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1. A Business Directory Just Isn't Enough Anymore!

2. A Business Directory Just Isn't Enough Anymore!

3. By: Martin Lemieux

4. Do you own a business directory? Are you having a
tough time beating your competition? This article will
help you towards leaving your competition far behind.

5. The idea here isn't about getting as many business
directory listings as possible. The idea we need to create
is about more community within your directory.

6. I always like using a "saying" I learned from network
marketing: "I would rather utilize 1% of a hundred
people's effort, then utilize 100% of my own to market
my business." If you keep this in mind, there is nothing
you can't be successful at.

7. With that in mind let me be quick to point out that, I am
not talking about creating an affiliate program. Those
come a dime a dozen and can be bought. What we need
to do is create something larger than ourselves. I am
talking about taking our directory and improving
everything involving people.

8. GENERAL DIRECTORIES ONLINE:

9. For these types of directories, it gets a little harder to
create a community people can relate to. This is only
true simply because the more broad your
audience/visitors are, the harder it is to target your
resources.

10. Here are some ideas you can use for a general directory:

11. - Create a blog and use it to feature some new listings
within your directory. Maybe even offer a review of
some kind.

12. - Offer the ability to add a logo or image attached with
the listing in order to personalize it more.

13. - Give people the ability to submit more information
than most of your competing directories out there.

14. - Make sure to include a detailed search function.

15. - Create an online questionnaire on tips to improve the
directory. Use these tips right away.

16. - Email everyone within your directory maybe once a
month outlining all of the new listings posted online for
that month.

17. - Make sure to have a "news" page so that visitors can
see what's new.

18. I think you get the idea now. The whole point is, there is
no limit as to how you can expand "around" your
directory listings in order to increase the value of your
directory online. The more you give back to people, the
more they might tell their friends about your directory.

19. TARGETED TOPIC RELATED DIRECTORIES:

20. Whether your directory is targeting the local business
community or you are targeting the international health
community, having a directory that is more content
specific will make it a lot easier to create a community
based website.

21. Here are some ways to better your targeted directory:

22. - Create a forum detailing all of the topics within your
directory so that people can discuss issues or tips within
those categories. For ex. If you own a local business
directory, create a forum to allow local business owners
to discuss business related issues, hot commercial real
estate properties, special deals on office equipment, etc.

23. - Create a news section that outlines some local news &
events within your community. This will especially help
to bring more local visitors to your directory and expose
your listings further.

24. - Offer weather & traffic reports within local community
directories.

25. - Add a feature page where you actually interview one
directory member (maybe once a month). This will help
people to get more familiar with the members of your
directory and it will also help promote your directory.
People who are submitting to your directory may only
submit just for the chance to get interviewed about their
service/product/expertise.

26. - Add a blog with your experiences related to the topics
of your directory. This will help in two ways:

27. 1) People will be able to relate to you and feel more
connected with you.2) People will begin to respect what
you are doing and may tell more people about your
directory since they are starting to feel that your
directory is more people oriented instead of just simply
getting the most listings in the world.

28. - Add related tips to the industry. The internet is full of
reprint articles for your website. I am 99.9% sure you
can find articles related to your industry. Maybe start a
newsletter for members of your directory and send
them tips on their industry. Who doesn't want to learn
more about their industry!?

29. In Conclusion:

30. As you can see from above, by simply taking some ideas
here, and implementing them within your directory, you
will be well on your way towards creating a more
community-based directory. This is very important these
days as more and more directories like yours are
popping up everywhere.

31. Let's not forget about search engines. They too are
increasingly rewarding communities more than they are
rewarding simple directories online. The more resources
and content you add around your directory listings, the
more valuable they become in the end and the more
traffic you will get.

32. The more valuable your listings are, the more visitors
will be willing to come back from time to time and
possibly tell their friends about it. You never know what
will make it or break it but, all we can do is try our best
to increase the value of our increasingly popular online
community.

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