Today we feature an interview with the owner of Ally Directory aka IPod. In the interview he talks about why he wanted to start a web directory and the many ways that you can promote them. Please take time to read it and remember comments are always welcome.
Q: Introduce us to your ally directory and yourself?
A: Hello everyone. I am Sharat Jaswal. I’m 24 years young, a webmaster by profession and a fun loving guy. Well I started Ally Directory in August 2006, and ever since it has been lot of efforts and dedication put into Ally Directory’s success.
Q: What made you want to own a directory and where did Ally come from?
A: I started a directory just when the directory market started heating up. Ally Directory was not my first directory. I owned two directories before Ally came into this web world. Frankly, I was more of a “QBC” at that time. Ally was just another QBC directory, for an initial month. But fortunately, I soon realized that directory is not all about making quick money. Soon I fell in love with this business and started taking Ally Directory very very seriously. Now, after one and a half years of hard work; I am proud to be owner of such a directory.
Coming to your question, I will say, yes, the quick bucks made me own a directory. But Ally was a totally different story.
Q: What would you say makes a quality directory?
A: I think everybody would say that quality and lot of backlinks, huge amount of indexed pages and a great traffic makes a quality directory. But I would like to add one special thing here. When you feel that you have a directory which actually has something for everyone, that is what I would call a quality directory. Directory alone running on some script is not a quality directory for me. You need information, lot of content and lot of visitors. Simple directories are mostly just visited by webmasters. A directory targeting general audience besides webmasters is what completes the directory.
Q: How do you promote your directory?
A: Frankly, I have lost count. I have used so many ways to promote my directory. I initially started with free directory submissions, but soon stopped it as the result was not very convincing. Then came paid directories, soon over I switched to “only” quality web directories. Then along with directories I started buying links on permanent keyword directories followed by bidding directories. I still promote my directory by the way of paid links. However one year back, I released a free phpLD template which gave me tremendous inlinks. And probably that changed the directory forever. There after I had been launching free phpLD, phpLinkBid, WordPress and site sift themes on regular basis. I think I am doing whatever good ways there are to promote a directory. The only thing that I am not able to do is the promotion by bragging about Ally on forums, etc. It feels a little awkward really.
Q. What would you say was hardest part of getting established?
A: It has been a hard journey so far. Promotion of directory was a little hard. Spending money from my pocket besides all the earning was another hard thing. But I think hardest thing was to make people believe in my directory. I strongly believe that a directory is completely established when people know, talk about and believe in your directory. In that regards, I think I still have to do a lot more to establish my directory.
You might get surprised to know that in last one and half year, I haven’t taken home a single penny from Ally Directory earnings. All went back in promotions.
Q: What 5 things do you like about directories?
A: Directories is a beautiful business on web. 5 things that I like about directories would be:
1. It’s one of the best way to get quality one way backlinks.
2. Directories help in big way to get targeted traffic for websites.
3. It’s a great way to get known. I came to know about most of websites via browsing through web directories.
4. Believe it or not, but directories helped me in making many new friends and colleagues. Also, some popular directories inspired me to work harder.
5. Established directories really pay you well when thing go the right way. I think everyone likes money. Isn’t it?
Q: What 5 things do you dislike about directories?
A: This would not be easy to answer since I love directories myself. But since you asked… 5 things that I dislike would be:
1. Sudden boom in directory market by QBC and scammers.
2. I hate people installing directories on old domains with PR and stuff, just to make some quick bucks.
3. Nearly 25 directories on average being launched everyday. And only 1 out of 100 makes it to the next year. All others are left to expire after some cash is made out of it.
4. Some directories overcharge for submissions, undeservingly.
5. I really really hate people who use domain name of an established directory but with a different TLD just to earn quick bucks. Hard work done by the original domain owner and benefits reaped by the QBC guy. I think all big directories have a copy directory somewhere on net.
Q: When considering if you would submit to a directory what do you look at?
A: There is no hard and fast rule for the submissions, honestly. Sometimes the owner’s reputation itself is enough for me to get listed in their directory. There are many factors like design, backlinks, indexed pages, popularity of directory, promotions by owner, traffic, prices, etc. One important factor that I consider these days is the expiration date of the domain. I like those which have been booked for 3-5 years in advance. I also submit to most of the directories that are listed Ally Directory (laughs).
Q: What one piece of advice would you give to a new directory owner?
A: Most of the directories never make it big stage because of the high expectations by a new directory owner. Keep your expectations low. Have lot of patience. Plan your promotion and growth, set goals, and implement your plans honestly to achieve your goals. Just don’t think of money first. Just think as to how your directory will help the guys who will get their listings in your directory. You will do well in start and there on, when you make a habit of it, you will succeed everyday!
Q: What are your plans for the future with your directory?
A: Well, I have recently changed the looks on the directory which supports all the scripts whether it be the directory or wordpress or article directory or bidding directory for the unique feel all over. I have plans to make some more subdomains on Ally which actually targets general audience. I have few hundred free templates in my plans too. That’s a never ending plan though. I think a webmaster niche forum shall be nice as well. I just hope, all works well with the plans.
Q: What do you think of our General Marketing Blog?
A: To be very honest, you are doing fantastic job with your blog. There is good amount of information which is actually useful to the webmasters. Your marketing tips and strategies will help lot of new and old webmasters. The blog is just a month old and already has lot many fans. I wish, the hard work pays off and may success be with you, everyday! Good luck!
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#1 by David G on December 28th, 2007
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Interesting reding. I just started my own blog come mini-directory so its good to hear from an insider about what to expect (although my site is quite different from a normal directory.)
David G’s last blog post..Killer Startups – reviews 30+ internet startups per working day – people vote for ones they think will be ‘killers’