This transcript was generated from the episode audio and may contain minor errors.
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Today we're gonna hear from a caller in Massachusetts who has a small moving business and thinking about starting a directory website that provides listings to movers from around the country. So what do we think about this idea? What do we think about the business model of building a directory website? Is it outdated or might it still have some potential? I like this question.
I think it gives us a couple of good jumping off points. And I think for anybody out there who wants to establish themselves as an authority, an expert, otherwise wants to serve a particular audience category topic, you might wanna think about what is the best way you can do that? And so the directory website is one way, there could be some other ways as well. I'll do my best to give a helpful answer to our caller and maybe something helpful for other listeners as well. Detailed question and that answer coming right up.
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Hi Chris, this is Elgin from just outside Boston, Massachusetts. I've been listening to the show for years now and love the inspiration and advice. So my current side hustle is a small moving business. Basically myself and a friend of mine. He's not a partner in the business so I pay him an agreed amount for each job and it's working fairly well for now.
My question is about potentially creating a directory website of movers from around the country and charging lead referrals, sponsor list things or other ad related revenue. I'm choosing the moving business since I already know the industry and it seems like a good fit. Now, is the directory model outdated when a simple Google search of moving companies might suffice? I asked this question because you've covered directory websites in past episodes and they seem a little more specialized from what I'm proposing. Thanks and look forward to hearing your advice.
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Well, is the model outdated? I don't know if that matters. Maybe it's a little outdated in the sense that directory websites came out a long time ago or first came out a long time ago and now they're often easier ways to find information not just with search engines but people are searching with chat GPT and other AI tools. So the directory model category has definitely declined a bit but it could still work if you are getting enough traffic to the site 'cause what really matters here is qualified traffic to the directory website. If you have that, if you have that coming in then you have leads and these people want to hire movers.
So is that valuable? Definitely, it is definitely valuable. It could very much be a business model but now imagine that you have the same website, you built up this directory website, you spent a lot of time in it but nobody's really visiting like nobody's coming to it. Is that valuable to movers? Not really, okay?
So it is the gap between these two experiences where value is created. And our caller says like a simple Google search might suffice but all those searches have to end up somewhere, right? So the question you need to answer is can you build a resource that attracts both groups, the movers who pay and the leads they're looking for? If you feel confident in your answer there then this could be a great business model. If you're not sure then it's gonna be a harder road.
I do see it as a long-term project like a one to two year project, you know, in terms of side hustle length. A lot of side hustles can get started in 30 days, 60 days, et cetera. But because building up that traffic is gonna be so important and take some time, that's why I think the timeframe is a little bit longer. So there's a world in which it could work. I don't think the model is necessarily outdated.
I just think it's a lot of work to reach a sustainable level of visitors. That's my two cents. Good luck, of course. Let us know what you do. Listeners, thank you for being out there as well.
sidehustleschool.com for resources and email lists. Bunch of free stuff, notes for every episode. And of course, new episodes on the way. Seven days a week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Well, you know how it goes.
You know what the days of the week are. Every day there is an episode. You can always access it wherever you get your shows. It's always free. My name is Chris Guillebeau.
You're listening to Side Hustle School. [Music]
