Should I offer free basic listing

[mumsbiz]

Thank you to everyone that has replied to my postings, I don't get any alert so I'll have to dig out prev post.

I run an online site which list local activities and classes for little ones - at moment it's not fully operational as some of the entry are still to be filled up - I would like to build a comprehensive listing - how do I populate a site like this , should I offer a free listing to businesses and companies to get the site going or charge a small fee but then I can't show any stats as the site has not been officially launched? Please help and any advice will be greatly appreciated.:confused:

[MyNI]

I think you will need to offer free listings to begin with. My Northern Irish business site is in development and it will include among other features, a business directory. This will put me in the same position as you and so I intend to offer a free 6 month basic account to the first 500 customers as well as around 100 free premium accounts to selected businesses.

[cjd]

Ask yourselelf how much you would pay for it ;-)

[ie offer it free until it has a value]