Business Potential & Aspects of Directories

[lavista]

Hi
I am new to this forum and the directory industry. Have a few business questions and would appreciate feedback and comments.

1) How much can the average webmaster make in the short term (3mths, 6 mths) and long term (1-2 years)?
For eg. this forummer at webmasterworld says he makes 10 pounds a day after 3 mths with PR0.
http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum17/2400.htm
Any1 has any success or disaster stories to share?

2) Best business model- Niche (targetting for eg. travel industry or telecoms industry) like a vortal (vertical portal) or broad horizontal directory (hortal) covering all categories like dmoz.com :D

3) One stop centre- Aggregating all phpLD directories?
Since the directory industry is very very competitive, shouldn't the phpLD community here start a one-stop submission like
http://www.freewebsubmission.com/
http://www.submitexpress.com/submit2500.html
phpLD webmasters sign up as members and add their sites to the central directory.
Then every time a webmaster submits his site to a phpLD member directory, his site is automatically added to all phpLD member directories.
Is there a script already or a forummer here already has such a central directory?
Please share.
Thanks. :D

[droolingmnky]

1)
While I don't think your going to be getting any one to actually disclose how much they have made from their site, I can tell you it's all dependant on the directory.

If it's well designed has alot of advertising, etc etc etc you could in theory make XX-XXX a month. The problem is that unless you have a super duper directory on crack and can charge a fee per month and have it setup as a subscription then yeah it's some what reliable. Until you hit that status I'd keep it low, the numbers I've seen from what directory owners that have sold their directories most of their revenue for their life time does not go over 300. (I've seen about 3)

I will disclose that I've made low $XXX last month and my expectations were $X for the month.


The disaster was when I finally figured out my hourly rate, I cried. :eek:

2) If your wanting some one to say make a ___ directory I wouldn't expect it here. Niche or general, it's all about how bad people want to pay, free submissions generate a nice amount of traffic. If there's no difference between free and paid submissions you won't make squat.

3)

I don't know about you but I'm a control freak. I want absolute control over what's listed and whats not. Oh if there was a service out there, I couldn't see myself signing up. There are a few places that if you announce on or add a link you'll get enough traffic to give you a decent start.

[anon]

One of these days i'll make a directory for myself. :)

[Optimit]

I think that the value of a directory is directly related to the amount of work you put into it. They all take time, and only a few months is not enough.

I have several directories. Most make me $x/month, while one makes me $xxx/month. like I said, it is all in how much work you put into it.

[lavista]

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Thanks for yr frank comments.
Yes, much of what I read in other forums is in line with yr observations XX-XXX mthly income.
Maybe that is why most guys start several directories so that 10 directories=XXX-XXXX income, haha :D