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Interview with Swapnil Agrawal of Top Web Directory

I am a 17 year old student from India and making quality websites is a part of my life as a hobby I cherish. I run 5 websites as of now and working on another 2 of them.

Q1) Which is your primary website? 

Ans: Well, currently it is Top Web Directory. It is a big Business Web Directory and I am looking forward to make it a great resource. It has an 8 blog network and includes professional web services. Over 30,000 backlinks are present for that site. 

Q2) How did you start off as a Webmaster? 

Ans: I started off with making a free blog on blogger. People appreciated my blogging skills and some recommended me to buy hosting and use my own domain. I had no money at that time so did some services at forums to get the initial requirement for making my first website. 

Q3) What are the primary methods you use for your website’s promotion? 

Ans: Articles, Link Building, Contests, Freebies, Directory Submissions, Social Bookmarking are the primary methods used by me. 

Q4) Which is your favorite website? 

Ans: It’s the v7n forums. The community is really good for webmasters and most of the posts are quality posts. The spam levels are negligible too. 

Q5) Why did you choose to start a directory? 

Ans: I noticed some directories promoting a lot but the site was actually crap and worked only because of the excessive promotions. I also enjoy this marketing business, which prompted me to make Top Web Directory. 

Q6) What services you provide for the internet industry?

Ans: To go give you an overview, I do Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Manual Directory Submissions, Manual Deep Link Submissions, Manual Blog Submissions, Social Bookmarking Service, Article Submissions Service.You can view the list in the services section of my directory. 

Q7) 5 reasons why people should use your directory!

Ans:

1. To get better results for cheaper prices.
2. It is informative with an 8 Blog Network.
3. Over 6,000 Categories for accurate listings.
4. Over 30,000 Backlinks acquired naturally from various blogs
5. To get maximum exposure.

Q8) What is your favorite niche? Which category you think is more profitable?

Ans: Health. You learn while you blog and the keywords are high paying.

Q9) Any message/tips for starter webmasters?

Ans: Oh yeah! Don’t get influenced by these so-called “BIG” Webmasters. Learn stuff and don’t do odd jobs for small pennies. Make sure to blog regularly about things you like and develop a good social relationship with fellow webmasters.

Q10) Any thing else you want to add: 

Ans: Well, Top Web Directory IS the place to be listed in, so make sure all of you guys reading this submit your websites. J

Interview with Mad4 the Owner of Blog Storm

I’m a 26 year old blogger from the UK and make my living online providing consulting on SEO.

Q1) How did you started off:
Ans: For years I worked on promoting a large insurance website and then decided to build my own sites too.

Q2) How many sites you own:
Ans: Less than ten.

Q3) How much money you make online from different sites of yours:
Ans: Between $5000 and $10,000 per month.

Q4) What are your primary methods, you use for your site’s promotion:

Ans: On each of my sites I add a blog to publish the latest news and other things related to the site. The posts are high quality and get links from loads of great sites.

Q5) Any message/tips for starter webmasters:
Ans: Learn how to blog and network with other bloggers.

Q6) What is your favorite niche. Which category you think is more profitable?
Ans: Insurance.

Q7) What should you choose if you have to make a choice between a directory, a blog and a forum.
Ans: Blog every time.

Q8) Your favorite web host, hosting company.
Ans: Burton Hosting

Q9) Favorite search engine:
Ans: Google

Q10) Favorite website
Ans: Digg

Q11) Any thing else you want to add:
Ans: Link-baiting is the most addictive part of being a webmaster, anybody who has never got a flood of links using link-bait needs to start as soon as possible.

Interview with Md Sarker Manik the owner of WebCosmo

Hi, My name is Manik. I started this free classified website offering free posts in all categories, in all locations. 

Q1) your primary website:

Ans: WebCosmo is offering free classified ads in categories like housing, jobs, personals etc. Currently WebCosmo.com is serving the communities of 39 countries.  

Q2) How did you started off:

Ans: I saw Craig Newman of craigslist on tv one day. I was inspired by his works. Thought he did a great job, I can do something for fun also. If not money it will at least help others. 

Q3) How many sites you own:

Ans: Two. webcosmo.com and cosmocentral.com 

Q4) How much money you make online from different sites of yours:

Ans: I don’t make any money, I do it for fun. 

Q5) what are your primary methods, you use for your site’s promotion:

Ans: Forum posts, social networking, Google adwords, Google audio ads. 

Q6) Any message/tips for starter webmasters:

Ans: Be patient and keep working. It takes about a year to get your site significant amount of traffic. 

Q7) What is your favorite niche. Which category you think is more profitable?

Ans: Housing. 

Q8) what should you choose if you have to make a choice between a directory, a blog and a forum:

Ans: forum. 

Q9) Your favorite web host, hosting company:

Ans: Interland 

Q10) Favorite search engine:

Ans: Google 

Q11) Favorite website:

Ans: google.com 

Q12) any thing else you want to say!

Ans: I like to thank all the people who helped me on my learning stages of marketing the site webcosmo.com

Interview with Doug

Hello My name is Doug and I currently run 4 main websites. I am from Brooklyn New York and Migrated West to Ohio a couple of years ago. I am 30 and have been active with Computers for over 20 years 

Q1) Your primary website:

Ans: My primary website is Astawerks.net. That is my primary link bidding directory. 

Q2) How did you started off:

Ans: I made my first website in 1997 which then was a small page running on Angelfire.com I then got serious about being a webmaster in 1998 when I started Subsix.com.  That was for my Music production team and Rap crew.  I since had two more hiphop sites over the years. 

Q3) How many sites you own:

Ans: 5 

Q4) How much money you make online from different sites of yours:

Ans: My goldmine is my VoIP store which I had up for almost a year already. My directories are pretty much new so they are growing steady on the income tip.  

Q5) What are your primary methods, you use for your site’s promotion:

Ans: Link Building ex. Directories, Blogs, Articles. After that is Forum post, e-mails to webmasters and of course word of mouth.  

Q6) Any message/tips for starter webmasters:

Ans: Make sure you know what you are doing before you take the plunge. Make sure that you know how to secure your website and how to fix problems when they occur.  I seen countless websites go down for months before of a SQL problem which could have been easily fixed.  

Q7) What is your favorite niche. Which category you think is more profitable?

Ans: Music of course.  I am not sure if it much of a profit these days but it will always be my 4th love besides my family.  

Q8) What should you choose if you have to make a choice between a directory, a blog and a forum:

Ans: Blog. I had too many forums over the years and never got any post.  

Q9) Your favorite web host, hosting company:

Ans: Axishost.com  I ran  Astawerks.com on that for over 1 year and never had any problems.  

Q10) Favorite search engine:

Ans: Ask.com   Sike!  Google of course it’s faster and has the best results.  

Q11) Favorite website:

Ans: Digitalpoint.  I have learned more about SEO there in two months then I have in my 10+ years of being a webmaster.  

Q12) Any thing else you want to say!

Ans: Visit my sites  Astawerks.net, Asawerks.com, Xtremedirectory.com, and  my handme  down site Newgospel Bidding Directory

Interview with xbrain

xBrain, 24 years old humble guy from Kuala Lumpur city of Malaysia. Currently single and planning on getting married next year on Mei 25th, 2008. xbrain is under the rules of Libra star. Doing a producer job at a 3D Animation Company in Malaysia as a full time job and Forex Currency trader as a part time job. 

Q1) Your primary website:

Ans: My primary and the only website I owned so far is xbrain or people normally call it xbrain dot biz 

Q2) How did you started off:

Ans: I started off after a while using the free blog hosting by wordpress and blogger. On the Mei 23rd, Muhammadhilmi has asked me to buy a domain and he will sponsor the hosting. Then the xbrain dot biz begin the history. 

Q3) How many sites you own:

Ans: Overall=15, Active = 2 

Q4) How much money you make online from different sites of yours:

Ans: Plus Minus 1500-2000 monthly 

Q5) What are your primary methods, you use for your site’s promotion:

Ans: I am using the social bookmarking, digg, digg Mazlaysia, Netscape, Stumble and also in the forum 

Q6) Any message/tips for starter webmasters:

Ans: If you do blog, do it for the purpose of love to blog then only think about generating money out of it. 

Q7) What is your favorite niche. Which category you think is more profitable?

Ans: Any category is niche and any category can be profitable. It is up to you to provide a good content 

Q8) What should you choose if you have to make a choice between a directory, a blog and a forum:

Ans: A blog is an easiest way 

Q9) Your favorite web host, hosting company:

Ans: I love using Exabytes and Jvhosting services 

Q10) Favorite search engine:

Ans: Of course Google and Yahoo 

Q11) Favorite website:

Ans: The star online and ades blog

Q12) Any thing else you want to say!

Ans: I want to sell my xbrain dot biz for the whole thing. I currently tied up with the new project. The minimum price is 5,000. Currently visitors are 50,000 monthly with almost 60% are unique and returned visitors.

Interview with Myra Phan - 8everything

Hi, My name is Myra and I’m a graphics/website designer and webpreneur 

Q1) Your primary website:

Ans: Nufrosh - This is my small business that I started during my first year in University. It’s basically a graphics & website design business, but I will be expanding it to a media network slowly but surely. 

Q2) How did you started off:

Ans: I started off freelancing at the age of 15 after I received my first job offer from someone.  

Q3) How many sites you own:

Ans: I currently own 6 active sites. 

Q4) How much money you make online from different sites of yours:

Ans: I’d like to keep that amount disclosed, but I make enough to live comfortably as a student. 

Q5) What are your primary methods, you use for your site’s promotion:

Ans: For Nufrosh, I would have to say viral marketing. I didn’t do it on purpose but have noticed people have found my site from other people. 

Q6) Any message/tips for starter webmasters:

Ans: I know it’s a cliche but never give up. 

Q7) What is your favorite niche. Which category you think is more profitable?

Ans: My favorite niche would have to be anything relating to designing. As for a niche that is profitable, I would have to say educational sites (from my experience). Of course there are several typical profitable niches that I haven’t explored yet. 

Q8) What should you choose if you have to make a choice between a directory, a blog and a forum:

Ans: I would choose a blog because I find that it’s more fun to maintain. 

Q9) Your favorite web host, hosting company:

Ans: My friend’s server! I don’t really like endorsing any hosting company because they all have their pros and cons 

Q10) Favorite search engine:

Ans: Google 

Q11) Favorite website:

Ans: Stunt Kid because his artwork is amazing  

Q12) Any thing else you want to say:

Ans: N/A

Related links and resources:

The wireless communication systems are getting popularity because it saves cost in the long run. The wifi is the technology which we are using for wireless data communication. Almost every wireless phone is also working on this technology and people prefer these phones over traditional wired phones. In computer accessories, wireless keyboard is commonly used and it is easily available from any where at a very cheap price. The wireless camera is the next step in the world of webcam which is also used to monitor any activity at the entryways into homes and offices by installing it front and back doors. The wifi hot spot is the place which provides complete set of guidelines for wireless access. Another way of getting information is business wifi which provides information in shape of FAQs.

Interview with Saptarshi Roy Chaudhury

Hello, my name is Saptarshi Roy Chaudhury, better known in the Internet world by my IM-nick rishi321us (though I don’t use this any longer I lost it to some hacker), or Ray Smith - that’s the pen name I use to write most of my articles (a small secret revealed for the readers :)) I am more of a SEO and Internet Marketing guy than of a webmaster. 

Q1) Your primary website:

Ans: I have been involved as a SEO & webmaster for many websites I my career of around 6 years, of which I must mention sites like My Corporate Logo, 1rst Funds, Sundia Corp (I managed all these sites for Digital Avenues) etc.  

Q2) How did you started off:

Ans: Sheer luck!! Being a hotel mgmt grad there was no good reason for me to get into this industry but somehow it happened. I started my career with 123greetings.com as one of the pioneer members of their Internet marketing team. You can get the detailed story at seo kolkata today - How it all began

Q3) How many sites you own:

Ans: I don’t own a website except for my SEO Blog -  and a few other smaller blogs. 

Q4) How much money you make online from different sites of yours:

Ans: Never ask a man of his income - just joking. It would be bad to disclose the figures all I can say is I do good enough to butter my bread on both sides. 

Q5) What are your primary methods, you use for your site’s promotion:

Ans: Organic SEO has always been my forte 

Q6) Any message/tips for starter webmasters:

Ans: Love your job - that’s the secret to success. Technically: Learn HTML better than you have learned A-Z - WYSIWYGs are pathetic. Don’t depend on them 

Q7) What should you choose if you have to make a choice between a directory, a blog and a forum.

Ans: On basis of priority -

A) blog

B) Directory

C) Forum 

Q8) Your favorite web host, hosting company.

Ans: 1&1 

Q9) Favorite search engine:

Ans: obvious choice - Google 

Q10) Favorite website:

Ans: Can’t help it - Google again. 

Q11) Any thing else you want to say!

Ans: Umm. Not really. I don’t think I have answered so many questions at a go ever after I left my academics - I wish your site great luck!

Interview with Dan Ball

Hello, my name is Dan Ball, a web developer of 10 years or better in Minnesota, USA.

Q1) Your primary website:

Ans: Home Recording Connection - A large and active online community for home recording musicians and recording engineers. 

Q2) How did you started off:

Ans: I got my first modern PC in 1996 and immediately was intrigued by the Internet and took to teaching myself the skills. 

Q3) How many sites you own:

Ans: Own? Half dozen or so. I manage many more than that. 

Q4) How much money you make online from different sites of yours:

Ans: Well, it’s how I support my family, managing web sites is my career. It would be rude to give hard numbers. 

Q5) What are your primary methods, you use for your site’s promotion:

Ans: Almost exclusively organic search results, occasionally sharing banner ads on other sites, but not often. 

Q6) Any message/tips for starter webmasters:

Ans: Learn the programming language, don’t rely on WYSIWYG editors and that sort of thing. If you want to survive in the business, learn the languages and platforms. And don’t make a site just because you think it will make money, if it’s a hobby site, make it for a subject you are passionate about or a subject you are knowledgeable in and interested in, or it will be a sucky hobby. 

Q7) What is your favorite niche. Which category you think is more profitable?

Ans: Can’t say I know what is most profitable, I have had good luck in the music niche’ which can mostly be attributed to the fact I enjoy it as well. 

Q8) What should you choose if you have to make a choice between a directory, a blog and a forum.

Ans: Forum. Hands down, no contest. Directories are worthless, there are already too many, and only a very few matter. Blogs are generally silly. One persons rant on any given subject, and very few are actually authorities in anything they rant about. Blogs are great for leaders or authorities in a given subject, but that’s about it. Forums are user generated, cross sections of opinions and input from people across all demographics, much more enlightening, bringing with it only  the overhead of needing to moderate it, nothing sucks more than an un-moderated forum. They inevitably go to the dogs, and tough guy kids that bully people from behind their keyboard.  

Q9) Your favorite web host, hosting company.

Ans: Host PC, best service, support and prices I have ever had. 

Q10) Favorite search engine:

Ans: Google. 

Q11) Favorite website:

Ans: I like a few, Slash dot is cool, The Smoking Gun is fun. Too many to think of. 

Q12) any thing else you want to say!

Ans: Yeah, no, um, well, not really I guess.

Related links and resources:

The trend of making money online is very successful by effective internet marketing. There are different ways which are used by internet marketers for making money. In these methods, link exchange is very commonly used and it is also known as reciprocal linking. The other way is email marketing in which email is send to prospect customers. Another very popular way is, pay per click advertising in which advertisers only pay when a user actually clicks on an ad to visit the advertiser’s website.

Interview with Mike Owner of Zorg Bidding Directory

Hi, my name is mike. I’m a young guy with a lot of ambition. I have a lot of aims in life. World domination being the top priority =D

Q1) Your primary website:

Ans: That would be my Bidding Directory.

Q2) How did you start off:

Ans: I got interested in the directory market and the possible opportunities after running a free web directory. There were few bidding directories around when I started. Many of them had not been promoted, and were still using the default template. I wanted to go a step better and aim to become the best.

Q3) How many sites you own:

Ans: Lots of domains, but 3 main sites.

Q4) How much money you make online from different sites of yours:

Ans: Revenue is in the low $xxxx, but I have yet to break even on my directory.

Q5) What are your primary methods, you use for your site’s promotion:

Ans: Adding unique content, to bring in traffic. After that focus on link building which increases PR and SE rankings, which will in turn bring in traffic. I also buy banner space on webmaster sites for traffic, and get webmasters to review me in their blog for more traffic and backlinks.

Q6) Any message/tips for starter webmasters:

Ans: Don’t start if you have no effort. There is no point starting a directory, investing little, then stopping just because you couldn’t generate revenue after a month. Its a long term project so don’t jump into it if you lack the passion and determination to succeed.

Q7) What is your favorite niche. Which category you think is more profitable?

Ans: For a directory, general seems the best. After that, webmaster, blogs, travel and real estate seem quite popular niches.

Q8) What should you choose if you have to make a choice between a directory, a blog and a forum.

Ans: A directory every time. If the directory is the core, blogs and forum can follow. Its easier to promote and build up a directory than a forum, I know that from experience.

Q9) Your favorite web host, hosting company:

Ans: Down Town Host. I’m on a semi dedicated there, as my online game is resource intensive. They have been great, know me by name, and have great support/prices.

Q10) Favorite search engine:

Ans: It would have to be google. Unless I make my own one day!

Q11) Favorite website:

Ans: It would probably be Digital point forums. So much activity, things to learn, and potential customers out there.

Q12) Any thing else you want to say!

Ans: Thanks for letting me do this. I enjoy sharing my thoughts with others, and its even better if it serves as a guide to newer webmasters.

Related links and resources:

The business of providing online templates is mounting because of trend of using new and unique templates. Now, cv template is becoming very popular especially in fresh graduates who are near to start their jobs. After this template, calendar template is very common in those persons who are using calendars in their websites. The template monster is providing a wide range of free templates and any one can use them free of cost. The web design layout is also providing by this in different styles for different categories. This is also working for web design contract for customize layouts.

Interview with Syed Balkhi owner of idk Web Directory

Greetings, my name is Syed Balkhi, I am the owner of Genuine Paid Directory and a custom freelance designer.

Q1) Your primary website:

Ans: My primary and only website is Genuine Paid Directory. Basically it is not a directory, it is a whole network in itself. Containing an arcade, freebies, free phpLD templates and other scripts as well, a webmaster blog, phpLD mods, phpLD tutorials, and lastly a web directory with tons of resources in itself.

Q2) How did you started off:

Ans: Well, I started off with a forum called name pros where I used to earn their forum currency by posting and doing various tasks such as posting, submitting sites, to earn np$ (their currency) and than selling those points for some cash. Than I moved onto the industry of proxies, and owned a proxy network. After, I was tired and bored with the following, I got into the Web Directory Business and still in here and enjoying the company.

Q3) How many sites you own:

Ans: At this moment, I, myself own one site as I focus more on quality than quantity. Though I have different sites on different domains, I tend to say that I have one site because I don’t pay attention to the other ones as much as I do to IDK

Q4) How much money you make online from different sites of yours:

Ans: Well this is a very private question. I believe I make enough revenue to keep idk.in up and running and promoting at the same time. My two major sources of money at this time are my directory and my designs.

Q5) What are your primary methods, you use for your site’s promotion:
Ans: Basically, I am not one of those who believe in buying links. I believe in natural links. My primary promotion method is designing free templates and putting a designer link. That is the best one. After that, I try to get listed in all major high PR sites and than lastly I buy links on pr 7+ sites.

Q6) Any message/tips for starter webmasters:

Ans: New comers, I will advice you before you get into any type of business make sure you do a little research about that particular field. Make up your mind and be completely devoted to the field you started your website in.

Q7) What is your favorite niche. Which category you think is more profitable?
Ans: I will say a general directory is the best, but if I would have to go to niche site, than I will be going to Webmaster Niche Sites.

Q8) What should you choose if you have to make a choice between a directory, a blog and a forum.

Ans: I can eliminate forums in a blink because that will never be my choice because it is very hard to get a forum started and requires tons of cash for promotion in the beginning because there are already some big ones out here. It is a very tough choice between the blogs and directory, but directories have an edge I believe. Directories are the best way to run a quality site, and I think you can combine the two (blog and directory) to make a stronger site.

Q9) Your favorite web host, hosting company.
Ans: Well I am with one host for over a year now, and they are Qoozz with a 99.9% uptime, I am highly satisfied with this company, so this have to be my favorite hosting company.

10) Favorite search engine:

Ans: The whole world loves google, how can I be different. I focus more on google SERPs than any other search engine.

Q11) Favorite website:
Ans: If I really have to pick a site other than my own than that vote would go to Aviva Web Directory of Jeff. This website is the best containing some valuable resources and tricks which can help webmasters in a long run. I read their blog regularly as it is always helpful.

Q12) any thing else you want to say!:
Ans: I would like to thank you first of all for doing this interview. I had a pleasant time answering the questions. I wish you best of luck. Keep me in your well wishes.
-Syed