My site (1st in my sig) is basically a web hosting directory but with a slight twist. The thing is, I need to attract both web hosts and people looking for hosting.

So should I concentrate my efforts on trying to attract one or the other or both? What do you think would be the best way to go about marketing my site?

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Well, I'd be extremely Honest with you Keith -- and I am pretty sure that you know about it -- Majority of People don't trust web hosting directories! And one reason for this is the greed of the zillions of the cookie cutter Hosting Directories out there! This is one lemon of this business which you can turn into a lemonade!!!

I guess the person behind WHReviews.com is already doing that. He is NOT projecting his site as a directory of hosts but as a review site of High Quality Hosts

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Coming back to your question -- Who should you market your site to first?

Well, I thought a lot about your question last night. At first, I thought that it was a catch-22 situation for you. If you don't have people looking for hosting then why would hosts be there and if you don't have hosts, then why would people looking for hosts be there!

After thinking a lot about it, and I really thought a lot about it, I would suggest that you try and focus more energy on getting visitors.

People searching for hosts are not just searching for hosts but they are searching for information - Information about hosts, information about hosting and information about choosing the best host! Whereas the hosts are just looking for traffic

Also, your visitors are not looking for a list of thousands of crappy hosts but hosts that would be perfect for them!

Well, the standard SEs, Signature marketing, Checklists, articles etc. apply but your biggest tool must be word of mouth. Just a remind of the fact -- People are lazy! They will not do something unless they are told to do so! Remind them to tell their friends about your site!!!

If you have any more specific questions, do ask them

Good Luck!

Thanks for your reply Lord

It does seem like a catch-22 situation doesn't it. I'm trying (or should I say planning) to not make the site just another hosting directory. What I really want to do is create partnerships with hosts whereby people who sign up to a host through my site get something extra. Two hosts so far have agreed to do this. One gives an extra month free and the other offers a lifetime discount.

I'm in the process of adding new features to the site (like a tell-a-friend form).

I'll definitely take your advice on board - if fact I'm going to save a printable version right now. Thanks again.

__________________
Web Hosting Directory
Freelance Web Designer
Website Templates
Electrical Superstore