Setting Up A Directory: My Adventures

[KG Gary]

Good luck kristian.
Like most here I'll be reading this thread regularly.
I doubt I'll have much to input, especially since you are going to list movies only, but good luck anyway.


Wales? You say Wales? My homeland? Woo Hoo!
Extra good luck to you then!

[MrYum]

Originally Posted by kristian

hahaha
So we both went to the same school of adult webmastering! lol

You betcha! I'd much rather have her running around here in a thong bikini as opposed to heading out to the office every day!

And of course, I'd have to get SOME work out of her lil butt

[stfuvt]

great thread, its really interesting
Good luck

[kristian]

Originally Posted by stfuvt

great thread, its really interesting
Good luck

Thanks, stfuvt

[bluemoney]

Hi Kristian
I wish you the very best in your endeavor and would also like to thank you for this most enjoyable and informative thread.
As a new LL owner myself this makes for a great guide with the input of some seasoned veterans of the biz and pretty damn good folks as well. So again, thanks for that and good luck

[amareck]

1) Awesome thread and should be a good contribution to the adult community as a whole $$

2) Are you enjoying the can o worms yet? Or perhaps its not a can o worms, but more like pandora's box

A couple of things I'd think about when setting up:

a) Ensure that you can target advertising properly - random banner rotations are ridiculous...kinda like rotating galleries with the descriptions really - hit n miss relevancy to the surfer. If you do want to run banner rotations, ensure that you can set it up with categorization or multiple installs to ensure that only targetted banners appear for each category

b) In addition to item a) above, ensure that you can quickly swap out sponsors performing poorly on your traffic

c) If possible, get yourself an LL platform that is extensible - plugins are good, but the ability to customize and manually plug in your own stuff is golden, especially when it comes to databases - being able to add custom fields for more page output & mass publishing is a very sweet thing

d) Templates & template support from a platform is good, especially a templating system that permits conditional statements and such

e) Make sure you can blend your CSS into it. This is usually a given but again, best to make sure.

Most link list software will cover these items in some form or other, but its best to be sure. They are also relevant considerations when configuring your link list. For example, if you hardcode category banners into your templates, you're gonna have fun editing them...whereas if they are ssi inserts or php/mysql generated, you'll have a much easier time of it.

GL with your endeavour

[kristian]

Originally Posted by amareck

1) Awesome thread and should be a good contribution to the adult community as a whole $$

2) Are you enjoying the can o worms yet? Or perhaps its not a can o worms, but more like pandora's box

A couple of things I'd think about when setting up:

a) Ensure that you can target advertising properly - random banner rotations are ridiculous...kinda like rotating galleries with the descriptions really - hit n miss relevancy to the surfer. If you do want to run banner rotations, ensure that you can set it up with categorization or multiple installs to ensure that only targetted banners appear for each category

b) In addition to item a) above, ensure that you can quickly swap out sponsors performing poorly on your traffic

c) If possible, get yourself an LL platform that is extensible - plugins are good, but the ability to customize and manually plug in your own stuff is golden, especially when it comes to databases - being able to add custom fields for more page output & mass publishing is a very sweet thing

d) Templates & template support from a platform is good, especially a templating system that permits conditional statements and such

e) Make sure you can blend your CSS into it. This is usually a given but again, best to make sure.

Most link list software will cover these items in some form or other, but its best to be sure. They are also relevant considerations when configuring your link list. For example, if you hardcode category banners into your templates, you're gonna have fun editing them...whereas if they are ssi inserts or php/mysql generated, you'll have a much easier time of it.

GL with your endeavour

I think the worms are on steroids!! lol

Those are some excellent tips. The choice of script has been one that's kept me up nights, I have to admit. Not only is it about features but I know the owners of one script (Dragon List) and have friends who are happy using other scripts. Makes the decision all the more harder. What I have pretty much decided though is to go with gossamer links. I will post more details about why later, but a lot has to do with other sites using it, plugins and gut feeling (much of the stuff you have mentioned).

Thanks for all your help so far - here and via email. I'll be contacting you today and, with your permission, posting all the juicy details.

[kristian]

A lot of juicy stuff happening today.

hosting ...

The new dedicated server is ready. I went for a package with my current host, ATCIHosting.

Type : Dedicated Server
BW : 10 Mbps
3.0GHz P4
512MB RAM
2x80GB SATA (SW Raid1)
Price : $349.95 / Month

The owner, Chris, is a great guy. Support is excellent. I think the server should be fine to get us started.

domain transfer ...

This will cause a slight delay, unfortunately. I decided to transfer the domain away from godaddy. After completing the process, their email tells me the transfer will complete on Monday. This is a shame because I had wanted to get the script installed and begin some hands-on work. Hopefully though, this will be seen as a good move in the long run.

design ...

The actual design cannot begin of course until the domain transfers to my new registrar. However, I'm going to use this time to decide on layout, possible color schemes, slogan, and whatever else comes to mind.

You remember the designer I had under consideration? Unfortunately, we will be unable to work together. No drama, just a natural conflict of interests. I made a promise to everyone reading this thread that I would disclose everything. The designer made a promise to the html design guild that he would not disclose prices to the public. There is our problem. Had I been able to publish his quoted price, I would have hired him this morning.

All is not lost. We have Amareck to the rescue!

Like most / all webmasters I am proficient in designing websites. What I lack are high-end graphic skills (like those clever cartoonists). The decision to use a designer would have been to implement designs beyond my abilities. Amareck, while not a professional graphic designer, is expert in CCS, with a specialty of implementing it in link lists. He was instrumental in transfering two popular link lists from html to css : feversfavourites.com and megapornlinks.com. If all goes well, Amareck will be the guy who gives MoveLinkList a complete css layout. The actual design will then be left to me (oh fuck!).

branding & logo

I may or may not hire someone to create a logo this weekend. It all depends on how my creative juices are flowing.

This is generally how I design a site.

I get the logo and open it up in photoshop. Using the color-picker I choose a color scheme for the site based on the colors in the logo. I always do it this way. Have tried it without a logo beforehand, but it never worked. To get me started I need that logo and the colors in it.

What I'll be doing today / this weekend is brainstorming a slogan and ideas for the logo. I'll then take this to a professional designer (possibly Bruno Dickman, if they are available).

There is no huge rush for this though. Script cannot be installed until Monday at the earliest anyway.

link list script ...

Am 99% sure I will be using gossamer links. Unless I change my mind, I will buy this and install it the moment domain has transfered.

Have a good weekend, All!

[MrYum]

Sweet...the nuts n bolts start soon!

Very enlightening having this play out in a public forum. And it's gonna be great watching your new baby grow up right here at GG&J

[kristian]

Hey bluemoney

Thanks a lot dude. I hope it helps you and I'm really excited with the way it's going myself. Lot of nice people here offering some great advice. Good luck with your LL!

Originally Posted by bluemoney

Hi Kristian
I wish you the very best in your endeavor and would also like to thank you for this most enjoyable and informative thread.
As a new LL owner myself this makes for a great guide with the input of some seasoned veterans of the biz and pretty damn good folks as well. So again, thanks for that and good luck

[PR_Tom]

This is a great thread and things like this are why I always recommend that affiliates looking for ideas stop in here and join in.

I'm sure there are dozens taking notes. I know I am

[kristian]

Originally Posted by PR_Tom

This is a great thread and things like this are why I always recommend that affiliates looking for ideas stop in here and join in.

I'm sure there are dozens taking notes. I know I am

It's great to have you in here, Tom

[massive-x]

I like this thread very much! I strted a topic on newbie part of this forum about developing my hub/site http://www.femdompornlinks.com to real, big, clean and HQ link list dedicated to only one specific niche! I just wanna try to get away from newbie mistakes and a few realy nice people show me some paths and light my way to the top Thanx guys
I'm sure that this thread will help me as it helping you!
I can't give you some advices about developing LL but I can give my contribution to it with submiting my free sites to your LL! I'll be glad to help anyone around here cose all you guys and girls ROCK!!!
Chears

[kristian]

Originally Posted by massive-x

I like this thread very much! I strted a topic on newbie part of this forum about developing my hub/site http://www.femdompornlinks.com to real, big, clean and HQ link list dedicated to only one specific niche! I just wanna try to get away from newbie mistakes and a few realy nice people show me some paths and light my way to the top Thanx guys
I'm sure that this thread will help me as it helping you!
I can't give you some advices about developing LL but I can give my contribution to it with submiting my free sites to your LL! I'll be glad to help anyone around here cose all you guys and girls ROCK!!!
Chears

Hey massive-x

You'll find greenguyandjim to be a great resource. I know I learn a lot here every day.

That LL of yours is looking good and that domain is sweet.

Thanks for the offer of the free sites. I can use all the good submitters I can get!!

Anyway - glad to have you in the thread!

[kristian]

SUNDAY SUMMARY

The project started on Wednesday (4/5/2006). A lot has happened in three full days. Not as much as I would have liked - due to the delay caused by transfering registrars - but enough to give me the idea in the shower for a Sunday Summary.

niche

I scanned the market comprised of webmasters using a link list as their business model. I sought out a popular niche that was sufficiently unsaturated to permit entry and feasible success : Movies. To gain search engine superiority, it would have been better (as Greenguy suggested) to choose a movie niche. However, I am happy to work long-term towards success, and the relative newness of movie free sites has me concerned about getting adequate content from submitters. So, the general movie niche!

domain

I wanted a domain that possessed inherent seo and branding benefits. The ideal domain would have been FreePornMovies(dot)com. However, the best combinations of keyword domains where unavailable. I could have gone with charactername(keyphrase), but decided such a name would lessen the overal prestige of the site (I want surfers to see this as the definitive site for porn movie links). I chose MovieLinkList(dot)com : A descriptive domain that should be memorable and easy to brand and one that I have owned for 2 years come August. It does lack, however, some seo benefits that may cause problems down the line (here I refer to anchor text in the all-important back links) but I am hoping enough trades will allow me to use keyword anchor text, as opposed to actual domain name. So, MovieLinkList(dot)com!

hosting

I went with my current host with whom I've developed trust.

ATCIHosting have top-notch support, a great reputation, and offer affordable deals for almost any budget.

I chose a new dedicated server to house Movie Link List. Here are the details :

Type : Dedicated Server
BW : 10 Mbps
3.0GHz P4
512MB RAM
2x80GB SATA (SW Raid1)
Price : $349.95 / Month

script

The choice for a script is more important than domain name. In terms of seo, domain names are losing relevancy, but not having the right engine behind a site can cause all kind of problems. I needed to choose the best engine to power my site for the long haul. I chose Gossamer Links v.3.0.1. I has all the features I need (surfer-side, webmaster-side, admin-side), a solid reputation, a long history (so I can almost gurantee it will be here in the future to provide addons and upgrades, keeping my LL abreast of directory technology), and I have a good gut feeling about it. So, Gossamer Links!

PLANS FOR THE COMING WEEK

A LOT will be going on!

This weekend I'm in photoshop designing the layout of Movie Link List. I will post these up when complete. My finished designs will be passed on to Amareck who is being hired to code the site - from the ground up - in CSS, based explicity on the designs. Amareck is the man behind the css development at fevers favorites and mega porn links. I want a CSS layout for tons of reasons but need a professional to code it for me.

When the domain has tranfered registrars, I will purchase Gossamer Links and install it. Amareck will them, should his schedule permit, code the site in css.

I've already contacted Dickman's Design about a logo. If they are available soon, and allow me to disclose our dealings (costs, logo development stages) here, then I will hire them.

Other stuff going on :

- deciding on categories (see my thread over here, which I hope will help me decide on a small category list, as per stu's advice)

- completing design of Movie Link List (to include everything with making the site complete in terms of graphics, layout, text)

- finding linking partners and submitters

- finding free hosted movie free sites & movie galleries

All the above should take us to where Movie Link List is up and operational.

Have a good Sunday!

[stuveltje]

nice pick the movie linksite way, i have one myself too, what i have done till now is only put some categories up where people can submit their moviesites, i skipt the niches like, bbw, midget, latina and some others, i have put those together in the fetish or misc niche, they will stay there untill i have enough submits for those niches to make an seperate categorie for it, what i did found out that moviesponsor sell worser for me on that linksite then normall sponsors, so yeah again i am still trying alot of stuff on those linksites
Good luck with your new linksite))))

[kristian]

Originally Posted by stuveltje

nice pick the movie linksite way, i have one myself too, what i have done till now is only put some categories up where people can submit their moviesites, i skipt the niches like, bbw, midget, latina and some others, i have put those together in the fetish or misc niche, they will stay there untill i have enough submits for those niches to make an seperate categorie for it, what i did found out that moviesponsor sell worser for me on that linksite then normall sponsors, so yeah again i am still trying alot of stuff on those linksites
Good luck with your new linksite))))

We will have to arrange some link trades, Stu

A low number of initial categories is certainly influencing the way I'm designing it ... for the best I hope though. Maybe we can work out the best way to convert traffic together. Will let you know if I learn any tricks.

[natalie]

If one is a domain you have had for a while and its listed in google I would go with that Just my opinion. (I try very hard to not talk about so shit on this board but I couldnt help it) Any wankers come and chew me out I will be pissed off!

[plateman]

looks like I am gonna have to start working on a domain I bought a good while back for a movie LL as well...

[troy]

[quote][/If one is a domain you have had for a while and its listed in google I would go with that QUOTE]

I agree with Natalie

[kristian]

Morning folks

Thanks for your input guys n girl. Movie Link List isn't listed in google. It is just a domain I have lying around gathering dust. I buy more domains than I can develop because when I come across a good one I can't let it go. The only seo advantage of MLL over Porn Movie Directory would be the length of registration - which would make a small small difference I think. I think the benefits of PMD over MLL are great so will probably be going with that today.

[kristian]

Originally Posted by natalie

If one is a domain you have had for a while and its listed in google I would go with that Just my opinion. (I try very hard to not talk about so shit on this board but I couldnt help it) Any wankers come and chew me out I will be pissed off!

No one will chew you out here. Besides when it comes to seo, the jury is out on most issues - which can change at the drop of a hat.

[kristian]

Having said all that -- if anyone can sway me in the next hour or so, go right ahead. I have some things to do before buying the script so there's time.

[Useless]

Originally Posted by kristian

Having said all that -- if anyone can sway me in the next hour or so, go right ahead. I have some things to do before buying the script so there's time.

Screw porn. Invest in real estate instead.

I continue to agree with natalie about domain choice as you should be able to avoid Google's sandbox by using the old domain over the new domain, but I do see the value in having porn and movie in the name.

[ponygirl]

wow, I just got caught up on this thread

I have a teeny little LL lol but I started with no direction, just threw it up as a hub & let it evolve into what it is now, which is still evolving all the time I don't think I'll have much input for this thread, more likely I'll sit back and learn what I can out of it - but just wanted to chime in & say this is really interesting, I'll be looking forward to seeing the results of all this work