it.

Here's part of their latest sales pitch:

While phpLD can still be used strictly as a link directory script, it has evolved into a full fledged CMS that allows for page creation, article submission, user submitted content, and the ability to customize nearly everything to fit the needs of your website.

There's always the possibility that you could publicly release your proxy toplist script, which could be expanded into a link directory.

**Will.Spencer** · 1 January, 2009, 14:36 PM

Originally Posted by elishevadpw

But I guess this version does not come for free?

$25 is pretty close to free.

When I was running my travel directory, I used a free script. It cost me a lot of time and money to maintain that site. phpLD would have been a lot less expensive in the long run. It's all about TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).

I prefer to use open source and free software whenever possible, but often business decisions make commercial software the right choice. There are reasons I am typing this message into vBulletin instead of into PHPBB or TikiWiki.

**gatekeeper** · 2 January, 2009, 18:30 PM

I'm interested with your topic sirs. How can I start with those directories? And what could be the best type that would drive consumers and not only surfers? And do you know the best place/site where to start off with a free one for beginners?

**Will.Spencer** · 2 January, 2009, 18:45 PM

Originally Posted by gatekeeper

How can I start with those directories? And what could be the best type that would drive consumers and not only surfers? And do you know the best place/site where to start off with a free one for beginners?

Select a script (I would choose phpLD for $25)
Select a hosting provider (I would recommend a low-cost, but not free, shared hosting package)
Select a niche (That choice is too personal for me to make a recommendation)
Install the script
Contact people or business and convince them to submit to your directory.
Build links to your directory

I run one copy of phpLD now, on a proxy list site.

I'm still trying to find the best niche for me before I create a new directory.

**bullshitwebsites** · 3 January, 2009, 19:23 PM

How to create a successful niche website:
A: K.I.S.S
1. A good catchy domain name.
2. Content.
3. Marketing the site.
4. Patience, Dedication, Passion, and Vision. "There is no such thing as Failures, they are only Delays"
5. Send GoodKarmaToYou message.
6. Keep It Simple Stupid.
7. Go back to A.

Will, seems like you and I have the same style.

One more thing, please please do not Charge yet, make it FREE, gets the traffic moving and then you can charge.

Learn it from me at my directory, free but donation is welcome. I earn more from the donation, google adsense and the featured section.

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

Select a script (I would choose phpLD for $25)
Select a hosting provider (I would recommend a low-cost, but not free, shared hosting package)
Select a niche (That choice is too personal for me to make a recommendation)
Install the script
Contact people or business and convince them to submit to your directory.
Build links to your directory

I run one copy of phpLD now, on a proxy list site.

I'm still trying to find the best niche for me before I create a new directory.

**Will.Spencer** · 3 January, 2009, 22:19 PM

Originally Posted by bullshitwebsites

One more thing, please please do not Charge yet, make it FREE, gets the traffic moving and then you can charge.

The reason I most like charging is to reduce spam.

My little travel directory received hundreds of spam submissions a day.

A $1 submission fee would have made 99% of those people go away.

**bullshitwebsites** · 3 January, 2009, 22:31 PM

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

The reason I most like charging is to reduce spam.

My little travel directory received hundreds of spam submissions a day.

A $1 submission fee would have made 99% of those people go away.

I get about 50-80 submissions a day and all the websites are professionally well designed, no parking ones.

Glad to say, I get lots of ideas by looking at their sites and making friend with them.
I guess my directory site BS website, is a reputable high integrity directory site.
Just don't judge the book by its cover.