From: gregisenberg
Validating an idea is a crucial first step when considering starting an online directory. It ensures that there is an actual audience and demand for the directory before significant time and resources are invested in building it [00:01:04]. John Rush highlights that people are making significant monthly incomes (5K, 10K, 15K, 20K) with online directories, considering it one of the lowest-risk ways to start a business [00:00:23].
Why Validate Directory Ideas Now?
The current era is seen as a “Golden Era of directories” [00:01:21]. As internet content proliferates, the quality of information becomes paramount [00:02:00]. Directories address this by offering curation, which users increasingly desire [00:01:26]. People trust well-curated directories that feature high-quality content, reviews, and ratings, and are managed by individuals knowledgeable in their niche [00:02:09]. This trend suggests users are outsourcing decision-making from broad search engines like Google to specialized, trusted directories [00:02:27].
The Best Way to Find and Validate Ideas
The most effective method for finding and validating directory ideas is to start with keyword research [00:02:57]. This process determines if people are actively searching for certain keywords and phrases related to your idea [00:03:05].
Using Google Keyword Planner
Google provides a tool called Keyword Planner, primarily used for planning ads, but it’s also excellent for assessing search traffic for keywords [00:03:21]. John Rush spends hours daily using this tool to test various ideas and gauge traffic potential [00:03:38].
The process involves:
- Entering a broad keyword: For instance, “business ideas” [00:04:53].
- Analyzing search volume: Observe the monthly search volume. A high volume (e.g., 1 million searches per month for “business ideas”) indicates significant interest [00:05:09].
- Checking competition: The competition metric (often related to ad competition) can give an indication of how saturated the keyword is, though it’s specifically for ads [00:05:14].
Domain Name Selection
Once a keyword is identified, the next step is to find a domain name that matches the keyword as closely as possible [00:05:29]. Google’s algorithm now prioritizes the meaning of keywords over exact word matches [00:06:55]. This means variations with similar meanings (e.g., “tiny,” “micro,” “mini” for “small”) can still rank well [00:07:07].
An example of success with an exact match domain was “nextjsstarters.com,” which gained significant traffic quickly due to its direct keyword match [00:05:41]. John advises being creative to find available domains that are inexpensive, typically under $9 [00:07:19].
Building the Directory for Validation
After validating an idea and securing a domain, the focus shifts to building the directory in the most efficient way to continue the validation process.
Prioritizing No-Code Tools
Building with no-code tools like Unicorn Platform is highly recommended, even for developers [00:10:10]. No-code solutions offer:
- Faster launch: Templates enable rapid deployment [00:08:56].
- Marketing flexibility: Modern CMS and web builders include built-in features for marketing pages, A/B tests, blogs, and programmatic SEO, which are difficult and time-consuming to implement manually in code [00:09:06].
- Ease of content management: Non-technical team members can easily manage and publish content, unlike coded sites that require developer intervention for every change [00:09:51].
Minimal Viable Directory
For the initial launch, keep the directory extremely simple [00:11:11]. The only essential elements are a simple page with a name and the directory items [00:11:31]. Advanced features like ratings or user reviews should be added later, as they would be empty initially anyway [00:11:20].
Leveraging AI for Content Generation
AI tools can significantly speed up the initial content creation process [00:11:58]. AI can generate:
- Directory structures [00:13:01]
- Menu items and text [00:13:07]
- Featured ideas sections, which help with SEO by providing more text and potential target pages [00:13:43]
- FAQ sections: Each FAQ title can be a potential Google search query [00:14:19]. By researching “how do I…” suggestions on Google, common questions can be identified and answered in the FAQ, capturing additional traffic [00:14:27]. For example, “how to start a business as a teenager” is a valuable, less obvious keyword [00:15:37].
Initially, John recommends creating “fake items” or short AI-generated content for these potential keywords [00:16:55]. The goal is to do “as little as possible to validate all the assumptions” [00:17:15]. If a keyword shows traffic in Google Search Console, then invest human time to create a full, high-quality page for it [00:17:00].
Rapid Iteration and Multiple Bets
The entire initial build and basic setup should take no more than one evening [00:18:40]. Speed is critical because there’s a high chance any single idea might fail [00:19:01].
It is recommended to bet on five, six, or even ten directory ideas simultaneously [00:19:09]. This approach removes the disappointment of a single idea failing and accelerates the validation process, especially since SEO takes time to yield results [00:19:26].
After building and initial promotion, stop working on the directory for about 30 days [00:28:10]. After this period, check the traffic [00:28:36]. If there’s no traffic, it’s very difficult to fix the fundamental issues (e.g., wrong domain name, misjudged keyword difficulty) [00:28:46].
The advice is to “never fall in love with the idea for a directory” [00:29:15]. Instead, focus on the directories that perform best in the initial 30-day period and then invest more time into those [00:29:21]. This strategy optimizes effort and increases the chances of success for profitable online directories.