Setting Up A Directory: My Adventures

[kristian]

With kind permission from NetGoonie, I'm posting the information below.

I might use a designer for this project. NetGoonie, with experience in designing link lists, has offered to create a design proposal for my project. In order to do so, he emailed me 17 questions. Based on my answers, his feel for my needs and his own experience, he intends to reply with a proposal for designing MovieLinkList.com.

His prices and ideas will ultimately help make up my mind.

1. What script will you be using?

The choice I make will be dependant on three main factors : features (both user-side, webmaster-side, admin-side), stability of company (to ensure future updates to keep me ahead of technology), and support. Gossamer Threads would be my first choice, based on my three factors. However, now that you have shown me PowerSeek, I would consider it too. I like the functionality and the layout possibilities. What puts me off is having never heard of them and not knowing other adult link lists, other than yours, that use them.

2. Is this going to be a link list or more of a link directory?

A link list. I'm not sure of the difference but, since the domain is MovieLinkList.com, I better go with link list. We're talking lor, penisbot, hoes.

3. Are there any specific features you are looking to have in your site outside of the link script?

No, unless you can offer suggestions. I might consider implementing a thumb mgp, porn movie and paysite reviews, a blog, and a forum at a later stage.

4. Are there any other scripts to be part of the site i.e.: Toplist, TGP galleries, etc?

A trade script is a distinct possibility. Growing a tgp, it would be a necessity. I am just researching the possibility of using a trade script. It seems some link lists use them - combined with hard links - and some do not. If I used one, the idea would be to trade traffic with text mgps, while keeping LLs (with lesser traffic) on hardlink trade tables.

An mgp implementation is a possible in the future (using smart thumbs, most likely).

5. Do you have any kind of design concept you are interested in?

Design should be surfer-oriented with no advertising. The site design should have the surfer in mind at all times. How can we make it easy for them to find what they want, how can we deliver that content nicely to them, what will irritate them (remove it), what will the surfers like (add it). So forget about finding ways to make money off them. Make it a surfer-utopia.

6. Any sample web sites you've seen that you like how they were done?

PenisBot.com

Penisbot is designed with the surfer in mind. I like the color and icon-coded links (blue boxes with F, for free sites, for example) that are the right at below the header. Below these you have the category links. Right away a surfer knows how to find what he wants. Great! I also like the size of the links, especially those for today's sites running down the bottom of the entry page. Nice and big. I hate those sites with small links where you have to squint to find the porn. Cannot say enough good about this site. The surfer-functionality, the clean design, the intuitive navigation. Simple genius.

SublimeDirectory.com

Not a link list for free sites, but I like the surfer-functionality. Search bar at the top, a welcoming piece of news, category links down the side. Not as nicely laid out as PenisBot (links too small for a start) but nice and simple.

69TopLinks.com

Your site! I like the use of tables on the entry page (slim, stylish, packed with seo). Like the colors, the gradient bars, the design lines. Aesthically, verr easy on the eyes, stylish, makes me take notice. Don't like the background. As entry pages go, one of the best I've seen. Inside the site, not keen on the heavy advertising. I like the stylish tables, like the intuitive interface. Easy to find what I want. I'd like to see this site combined with the mentioned-elements of PenisBot.com.

7. Do you need content development of any kind (writing, photos...etc)?

No, I can do this myself.

8. Is website optimization, W3C compliancy, important for this site?

I'm not sure. Probably.

9. Do you require any SEO (search engine optimization) and if so, what do you want to achieve with this?

I require the site to be built with basic SEO considerations, but I presume this is standard. Other than that, I will seo myself.

10. Do you need monthly or quarterly Search Engine ranking reports?

No, that's ok.

11. Is there a time frame for this site to be completed and online?

This month. If you're able to get started right away, all the better.

12. Do you need a Branding solution - logo/identity development?

Yes. I'd like to see some samples though beforehand.

13. Do you need banners done and if so, estimated number and type of?

No need for banners. I will do these in html myself.

14. Do you need hosting provider suggestions? **This will be important because there are many hosts that do not allow certain scripts to run.

I have a reliable host : atchihosting.com

15. Do you have a working budget for this project?

Yes, but will appraise all costs judiciously.

16. Will you need ongoing site updates or additions of features or site sections?

Yes. If the site design is successful in my eyes I will certainly want to collaborate in the future - for this and other projects of a related nature. I actually wouldn't consider another designer once I'm happy with the design.

17. Do you have an idea of what content pages you need, i.e.: contact us, banners page, advertising page, splash entry page...etc?

Once the site is designed I can probably complete most pages myself with little effort. The hard part is getting the winning design in the first place.

Aside from the "obvious" pages designated by the script, it would just be an entry page, I think.

If you consider LOR, for instance, you have an entry, main, category pages, submit page, banner page. If you naturally include main, cats, and submit in your design, then the only entra will be entry and banner. I'll do the banner page myself.