Introducing – UK Janta Business Directory

[scanet]

Hi,

My name is Glenn from N/R Chichester, West Sussex.

I would like to introduce you to http://www.janta.co.uk UK business directory.

Most businesses that visit the site sign up, the problem is marketing its sooo difficult, if anyone has any low cost ideas!

This forum is very nice and I will have a good rummage around.

[kyber]

Oh great, another business directory... now all I need is a directory of business directories (what do you mean "it's called Google and is a pain in the neck when you are trying to get at information"?).... :lol:


Sorry, that was rude. In a bad mood I guess. Welcome to the forum. Please do tell us a bit more about your directory and its USPs. I do use directories and once I have got used to a few am reluctant to search out anymore. I suspect many others are the same so there needs to be some powerful reason to consider another directory. (Not that appearing in as many directories as exist is necessarily a bad thing - unless you have to edit information in each one that it.)

Stuart

[scanet]

You are right, There are a lots around nowadays, I thought up Janta two years ago when there were not many around and have been coding on and off ever since.

It is different from most other directories but needs filling up to show it’s true potential.

Pay a visit and tell me what you think!

[kyber]

Looks pretty. What's different?

[Thais]

Hmm....it took ages downloading, then I was told the page couldn't be found. :roll: :!:

[MikeH]

Hi Glenn,

Welcome to the forum. What are the main objectives behind creating the directory? Who is it aimed at?

Mike.

[scanet]

What's different?

Businesses can sell their products/services directly through Janta via Paypal, Nochex or Worldpay payment systems (more will follow). Customers can add items to their basket and buy at their leisure, the basket contents will be available the next time they visit. The main aim of the business is to get as many businesses listed on the directory (which is free) and to give the customers a wide choice of UK products/services available in one place, which saves time and effort trudging around.

Sorry Thais I was doing some maintenance and had to take it off line for a while.

[gj]

Hi Glenn

Like Stuart, the issue I see with directories is that there are so many and unless you keep your own database of all the ones you have registered with, many of the listings will soon be out of date.

Very few of the directories I see touting for you to register actually give any details about how they are going to market the directory, get the name out there and attract visitors to the site. At least with a hard copy directory, you get a feel for the distribution, both geographic area and volume and possibly by sector.


I think the directories see it as an easy way to make money - you get people to register - you charge them a fee (for certain services perhaps) and just wait for all the visitors to come in. Then with the volume of visitors and the business every one does, all registered businesses will reregister each year and onward and upward goes the directory.

The bit everyone seems to forget is the cost, time and effort, in getting the directory to be used by punters. My guess is that this needs a fairly large budget - the marketing people on the forum could tell you more about this.

My gut feel is that it is easier to become a directory specialising in a particular geographic area or industry sector, that it is to be a general, national/international directory. Then the marketing can be focused. If you became the directory for the Chichester area, you could then begin to expand the geographic coverage.

Anyway, just some thoughts


Regards


Graham