Would you like to run a local business directory?

[outventor]

Everybody knows directories big & small, printed & online, more and less useful.

Anybody who have ever thought about running their own local directory is welcome to share his/hers thoughts on this.

Would you be interested in software/service allowing you to create local business directory for free [free script & free hosting]? By "free" I mean no upfront or subscription costs. The service would be supported by sharing of advertising profits.

You would need to purchase a domain for the website though - which is a good thing anyway because this way you will own it yourself, you won't be part of some BigCityDirectory.com/City franchise. Your site will be 100% local and you would be the sole owner of all collected data.

 

[Salt & Paper]

Who uses directories these days, and who would pay to be in one? (Generating these advertising profits?)

 

[Donster]

Who uses directories these days, and who would pay to be in one? (Generating these advertising profits?)

You would be very surprised. I run a series of printed local directories which have proved to be lucrative.

Getting a companies name out in the local community pays dividends for some of the businesses in my books.

The general theme is as follows:

Yell is hated universally
Internet is for some a "small fish in a huge pond"
One of my directories lands on 15000 doorsteps. And the retention rate is around 80%

 

[outventor]

Quite a few people I think.
Speaking of my neighborhood, there are 2 local directories. Judging by their circulation figures and time they have been around they are doing it right for themselves, advertisers and readers.
pink-pages.co.uk
rural-trader.co.uk

 

[IWYS]

I actually don't like online directories to be honest, there are so many out there that i'm not sure how much return i would get by buying into it. There are 2 local online directories which have a theme and nice that do well though.

I do really like the idea of a printed directory, but not like yell. For example i have just sent mine off for printing. I got 25 businesses to pay for a full page of advertising (A5 booklet) which covered my costs and a little profit. This will see 10,000 copied printed and distributed to the door of 10,000 local households. There are also 35 half page vouchers in there from businesses in the local area, which they were able to put in there for FREE, but it had to be a good offer for the reader.

The idea will be to set up a website to support the booklet, and also to get people to make a donation if they felt that the booklet was useful. All donations made would be donated to our local communited charter standard football team.

The plan is to publish the booklet Quaterly and grow, making a little profit, offering great value to the community, and also raising funds for the local community football club.

People seem to be buying into this concept locally, but i dont like the idea of just having a directory with business listings, and thats it.

 

[Richardsha]

Personally No. But I think Directories(Regional) generally make a lot of money from sponsers Ads & Affiliate programs, from a couple of bucks to couple of thousands a month. However, it requires great research, finding specific niche, blah blah.. all that stuff

 

[outventor]

If anybody wants to create a business directory I assume it is easier to start without need for any financial commitment.

Having said that, once the data has been collected nothing stops you from having the directory printed instead if you so wish.


Richardsha. I don't think there is other way to achieve success other than graft. I wouldn't be providing a license to print money, barely a tool [free] which one can try to use for his/hers benefit.

 

[Donster]

If anybody wants to create a business directory I assume it is easier to start without need for any financial commitment.

Having said that, once the data has been collected nothing stops you from having the directory printed instead if you so wish.


Richardsha. I don't think there is other way to achieve success other than graft. I wouldn't be providing a license to print money, barely a tool [free] which one can try to use for his/hers benefit.

In my experience. It also depends on the region you are marketing the directory in...and the current competition