Online directory building has become serious business. There are many types of directories to choose from, which can be created as a business directory, article directory, vendor directory, manufacturing directory, retail directory, etc. All of these can be quite lucrative.
There are several ways to make money with online directories.
These can be subscription based or free directories depending on the niche one selects and the demand in that area. The selection of a niche area is the most important factor in the profitability of a directory.
Some areas are highly competitive. Therefore, one has to specialize in their particular area and provide relevant material. Ultimately, the inclusion of content is a vital factor in the success of a directory.
What is a directory? A directory is made up of companies, suppliers, people, articles, etc. It is generally a database in a particular field or in more than one. An article directory is made up of articles from writers and other sites.
The beauty of a website directory is that it presents information related to any particular area in a very organized way. This is particularly beneficial for people looking for relevant information in one place.
There are numerous places on the Internet that can provide information on any particular subject. All this can be scattered in thousands of places, which can be a challenge for any researcher. If all this information is available in one place, that could really be a great help for users. People will be willing to pay for that kind of information, as it will save them a considerable amount of time.
The article directory is a niche area and there may be other niche areas within it. One can take a look at sites like EzineArticles.com, helium.com, ideamarketers.com, artilcecity.com etc. There are also related article directories such as magazine directory, newsletter directory, etc. The selection of a directory depends on the choice and aptitude of each one.
As we move forward, there is the potential for more and more website directories to emerge. There will be a growing trend to create in specialized areas. Niches are developing and then there are mini niches within niches. As people will search for more detailed information, website directories will focus on making them more and more relevant. Therefore, there is likely to be intense competition.
Creation
o First select a suitable domain name in your niche area and fill it with keywords
o Then set up a hosting account with some hosting website. The next step relates to installing the software and a dashboard on the hosting account.
o Create keyword-rich categories. For example, in an article directory, these can be money and finance, real estate, business, health, travel, relationships, etc.
o Then upload all the information one has and start looking for more information.
o Invite others to contribute to the database.
This is time consuming and can take several months to build a reputable website directory. Therefore, one needs to be patient with this. Keyword selection is very important. WordTracker or the Google Keyword Tool can be used.
Monetization of a website directory is another critical area, as the success of any online directory depends on how much revenue it can generate. The use of Google AdSense and affiliation with others are two main sources of income generation.
Content is king. The success or otherwise of any website directory depends on this single factor. This will also affect your search engine rankings.
Creating directories online can be more lucrative. There will be a need for special information in special areas. Website directories with irrelevant information will be removed. Anyone who delivers relevant content can benefit from internet directories. While there will undoubtedly be more competition and hundreds of new directories will thrive, the ones with the most relevant material will thrive.
