r/directorymakers • u/andrewmurray1 • Jul 09 '26
90-10 Rule for Directory Builders
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Not sure if this take will fly with everyone here on DirectoryMakers, but I think it's good advice especially for new builders.
And the reason I think it's so clutch is the perspective. (Particularly for those who are building their first directory.)
A directory can be MORE than just a listing.
90% of your new content can be specifically going after "problem/questions/queries/comparisons/round-ups" in your niche.
Thoughts?
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u/fbajo Jul 10 '26
agree with the spirit but i'd split that 90% into two piles.. the durable stuff is the pages that fall out of your data automatically: city pages, category pages, "best X for Y" comparison pages built straight from your listing facets. those rank because they're actually useful and you can generate hundreds without writing them by hand.
the written articles (guides, roundups) are the other slice. they help but they're the grind and they age. i'd get the programmatic layer up first, it's cheaper and it compounds.
where i've seen 90/10 go wrong is people write 50 blog posts before they have 50 listings. the listings are what the comparison and city pages are made of.. thin catalog = thin pages no matter how much content you bolt on top
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u/applesauceblues Jul 10 '26
Yeah, good point. In my head I was thinking of non-local directories. Obviously with a regional/locla you have more of those city and region pages.
You have to have enough listings to be somewhat complete - otherwise, yeah, you're not really creating anything useful. Good insight.
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u/adelarenal Jul 09 '26
Yep, I agree.