Great video as always, Tim! I bought a directory website over a year ago and still haven't done anything with it. This is a good reminder to tackle this project. Although it does seem like an undertaking 😅
I think HighLevel is the way to go. You can build out a bunch of domains and also connect them to workflows or notifications to the clients who are buying the leads.
His concept is to basically take exact match domain name service + city and then optimize it with a massive content load of thousands of words across several optimized pages (related service search terms). He starts with a few hundred dollars Google Ads campaign to drive leads and then shops them to providers who are listed on thumbtack / angies list etc. The GMB is a bonus if he can get someone in the local area to receive the mailer and verify. Then he rinses and repeats across other services / cities.
Totally agree that local business SEO is the way to go. I built and sold a porfolio of affiliate sites (with youtube channel content also) a few years ago. I now work with an agency doing B2C lead gen (paid ads meta / google). But as far as I can see it seems like people will be using RU-vid and Chatgpt for info queries. And google search or GMB for service business searches. Majority of our clients are open to at least a basic SEO 'tune up'. They dont prioritize content creation or paying for backlinks to really boost rankings, but I've found just doing some basic keyword research and optimizing their homepage / service pages and GMB listing can get some quick wins for them. Not exactly sure what a fair rate would be for that services? Per page revision, monthly retainer etc? Im really not into squeezing clients for SEO services after the first few months once the work is done. But it seems like every SEO thinks they should be holding clients for ransom whereas I believe its more of a value add to the paid services.
The agency I work for focuses almost exclusively within the fitness industry. Actually have had the opposite experience and find them to be great clients and mostly easy to work with. There are for sure some blow hards though and it just is what it is hah. We run meta and google lead gen campaigns for all those clients. Funnel the leads through automated notifications to the client (lead to speed) and typically into a workflow to help automate the follow up process and close more leads. We havent created a directory to serve that industry however so that could be an option. We are considering expanding into another vertical and roofing has come up as an option. Its interesting how you mentioned focusing on a city like Denver and then going into each home service. Would this be the recommended approach if we were to go solely into working with roofers or would you suggest more of a national directory focusing on all things roofing as well as then listing the best roofers in each city/state etc? I know this a loaded question but thanks in advance for any insights! Im pumped to have found your channel after seeing you on Niche Pursuits a while back. All the best!
Man thanks so much for your comment. You said a lot so I'll reply one at a time. 1. What's the agency? SOunds like an awesome business? 2. Roofing is a great idea. Especially if you sell standard roofing with solar leads, because when people get solar panels on their roofs, they also need to water proof it. 3. National directory vs regional directory is always an interesting thought experiment. National has bigger upside but takes forever to rank. Hyper focused location based is probably the way to go. 4. Thank you for the kind words my friend. I hope we keep in touch.
Thanks for sharing this! In addition to the prompt you shared, I also asked ChatGPT which of the industries would be good in XXX city, and it gave additional details about why a directory would work for that city, and which neighborhoods it would be best for.
Another question. Do you recommend using Hubspot as a CRM due to its integration with Wordpress or would any CRM work just the same? Amazing insights from this video!
Awesome information, Tim. Thanks for showing this stuff! Regarding the phone # on a directory site like this; I'm assuming the calls from your site(s) are directed to a business in that locale. Instead of doing it that way, does it make any sense to do a Pay Per Call affiliate phone # instead? I know the per call payout for the rehab niche is very, very high, and you can use the same phone # for all states/cities and you don't have to worry about a dissatisfied lead gen client. Just wondering. I would love to get your thoughts! Thanks so much!
Can you please show us how you go about building a directory? We want to know which plugins, pages, url structures, customizations you use. I know you said Wordpress is the way to go but what about using a 3rd party such as brilliant directories? Are there pros and cons? A course would be awesome 😅😊
Thanks for taking about this. I’ve built a directory using Django, which means I’ve got good url structures, but link building isn’t my strength. What’s your process for building links to these directories?
Also do you go state by state and research each of these business and copy information from their website or is there a way to automate that information?
There are a lot of ways. The best way is to find a call center that will buy all the leads, but sometimes you also have to make deals with service providers.
Great info, thanks for sharing it! I have a question related with tech stack, can you recommend a WP plugin/theme to start a new directory website? There are some options but I like to hear your opinion on it.
I have a customized theme that I built, but the functionality goes through the business directory plugin. I offer services to build the directories. If you want to learn more email me at tim@stodzy.com
Aren't people going to search for best or cheapest painter and decorators in Denver rather than painter and decorator directory? I've never searched directly for a directory, I and I'm sure other users search for a specific search term...best hair dresser or cheapest car mechanic.
True, most people don't search for a directory but if you have a directory focused on Denver Contractors, then when someone searches for that, the directory listing should appear.
Yes, exactly. The way I did it isn't the best indicator of what the search result would be, none the less, it's a good approximation to get an understanding of the markets and opportunities.
That's a good point. But this is the very reason keyword research is so important. As a digital marketer, you're supposed to anticipate what people will ask in their search inquiries. Cheapest painters in Denver. Affordable painters in Denver. Inexpensive painters So when you search affordable painters, your directory is among the top results. Especially if you have a blog or some content supporting the search inquiry. Lets say you write a blog with a title that reads, Best affordable painters in the Denver area or Best affordable painters in Denver. If you make that blog content 1500-3000 words, you will definitely be in the top search results. Your directory would win everytime. You say wouldn't search directly for a directory? I bet you would if that directory added value. There is a local directory in Tennessee that gave discounts to those that visited the businesses listed on that directory. Alot of user-generated content and upside to the vistor. Would you visit a directory if you were promised -lets say- a free pressure washed driveway and 10% off exterior paint job. I bet you would!! There is value!!
Excellent idea, opportunity, AND info! Thanks so much Tim! So you're saying that it's probably better to focus on a city,, and build the directory for local businesses instead of worrying about doing a nationwide directory with city listings? Definitely easier and faster!
Hi! I'm starting some directories. It's my first time. I searched on RU-vid to see if anyone was talking about this topic and among your videos Tim, thank you very much! If anyone knows of a community on Facebook, Telegram or whatever where we can support each other on this topic I would like to join. Thanks for this content! I love it.
Thank you, Tim for the information! And I am a senior trying to see whether I can do something like this or differently from Brian. We will see; I have some health issues to get through first…😎
Hey Tim just wanted to say for the gmb he has bentonville listed as a service area, you don’t need an address you just list areas you service. All u need in a name + phone number to verify the gmb
Hey Tim, another really interesting video. I've seen a lot of that guy's videos, and I've been really interested for a while in doing this as well. The one thing that confuses me though, is what you said about the GBP listing tied to the R&R site. I guess you use the NAP (name, address, phone#) of the local business you partner with, but you can't create the GBP listing until you secure the contractor. So I guess you would have to rank the site at the top of the organic search results first, in order to start getting traffic, then leads you can offer to local contractors until you get one that wants to rent the site. Then you create the GBP?
Yeah that's exactly right. So the model is very flimsy because it all depends on the contractor basically letting you "rent" his GMB profile. So you need him/ her as much as they need you.
Thanks so much for giving this honest insight, Tim. I've been trying to plan content strategies for a couple new online businesses I'm interested in, and a membership option is part of both of them, albeit a little further down the line. Now I'm starting to rethink things a bit.
@timstodz Is it Friday yet? Lol. I'm also trying to figure out which way to go with building the directory and have a real appreciation for the inspiration that you had to organize the sobernation directory and the side effects of helping others find the help when they needed it the most. I spent like half of my life and every spare $ taking care of my first born who became a user at 15 and got even worse after her mom died at 24, but praise to all who have reached out to her, she is finally getting on her feet at 36 years old. Helped raise her two oldest children and worked multiple construction trades all those years so I know how the service business operates and how they fail. Now I just want to get this going to be able to buy a house and enjoy life a little. I have seen the whole dream of having this directory especially in the service related industry, but need to figure out the best way to build a directory without website experience. I've looked a wordpress for hours but it takes me a long time to grasp the whole picture so maybe a step by step video or class would be the answer. Thanks again for your inspiration!
@timstodz when you create the filter static page urls, you didn’t mention this, but do you have to buy each one of those urls from godaddy for example?
I know this is just another reply on your many RU-vid videos And you probably don’t even see the comments yourself but to whoever does read them see if Tim would be willing to make a video about this question of what he really enjoys the most in 2024 in his business!
Well I am interested now because you are interested :D I checked the free training but I guess the main thing is ranking #1 in both Serp results and Map Pack, if you do that you can sell anything to anybody. Looking forward to hearing an update from you about this topic, thanks for sharing.
