advices on launching a link list

[stfuvt]

Hi guys,
how u doing?
I really like this board and I read it as often as possible.I like you guys, because you help all the newbies here.When I started making free sites you helped me alot reviewing them and giving me advices.Now most of my free sites get listed so thank you for that.I am thinking about launching a link list in the next 2 months, so I will be happy if you can give me advices on whats the most important and which are the things I should be careful with.I have a script already, now I am wondering about the design - doing it myself or getting someone to do it.
I will take any comments and be critical minded please
Thanks, I really appreciate your time

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by stfuvt

... if you can give me advices on whats the most important and which are the things I should be careful with....

Be patient. You will probably not see a return on your investment (hours included) for quite some time.

[japamor]

As Preacher says be VERY patient. Read his excellent account of the first year of his LL. The thread is here:
http://www.greenguysboard.com/board/...ad.php?t=34027

[Useless]

Originally Posted by stfuvt

...give me advices on whats the most important and which are the things I should be careful with.I have a script already, now I am wondering about the design - doing it myself or getting someone to do it.

From the beginning - expect quality, but don't demand too much. The people who submit to brand new link lists tend to be the submitters who submit everywhere. And those people tend to build the sloppiest sites and are most likely to ignore your rules. It's a bizarre paradigm indeed. I'm not saying that all mass submitters are bad. I have couple who have always been good to me and their sites are wonderful. But most of them are shit or absolute newbies.

You'll get more submissions with a single recip to the domain's root than if you demand the use of individual category recips.

As far as link list design goes, keep it simple. Advertising should be minimal. Navigation should be easily found. Keep traffic moving towards the listings. This keeps both your surfers and submitters happy. Recently, there was a link list for sale. I don't remember which one or whose it was, but it was a complete cluster fuck. You needed a GPS to find the free site listings. Stay away from bullshit like that. If you want submitters and you want surfers to click around - and hopefully come back - get them to the listings.

Think SEO from the beginning. If your script lets you give your category pages good keyword phrase names - do it. Really think about how your naming strategy and directory layout is going to work for you in the SEs. You don't want to have to make big structure changes later, such as moving link list from one directory to another.

[Xeno]

I agree....be patient and as UW said, expect quality from the start and don't put too much demanding rules in place, but don't make sacrifices either. You're going to be doing some long hours at times and this is definitely not a short-term success, so be prepared. I've designed a few link sites for clients and its been interesting to see how they go with their sites...I've been doing this for many years but its still a learning process even for the experienced. I've tried a few ideas but still need to make adjustments to make things easier for the surfer (many prefer's click and you're there kind of thing). IF it's a link list you are after, it should be a simple design and when a surfer comes in to your site, they should have it easy to find everything.

SEO is (as mentioned by UW) is an absolute must have and again, this is not a one time job, its an ongoing battle...especially when dealing with Google. The best traffic will always be from the Search Engines.

Another good thing is plan your link list well in layout but mostly for the categories and sections....I agree, "you don't want to have to make big structure changes later" in time...its a pain in the royal ass and if you focus on SEO, you will have screwed yourself for a long time, only to rebuild yet again. I've learned that one myself in the past.

Good luck and be creative!

[Beenie]

Another little note... be prepared to spend ALOT of time on it if you want to succeed.

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

...Recently, there was a link list for sale. I don't remember which one or whose it was, but it was a complete cluster fuck. You needed a GPS to find the free site listings. Stay away from bullshit like that...

Oh, oh I remember!

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

Really think about how your naming strategy and directory layout is going to work for you in the SEs. You don't want to have to make big structure changes later, such as moving link list from one directory to another.

Very good point. Look at Useless' directory structure and he's got his categories behind a "/tgp/", and I have my categories behind "/linklist/" and I can tell you if we were to both start from scratch again it wouldn't be like that.

[Useless]

Originally Posted by Preacher

Oh, oh I remember!

Shhhh! I was trying to be nice.

Originally Posted by Preacher

Very good point. Look at Useless' directory structure and he's got his categories behind a "/tgp/", and I have my categories behind "/linklist/" and I can tell you if we were to both start from scratch again it wouldn't be like that.

I've created 3 other link sites from scratch since WW and none of them have been modelled after it. I do get a few SE hits for people searching for "tgp" each day though. I live to disappoint. If you must put your link list in a subdirectory, choose a keyword that surfers would be likely to search for.

[Xeno]

A cluster fuck hey...hmmm...I wonder who that was for....someone needs a spanking

[stfuvt]

I will install it in the main folder.I am just thinking about the category directories.
Thanks guys, I am reeding with keen interest