Directory Kit

How many directories do you own? One directory, two, three, maximum five? Since directories require a lot of hard work, most members of the directory business do not own a lot of directories. Owning a lot of directories requires time, resources and more importantly owner’s skills and experience in the directory business. A friend of mine, Malcolm, owns more than 50 directories. Yes, you are reading this right, he has more than 50 directories!

When I got to know it, I was very fascinated about the fact. In my mind, I thought that he knows something which helps him to run all his directories and thus I can learn something from him. I asked him a few questions, which helped me to understand the directory business better and thus will be useful to you as well.

Here is the interview, I had with him:

Q: First of all, introduce yourself to Directory Kit’s audience.

A: Hello … My name is Malcolm. I am thirty six years old resident of PHX, Arizona USA.

Q. What got you into making your own directories?

A: I started out in 2000 as a Landscape Superintendent doing all the new major
freeways in PHX, including the 101 and 202 as they were just being built and has been growing now for more then seven years at a steady pace.

I’ve been in the directory business a little over a year and a half now since I started with my first site. I liked the idea of working on websites as the web is getting bigger and the possibilities are to an extent endless and wanted something I could enjoy doing and hopefully make a career out of it.

Well, my first site was built in February 2006, and I did not know anything about SEO or for that matter how to get it were it would attract visitors or customers till I ran into a website explaining that i had to get backlinks and reciprocal partners for my website to be seen or even recognized in Google and Yahoo search rankings.

I soon joined and started using tools and learned the basics, then I started submitting to the search engines and web directories that were available at that time. I believe that one of my first encounters were Thales Directory as well as Abilogic, Gongee and a few others.

Needless to say it wasn’t long before I found a web directory forum (vilesilencers) and started submitting and becoming more and more interested at how they functioned and soon decided to build one.

Q: What do you think is a quality directory?

A: My view of a quality web directory is one that can offer its clients a fair and honest service that has the potential to raise their search engine rankings higher, and that offers the newest technology, design and trusted owner behind it. As for PR that comes in two ways - Time & Money.

Q. What was the hardest part in establishing your directories?

A: Time & Money are always going to be your toughest obstacles in anything you do, but with some hard work and effort a person can establish himself relatively fast online within a couple years in most cases and if someone plans and budgets resources correctly, then sooner.

I would say a few are actually established as they are my oldest and strongest 5 directories. We are waiting to see what this PR update will bring as a few more will be made PR 5 and hopefully a few are shown some love and given PR 6.

Q. Now you have more than 50 directories. Why did you decided to create so many? Is it hard to maintain them all? Or you think it’s better to have one ?

Well the price and timing were right there and at my reach so why not? I’m sure there are many others with several web directories as well, whether they are investing time and capital in theirs is an unknown to me. Myself as well as a few others spend a good many hours daily working or doing something to constantly upgrade them and keep them up to date.

I’ll say that owning this many is definatly a challenge but I believe that it is defiantly worth my time in the long run and if we get too busy then we get more help. Getting there wont be easy but who ever said life wont reward those that try?

Q: Now your directories are pretty popular. How did you promote it at the beginning?

A: Biz-king and Sleek both have a considerable amount of investment in them and are some of my best with Link-Stars, Lastlone, Bid-Dir and a few others that are my personal favorites as well as to submitters.

Link building is made much easier with the services (dotcompals) offers, which frees my time to keep building the stock I currently have.

Promoting them the way I want too is not the easiest when you have so many
mouths to feed, so I always look for a good deal on site-wides on blogs, web directories as well as forums that have traffic or PR rank to offer.

Q: What are do you dislike about other directories the most?

Those not willing to put an any effort into what they do and are just there to try and make the fast buck then dump the database and sell it a few months down the road …

Q: What are three factors that determine if you will submit your site into a directory or not?

1. Owner (I have to know you or feel you will stick it out).
2. PR and quality of the web directory.
3. Design and mods.

Q: Can you give one advice to beginners in directory business out there?

If you are thinking of getting into the web directory business then I would suggest you have a little capital as it will be needed for the first six months to build it, get traffic and PR which will be essential for sales.

Q: How do you see directory business in the next five years?

I see it very strong and prosperous for those willing to put time and effort into their directories. I would expect prices to be a little higher but worth the risk in submitting as the newer directories will have, I’m sure of, the newest technology available and rss being a major factor and a part of Google algo.

Q: Any interesting developments for your directory in the future that you can tell us about?

Well I’m sure we will be on top of any new technology available at that time as well as I’ve been thinking of doing something radical like a Digital Directory were it offers the best of the best. I believe that the search may be extended to include video, rss feeds, articles and much more.

Q: What do you think about Directory Kit?

A very good resource that is hopefully going to expand into many other topics of discussions including all webmaster related issues and any info pertaining web directories … you are on the right road and wish you success!

many thx,

malcolm

Don’t forget to leave comments, to show your appreciation of this interview. If you are a directory owner and want to be interviewed then please contact me.