more of the money go to the charity rather than the business. Business owners will care less about what they are buying and more about what they are giving. The donation method could also bring good public press, which is always good for a business.

Your Product:

The main thing to note about eAirdrie.com is that it is simple and not cluttered. Your directory should not be barraged with messy ads and distracting links.

There is a rotational banner located at the top of every page, which is positioned so that it will catch the eyes of all visitors but is not the center of attraction. The simplicity of the ads also goes for the listing pages on eAirdrie.com, eAirdrie listings c

This is your outline to a successful Business Directory, it will show you how to create and run a prosperous advertising website catered to you city. The example directory being used is based in Airdrie, Alberta it is called eAirdrie Business Directory.

One of the most important things to consider when starting an online directory is if you even have a potential in the market in your city. It is likely that you do not. Most cities which are established have a large amount of online directories including the big dogs such as yellow pages. So put frankly you have no chance in the market. However if you happen to live in a small city that is just on the verge of blooming, you may find this to be an excellent opportunity to start your cities very first online business directory...or second this is also acceptable.

Once you decide you have a chance in the market in your town, its time to think if there are enough potential businesses in your town that will sign up for a small fee. The first analysis above was to determine if people would use your site to find businesses, and the second analysis of the market is to determine if businesses will even sign up. This is very difficult to determine and the only way to find out is to reach out to every business in your city and pitch your sale.

This sounds like quite the task does it? What I decided to do was give people 25% commission out of your "going rate" for every business they signed up. This helps perhaps those who know business owners personal. However this is not necessary if you feel you are willing to put the time and effort into actively visiting and talking to businesses yourself. You can never rely on any one who has no interest in the business, affiliates have nothing to lose and little to gain, and thus are likely to lose interest. One thing that is very important when pitching your sale to businesses is make it right the first time, because once you ask a business and they refuse, it is very unlikely they will be convinced later on. You have basically "tainted" a potential sale to the business. Make it right the first time, good impression, good price, good product, and good pitch. If they refuse when every thing is right then just move on. At least then you know it's a decision they were going to make regardless of you, and you won’t have to wonder if you could have gotten the sale if you did something different.

Another way to entice business owners to sign up is to give a certain percentage of what they pay as a charitable donation to a popular charity in your city. A good idea would be to cycle charities preferably seasonally, meaning during Christmas donate to a Christmas like charity, and during October donate to UNICEF etc. It is probably a good idea to have at least %50 or more of the money go to the charity rather than the business. Business owners will care less about what they are buying and more about what they are giving. The donation method could also bring good public press, which is always good for a business.

Your Product:

The main thing to note about eAirdrie.com is that it is simple and not cluttered. Your directory should not be barraged with messy ads and distracting links.

There is a rotational banner located at the top of every page, which is positioned so that it will catch the eyes of all visitors but is not the center of attraction. The simplicity of the ads also goes for the listing pages on eAirdrie.com, eAirdrie listings co

to be an excellent opportunity to start your cities very first online business directory...or second this is also acceptable.

Once you decide you have a chance in the market in your town, its time to think if there are enough potential businesses in your town that will sign up for a small fee. The first analysis above was to determine if people would use your site to find businesses, and the second analysis of the market is to determine if businesses will even sign up. This is very difficult to determine and the only way to find out is to reach out to every business in your city and pitch your sale.

This sounds like quite the task does it? What I decided to do was give people 25% commission out of your "going rate" for every business they signed up. This helps perhaps those who know business owners personal. However this is not necessary if you feel you are willing to put the time and effort into actively visiting and talking to businesses yourself. You can never rely on any one who has no interest in the business, affiliates have nothing to lose and little to gain, and thus are likely to lose interest. One thing that is very important when pitching your sale to businesses is make it right the first time, because once you ask a business and they refuse, it is very unlikely they will be convinced later on. You have basically "tainted" a potential sale to the business. Make it right the first time, good impression, good price, good product, and good pitch. If they refuse when every thing is right then just move on. At least then you know it's a decision they were going to make regardless of you, and you won’t have to wonder if you could have gotten the sale if you did something different.

Another way to entice business owners to sign up is to give a certain percentage of what they pay as a charitable donation to a popular charity in your city. A good idea would be to cycle charities preferably seasonally, meaning during Christmas donate to a Christmas like charity, and during October donate to UNICEF etc. It is probably a good idea to have at least %50 or more of the money go to the charity rather than the business. Business owners will care less about what they are buying and more about what they are giving. The donation method could also bring good public press, which is always good for a business.

Your Product:

The main thing to note about eAirdrie.com is that it is simple and not cluttered. Your directory should not be barraged with messy ads and distracting links.

There is a rotational banner located at the top of every page, which is positioned so that it will catch the eyes of all visitors but is not the center of attraction. The simplicity of the ads also goes for the listing pages on eAirdrie.com, eAirdrie listings c

mmission out of your "going rate" for every business they signed up. This helps perhaps those who know business owners personal. However this is not necessary if you feel you are willing to put the time and effort into actively visiting and talking to businesses yourself. You can never rely on any one who has no interest in the business, affiliates have nothing to lose and little to gain, and thus are likely to lose interest. One thing that is very important when pitching your sale to businesses is make it right the first time, because once you ask a business and they refuse, it is very unlikely they will be convinced later on. You have basically "tainted" a potential sale to the business. Make it right the first time, good impression, good price, good product, and good pitch. If they refuse when every thing is right then just move on. At least then you know it's a decision they were going to make regardless of you, and you won’t have to wonder if you could have gotten the sale if you did something different.

Another way to entice business owners to sign up is to give a certain percentage of what they pay as a charitable donation to a popular charity in your city. A good idea would be to cycle charities preferably seasonally, meaning during Christmas donate to a Christmas like charity, and during October donate to UNICEF etc. It is probably a good idea to have at least %50 or more of the money go to the charity rather than the business. Business owners will care less about what they are buying and more about what they are giving. The donation method could also bring good public press, which is always good for a business.

Your Product:

The main thing to note about eAirdrie.com is that it is simple and not cluttered. Your directory should not be barraged with messy ads and distracting links.

There is a rotational banner located at the top of every page, which is positioned so that it will catch the eyes of all visitors but is not the center of attraction. The simplicity of the ads also goes for the listing pages on eAirdrie.com, eAirdrie listings c

e it right the first time, good impression, good price, good product, and good pitch. If they refuse when every thing is right then just move on. At least then you know it's a decision they were going to make regardless of you, and you won’t have to wonder if you could have gotten the sale if you did something different.

Another way to entice business owners to sign up is to give a certain percentage of what they pay as a charitable donation to a popular charity in your city. A good idea would be to cycle charities preferably seasonally, meaning during Christmas donate to a Christmas like charity, and during October donate to UNICEF etc. It is probably a good idea to have at least %50 or more of the money go to the charity rather than the business. Business owners will care less about what they are buying and more about what they are giving. The donation method could also bring good public press, which is always good for a business.

Your Product:

The main thing to note about eAirdrie.com is that it is simple and not cluttered. Your directory should not be barraged with messy ads and distracting links.

There is a rotational banner located at the top of every page, which is positioned so that it will catch the eyes of all visitors but is not the center of attraction. The simplicity of the ads also goes for the listing pages on eAirdrie.com, eAirdrie listings c

more of the money go to the charity rather than the business. Business owners will care less about what they are buying and more about what they are giving. The donation method could also bring good public press, which is always good for a business.

Your Product:

The main thing to note about eAirdrie.com is that it is simple and not cluttered. Your directory should not be barraged with messy ads and distracting links.

There is a rotational banner located at the top of every page, which is positioned so that it will catch the eyes of all visitors but is not the center of attraction. The simplicity of the ads also goes for the listing pages on eAirdrie.com, eAirdrie listings consist of a coloured logo, basic business description and basic contact info including email and website if any. One may ask why someone would want to pay for an ad this basic when there are services like this for free on the Internet.

You answer by saying:

Your website does differ in that your listing appears on an independent page. Your listing and the website is locally advertised which gives your business relevant traffic. Basically your website is specifically unique and customised to your city.

I am not going to lie, the concept seems really easy but if you do not have the right salesmanship and if you do not have a satisfactory product than you have nothing and no one will sign up. One of the most important things you have to do in order to be successful is generate lots and lots of traffic to the website. This is very important to the business owner considering signing up. Some where in the region of 1 mil + a year traffic. Whether it’s relevant or not it looks very impressive the prospective business.

Check out http://www.eairdrie.com and browse around to see my take on the online business directory game.