Setting Up A Directory: My Adventures

[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!