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Thread: Useless, expensive online advertising

  1. #21
    Email problem
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    Hey, I just joined this forum. I would love to share my opinion on this one.
    The biggest mistake managers of SA online portals make is to forget to populate their directories. This dentist site's webmaster cannot expect to provide you with any solid traffic if they are a ghost town. Their best bet will be to partner with other directories as to get the word out about their own.

    I'll steer away from this for a few months. Don't write it off though.
    They are working to fill it. So give it a chance.

    Regards,
    Reinhardt

  2. #22
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Semnamics View Post
    Their best bet will be to partner with other directories as to get the word out about their own.
    You raise a good point about partnerships. I suspect that when things start out though, people have big dreams about where it is going to go.

    For example, a dentist directory might be thinking "If this works, we can do a whole series of these for different industries." So they're reluctant to hook up with someone else because that partner might be taking space they hope to occupy one day.

    Similar problem with established sites - there's this idea that allowing exposure to other sites might lead to an erosion of their existing base. But it could add new people too.

    It's the scarcity mindset that often gets in the way.

  3. #23
    Full Member derrickm's Avatar
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    I'm building a generic "Small Business" directory for Johannesburg, and I'd like to offer anyone who's interested (and who has a website) a free listing.

    The directory is at http://johannesburgbusiness.co.za, and is listed on the first page of Google for a search for "johannesburg business" (without the quote marks).

    It's a review site, which means that anyone can offer comments and reviews for any of the businesses listed. Reviews are moderated.

    There are two ways to get listed.

    1. Click on the "Register" link at the bottom of the right-hand side of the page. You'll need to fill in your name and email address, but you will be able to create and edit your own listing. Please limit text entries to 200 words.

    2. Send me a PM in this forum, and I'll add your info by hand. You'll have to PM me if you need to make changes.

    If you don't have a website, take a look at TopRankingSites.co.za!

    Derrick

  4. #24
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    Might be an idea to get the admin link at the bottom out of the public eye.

    Can I say - an unusual platform selection for a directory site!

  5. #25
    Full Member derrickm's Avatar
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    You'd need to use the admin link to edit any posts you made.

    It's a review site, more than a directory...

  6. #26
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    Aha! That explains it.

    You're quite slick with Wordpress, I must say.

  7. #27
    Full Member derrickm's Avatar
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    I dare you to post that on my iKarma profile: http://www.ikarma.com/user/DerrickMarkotter

  8. #28
    Platinum Member Chatmaster's Avatar
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    Another site I would like to add to this list is Easyinfo. When my wife asked me if she should advertise her bookkeeping business on Easyinfo a year ago I said... I do not think so! However when they came for their presentation it sounded mind blowing as it combined both a listing on their website and landbased advertising. More than R18,000 later, not even 1 single deal from there. You should see their impressive stats on the amount of clicks and traffic she received! What a ROI killer!

    In retrospect I am not surprised. They have a poorly designed directory and the concept of, your own website under their directory is truly infective in all aspects. They clearly have no online marketing specialists working for them as their site is poorly designed and not search engine friendly at all. The same can be said for many of these so called SA giants, referring especially to Norio's list.
    Roelof Vermeulen (Entrepreneurship in large organizations)
    Roelof Vermeulen| Rock flaps south africa

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