Creating Directories That Will Attract Traffic and Raise Your Page Ranking

If your goal is to earn money from Google Adsense through content or article directories, you're better off setting your sights elsewhere.  Directories are not high performers when it comes to Google Adsense ads and if you expect a good stream of income from these, you're bound to get disappointed.  However, there are other things that you can expect from creating directories and if you look closely, they could be your ticket to finding a good source of revenue.

What directories can offer you

Online directories are repositories of Web content; usually articles, write-ups, news, video and audio clips or links to other websites.  They can be part of a group of sites found on a larger host site or they can be independent.  People go to these sites either to submit content and links or to find them. 

Directories are beneficial in several ways:

They bring in traffic.

If you understand how, traffic can be used to bring in revenues through your directory.  Once you set this up, visitors come to pay you a visit like writers and site owners who want to submit their articles and webmasters who wish to submit links to their websites.  Traffic can be a good source of either cash (if and when you charge for links to your website) and lists for your Internet marketing efforts.

They can get you paid directly.

Again, charging for links will help you monetize your directory.  But this can only be done if your site has already built a reputation, is generally popular or at least has a niche following and enjoys a high volume traffic.  You can also charge for links if your directory is enjoying a high PageRank.  Your directory's popularity will mutually benefit other sites because it places them in quality company.

Directories provide reciprocal links.

Reciprocal links are simply links that point back to your website.  A high ranking directory can do this.  More links mean more traffic and better relevancy for your directory.

Creating directories

You could create a basic directory using good old HTML or you could make it easier on yourself by using applications such as Wordpad, Dreamweaver and FrontPage.  If you're computer savvy and know your way around scripts, you can use those instead and simply build a MySQL database.  If you want a cheaper way to do it, check out directory scripts being offered for free online. 

Determine your subject matter.

What is your goal in putting up a directory?  Make this clear from the get-go.  This will help you design a well-organized website.  You should also decide at this point on the type of subjects you want to include on your directory.  It's a good idea to offer a variety of subjects.  Try popular subjects such as finance, credit, gaming, travel, Internet marketing and the like.

You could also take one general subject and then offer to post content that are related to it.  Instead of attracting a general-interest audience, you can cater to a niche market instead.  You could build a strong following this way.

Provide original content.

Content found in your directory will be contributed from multiple sites.  It's highly possible that those articles will appear in other directories as well.  As such, you probably can't claim to have original material on your website.  Since original content has a higher value for page ranking, try to produce original content on a regular basis.  Write your own articles or pay for unique content.  You can also try to do research on high-value content and then produce materials with those subjects.

Check your webhost for compatibility.

Creating a directory means you will be offering it from a hosted page so it's a good idea to ask your webhost if it can efficiently run your website.  Get a hosting account with a provider that offers you sufficient disk space and plenty of support.  To give you an idea of what you will be looking at, let's take a look at hosts such as Hostgator.com.  They charge a monthly fee of about $7 in exchange for an account with 50GB of disk space.  For $10 a month, you can increase that capacity to 100GB.  There are several other host providers that can offer you similar services.  Simply look them up online to compare which one will give you the best service.

What You Should Know About Failure and Success in Affiliate Programs

Who would have thought that revenue sharing would be so lucrative?  Two decades ago, the thought of sharing sales through commissions was only restricted to traditional trade.  These days, however, this concept rules one of the largest industries to ever thrive on the Web in affiliate programs. 

There has been plenty of news regarding affiliate programs and many have hailed their benefits in recent years.  But how truly effective are they?  And how can a new affiliate member use available resources in order to maximize success and minimize failure?  Here, we take a look at what it would take to make it in affiliate marketing.

Understanding affiliate marketing

The key to succeeding in affiliate programs is to truly understand how this industry works.  Affiliate programs are built on affiliate marketing concepts.  This type of marketing refers to the method used in the promotion of businesses, particularly web-based enterprises.  An affiliate program operates simply.  An affiliate (sometimes referred to as the publisher) joins an affiliate program in which he will be paid to promote products and/or services exclusive to that program.  The affiliate will be compensated for every sale, customer, visitor or subscriber he attracts.

Due to the nature of this business, most affiliate programs are run online, particularly because it is the most efficient and cost-effective means to promote products and earn money at the same time.

Succeeding in affiliate programs

There are a few key considerations when joining affiliate programs. 

They are:

An established or reliable affiliate company

Although there are many new affiliate programs available today, it pays well to go with well-established affiliate companies.  For one, there's the advantage of name recognition, whose benefit you will be able to appreciate when attracting your market.  There is also the assurance that you will be dealing with a company you can rely on.

A feasible product

The product you will be promoting through the affiliate program is key to your success.  A solid business acumen can do little to sell a product that has no value or market.  Try to do some research on the product or service you will be selling.  Understanding how useful it is and how well it will fit the needs of your market will make a huge difference in how well your affiliate program will fare.

A high-traffic website

There is money in traffic.  Otherwise, how else can people find the platform with which to do business with you?  Put effort and if necessary, money into creating a website that will host your affiliate program.  And then work overtime to build traffic.  Advertise if you have to, build links and promote your program, even if it is already well-known.  Remember that there are dozens, even hundreds or thousands of other websites out there that probably belong to the same affiliate program as yours.

Having multiple websites can also raise your chances of success in affiliate marketing.  Most affiliates prefer this route because it opens up plenty of opportunities for potential subscribers and customers to learn about their program.

A real market

The availability of the market and their willingness to buy or participate in the program is also an important consideration.  Many a product has been launched in the past that failed miserably because the market just wasn't around.

An effective compensation scheme

Try to translate your efforts into figures.  Wouldn't you rather be paid $1 for every subscriber you find than 60 cents for every five you attract?  Don't waste time on affiliate programs that offer peanuts for your business.  Look for affiliate programs that give high commissions.  Depending on which program you join, you could expect from as little as 30% to 70%.

What are the chances of success in affiliate programs?

If you look at the figures reported from affiliate marketing programs; over $6 billion in commissions in 2006 alone, nearly twice the figure during the past year, you probably would think twice about not joining.  There is a variety of products covered by these programs, from retail to gaming to telecoms and publishing to personal finance and education.

The unique characteristic of an affiliate program is that as an affiliate, you will get paid for your performance.  There is little to no capital expense involved and the generally, the harder you work, the more you'll earn.  However, success and failure in affiliate programs will depend on the type of choices you make after much consideration of the factors involved in this business.  It will also help if you treat your affiliate program as a business, which means it will require a lot of work, maintenance and follow up.  This is a growing industry and highly competitive.  To survive, you don't only have to be noticed by your market, you have to be trusted as well.