It Was a Dark and Stormy Night…

I bet you’re thinking “no it wasn’t!”. Okay, you got me. It wasn’t. It was actually a dark and relatively calm night when I had the idea to start Socialrific.com and Blogirific.com. Well, the idea for Blogirific.com came a little later.

I was running a few websites and I was looking into getting them into some directories, so I was browsing a lot of them and noticed that they were basically all crap. I mean some of these web directories were just terrible and wanted me to pay $50 a year to get listed right above the newest Viagra site. In every one of these directories, in the “more details” page of any particular website listed, displayed things like their Google page rank, their Alexa.com or Compete.com  traffic details or some other lame information that nobody cares about (except maybe the webmaster/owner of that particular website – either way, he won’t be visiting that directory to see that information IF he/she wants it).

Some of these web directories didn’t even have a details page for their listings. All they had was a small amount of information under a link that takes them to the website. I know, I know! DMOZ.org looks exactly like this. It doesn’t matter, I still think it sucks.

I believe these directories are stuck in the 80’s. But Rick! There was no Internet in the 80’s! Yeah, I know, that’s why it’s a metaphor. Slap!

Today’s web directory visitors aren’t just looking for basic information about a website in their chosen interest and they certainly don’t care about their traffic details or page rank, etc. Today’s and tomorrow’s web directory visitor not only wants to find the most helpful and interesting websites or blogs, the majority wants to know even more information. Some want to know what the site looks like or what the owners look like. Some visitors want to see what kind of posts a particular website or blog has made recently. Some want to know how to reach them on various social networking sites to make a one on one connection. Granted, some might not care about any of this but I’d be willing to bet it’s very few.

I knew then it was my duty to create a better, more valuable and more interesting web directory (I knew LATER, it was my duty to make a better, more valuable and more interesting blog directory).

When I came across BlogCatalog, I thought to myself “well this is kinda cool”. The only thing that bugged me about it was that all of these bloggers were blogging, err, I mean, having discussions on BlogCatalog. This doesn’t make sense to me as I think all of these discussions should be held on each of their blogs. Bloggers don’t know it yet, but that’s exactly what they want. (In a near future post I will address how I plan to get this done and I hope some of you bloggers will give me your input.) Another thing that bugged me about BlogCatalog was the fact they made everyone link back to them. I don’t agree with this. I believe if your site is cool, bloggers will link back to you in one way shape or form and if they don’t, well, that’s their right. As well, BlogCatalog doesn’t allow bloggers to link to their Twitter profile or anything like that. I guess we are the first of our kind to encourage this. We want to connect our visitors to you in any way shape or form. To be fair though, I do like BlogCatalog, I do, I even listed Blogirific.com there. I just think there’s room for improvement, that’s all.

Okay. So what’s my point here? I guess all I am trying to say is that I truly believe web directories and blog directories have to change. Whether it be in how or what information is displayed to our visitors or the price. Speaking of price, did you know that blogs.botw.org charges something like $75 a year for you to list your blog and all they do is list your link and a small blurb about you or your site? Personally, I think that is a total rip-off. I don’t care how old or how popular Socialrific.com or Blogirific.com gets, I’ll never charge a ridiculous price like that. It takes maybe a minute or two to properly review a website or blog (for the purposes of a directory listing). If it takes two minutes, they make like $35 bucks a minute! Anyways, enough with the craziness. I’ll take some cheese with that whine James! Mmmmm.. thank you! As well, to be fair, blogs.botw.org do offer a way to get in for free, but I don’t think they look at those submissions very much.

I’m going to do my very best to make Socialrific.com and Blogirific.com two of the very best, if not THE best directories on the net. I want them to be something you can be proud of, or at least fond of. I want you to be able to say something like “Yep! I got into Blogirific.com. Did you?” or “Why haven’t you got you’re blog listed on Blogirific.com yet? Haven’t you heard of all the traffic they send to you?” or how about: “Of all of the directories on the Net, I’m most proud of my listing on Socialrific.com!” -> Alright, I can’t see anyone saying that one either, but it’s good to dream, no? Hehe

I’m always thinking of ways to not only make Blogirific.com and Socialrific.com better, but I’m also always thinking of new ways to promote you and your listing(s) on whichever one you’re “in”. I mean, I’ve done the basics like having a Facebook page with your listings and a Squidoo page, that sort of thing, but I’ll think of something new and you can always count on me to do more. I’ll make sure you get what you pay for and more. Even though you’re paying for your listing(s), my goal is for you to think YOU’RE ripping me off. When you feel that way, then I know I’m doing a good job and I deserved your hard earned money.

For now, I’d like to hear any of your thoughts on what I’ve said above and I bid you adoo and I hope you have a great November 15, 2009! G’night.

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