Define "Successful" Directory

[FSGDAG]

I know that everyone probably has a different definition of what makes a "successful" directory... But I'm really interested in what most people's opinions are on this

I know Niche Directories might be different then General Directories, but for the sake of this discussion, lets make it so that it encompasses all types of directories.

Is it the amount of unique visitors / hits per day... The amount of submissions per day / month... Is it your Google PR... Or is it all of those and then some

Try to be as specific as you can... There really isn't any right or wrong answer here, so please post what your idea of a "successful" directory is

[Bruceper]

I have some directories that don't get submissions for a month or more at a time, but they're still pulling in great traffic and income.

To me a successful site is one that drives traffic where you want it. If you want that to be ads then lots of clickthroughs are what make it successful.

I have one site that has a 14% clickthrough rate on ads, unfortunately since it is so targeted it only gets about 500 unique visitors per month. But it more than pays for itself.

Then again I have some sites that get huge traffic and almost no income, that one I still consider successful because of the traffic it gets.

So to answer your question, for me a successful site varies depending on what I want it to do for me.

[esm]

...what makes a "successful" directory...

a sucessful INDEXU directory is one that is still around after one year (give or take a few months).

If you want almost insurmountable odds to suceed, clone a slice of DMOZ.


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[FSGDAG]

a sucessful INDEXU directory is one that is still around after one year (give or take a few months).

If you want almost insurmountable odds to suceed, clone a slice of DMOZ.


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Anyone can leave a site up and running for over a year, if they have the money for hosting. I was hoping for something a little more detailed

[Bruceper]

Yes but most people put up a site and then let it sit, expecting something for nothing. When their renewal time comes up they just let the domain expire. I believe that is what ESM is referring to.

[esm]

... I was hoping for something a little more detailed

hmmmm...first, don't use DMOZ. second, work your ass off 16 hours a day, 7 days a week on your site. For a year. Become an expert at HTML, CSS and PHP. Customize you site and get unique listings.

Or you can hire dody. he says he can do it in 40 hours.

Success can only be measured by the site owner. Maybe he just wants to learn how to use HTML, PHP, etc. Maybe he wants to create a basic site for use by his high school, a membership club or some special project. Maybe he wants to make money.

Sucess can only be measured by the goals established by the owner. We can look at a site and evaluate it in terms of our own values and what the site "appears" to be trying to do. But it is just a guess.

Using the old 80-20 rule, I say at least 80% of new licensees never create any kind of sucessful website whatever their goal is. And it is just my impression but most INDEXU websites never last beyond the first year. And only a handful of those last more than a few years.



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[inspireme]

making money... which is the only reason i can see someone deciding to make a directory. If your site makes money enough for you to consider it a part of your income its successful... IMHO