How to market a directory.

Well I started a new directory..It's more of an addon to my site..so its not really a directory in its own (ex: mydirectory.com)...My question is, whats the best way to get it out there and get people to find it? Link exchanges as normal?..I can't see how that would really bring in alot of hits though..Comments please..

You've posted in the right forum, SEO. Anyways, I think it would be better if you could get a separate domain for it if you are planning to develop it a lot. Still, make sure you get a good PR in Google. Post it in all forums, ask members to join their sites and try getting some good PR Sites in too. Affiliate with other Dir's or SE's.

Perhaps, as you do, you will get popular.

~ CC

I do have a few directories and I have built them up the same way as I do with other sites, but they can be harder to do. Reasons being that many sites don't want to exchange with directories and it can be very hard to get into other important directories like DMOZ, the Yahoo Diectory and the MSN directory, which help in positioning. You can submit your directory for review to, I think, strongestlinks.com, or something like that. They list tons of directories which a lot of people submit to. With your link exchanges, I would get a lot to the homepage, but also direct them to the main category pages as well.

Hope this helps.

thanks for the responses guys..really appriciate it!

Hey, good question and good answers. I had the same question. I offer free 5,000 pixels to any website to put up there image and link for free. Just go here and add your website its free.

http://www.onemillionwebpages.com

Also make sure you add your directory to all those lists of directories out there on the net. Alot of people use those when submitting sites. Inclusion in these alone will get you a several dozen submissions a day.

Good content is always the key .Sometimes we even add good web site we found on internet ourself to our web directory

Yes submit your site to websites which list directories such as stongestlinks as mentioned above. Also submit your directory to as many free directories as possible. Add it to your signature in forums and post post post! I'd also make a recirpricol link optional.

Be wary of charging or requiring a reciprocal link until your directory is very well established. Simply put, you won't get any links added to it. As they say, people like something for free.

Dan

First add few good sites and make site submission free after one year you can make it paid

It's all about content. Work with the quality, not quantity philosophy. Also be patient...everything takes time.

Keep on adding it to web directory lists such as:

http://www.directorycritic.com
http://www.dirstats.com
http://www.directoryphoria.com
http://www.web-directories.ws
http://www.2addhere.info

Hope that helps

You start to submit in directories, you will automatically get 100 of submissions in your site. For free directory submission visit http://www.tradeweblinks.com and http://www.topseofirms.com

(in no particular order)

Many directories have icons at the bottom of their pages for directory ranking sites - you can register on them and then you'll get traffic from it's members.
Here are a few for starters:
* http://www.topdirectorysearch.com/
* http://top.seo-links.org/
* http://www.linkdirectories.org/
* http://topdirectorys.com/

And a good site with a list of SEO friendly directories (downloadable Excel file) - Includes PR, so sort by PR and start with the highest ranks first, then work your way down.
* http://info.vilesilencer.com/

You can also search for forums that allow you to announce your directory - be sure to keep within the forum's guidelines so you aren't spamming.

You're also welcome to post in my directory if your site meets the requirements - see signature for link.

Do something different. As people mentioned above everyone likes something that is FREE.

I just recently launched a directory myself: http://www.NARFF.com

This is the promotion I have going on now and it is open to anyone that is interested here as well.

I am very excited about this project and as an opening promotion I am willing to offer a FREE Lifetime Feature to any site that adds a reciprocal link of PR3 or higher. There are 1 of 6 feature spots available for this promotion in every category. Once the 1 Lifetime Features are taken I will continue to give away the 5 final remaining Features Spots for Free in exchange for a reciprocal. If someone however comes to pay whoever has the lowest PR will get knocked off first. We will always link to you though. If you both have same PR it’s whoever joined last. So Submit a High PR Site Today and Enjoy the Feature for Life!

This is a great opportunity to get a FREE LIFETIME Feature and help my page get a decent page rank in the short-term so in the long run your site will benefit from a free lifetime feature on a HIGH PR Directory in exchange for 1 simple reciprocal link today!

If you are interested just submit your site as a Reciprocal. I will verify the link and your sites PR and if everything is ok I’ll add you immediately

Thanks for your participation!