How to Start an Online Business Directory
Having an online business directory can be very beneficial to any company. It allows visitors to search for businesses serving a certain target market or a specific category. It is useful for businesses because traffic from an online business directory will be driven to that specific company, and as your business grows you can charge advertising fees.
- Figure out who your target audience is. You can use a broad spectrum directory like the Yellow Pages, or you can reach a more specific audience.
- Get a domain name for your directory. This will be the name and URL of your website. You can get a domain name for as low as $1 or anywhere up to $14 a year.
- Purchase web hosting for your directory. A web host will have several servers, which will have enough space to handle the traffic and material that will be on your website. Some web hosts also domain registration as well.
- Gather all business info that will be in your directory, like business names, addresses, phone numbers and any other information that you choose. You can directly ask these businesses if they would like to be a art of your directory.
- Find a web designer to create your web site, or build it yourself. You can often find free templates that will allow you to build the directory yourself. Freelance web designers may also be an option, and can be found on many sites online like Guru or ODesk.
- Get your numbers up! Now is the time to get as much traffic to your website as possible. You can advertise in forums, buy advertising space online, you can even advertise on the radio, in the newspaper, in magazines, and if capable, even the TV!