Yahoo Directory vs Paid Link Directories

[thersey]

My website is currently a google page rank 3. I have $300 to spend on trying to improve my pagerank and adding traffic to my website. Is this money better spent on $299.00 to be listed in the Yahoo directory or being listed in 12-Directories that are split between google page rank 4-6? Some of these directories are deep link directories.

Projector Discount Store-LCD/DLP/Home Theater

[jboeckman]

Personally I would work on cleaning up the HTML and design of your site before you spend money submitting to directories.

[thersey]

Thanks, can you give me some examples on improving the design and HTML?

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by thersey

Thanks, can you give me some examples on improving the design and HTML?

Make a new thread in the Site Review forum and you will get feedback.

[yinka007]

I say you go for the paid link directories because yahoo directory ranking may still drop further.

[jawn_tech]

My advice would be to save your $299 instead of paying for Yahoo's directory. You'd only be paying for headaches that I can attest to, too numerous to mention in this post. But just to give you some idea, there has historically been issues with problematic descriptions in Yahoo search results stemming from outdated and un-editable site descriptions in its directory. Not sure if that issue has been resolved lately, but that's just one example.

Definitely, I would spread the advertising across a wider spectrum of quality-traffic sites.

[thersey]

Thank you,

That is what I thought. Yahoo is asking for $299 to be in there directory and it really looks like my money would be better spent putting it into some deep links. My goal right now is to create some more good links and to produce some good sitemaps. I tried to use a few sitemap generators and they could not produce a compliant sitemap without errors or warnings. I found some software from a company called Site Map Builder that is really working. Thank you for your input!

Projector Discount Store-LCD/DLP/Home Theater

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by thersey

Thank you,

That is what I thought. Yahoo is asking for $299 to be in there directory ...

Actually, the $299 fee only guarantees that your site will be reviewed, not that it pass such review and be listed. And, if willing to wait, you may find that your site eventually gets listed without your submitting it for review.

As for paid links, you would be well advised to tread carefully, as such are increasingly frowned on by Google.

Best to first concentrate on site design. Next, submit to those directories which accept submissions at no cost. Then, you may wish to test paid advertising.

[thersey]

Thank you, I am past the free directories. From what I have heard, Google has not frowned on good paid directories. Site design improvements are needed although people don't buy from websites just because they are cool looking, the look at pricing and someone that can trust. If my Google and Yahoo sitemaps are good and my links improve, my design is really not an issue right now. If someone can re-design my homepage for $300 I would be glad to take care of it.

[qh4dotcom]

Since there is no guarantee that after paying Yahoo $300 your site will be accepted, I would rather spend it on the other directories

[thersey]

Thank you for your input!

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by yinka007

I say you go for the paid link directories because yahoo directory ranking may still drop further.

Huh?

Like DMOZ, Yahoo Directory is considered an authoritative reference due to the facts that 1) entries are screened prior to being placed, and 2) paying for such review does not guarantee placement.

On the other hand, paid link directories are not deemed to be authoritative, precisely becuase they fail to meet the above said 2 conditions.

[innominds]

If you are considering to target Yahoo search engine, I would advise you to invest in Yahoo Directory, orelse do not go for it. It is better to concentrate on other free directories which are authoritative.

[thersey]

Thanks, I do submit sitemaps to yahoo explorer. Based on everyone's input it seems like the directory would not be a good investment. I have decided to put my money into quality link directories that are page rank 5 or 6 and to put some money into changing the design of my website which is really outdated.

[davidweb]

Originally Posted by thersey

My website is currently a google page rank 3. I have $300 to spend on trying to improve my pagerank and adding traffic to my website. Is this money better spent on $299.00 to be listed in the Yahoo directory or being listed in 12-Directories that are split between google page rank 4-6? Some of these directories are deep link directories.

Projector Discount Store-LCD/DLP/Home Theater

It is not important whether you select Yahoo directory or not.

The most important criteria is whether you would be placed on page 1 or not.

Take for example Search Engine Optimization Services in the Yahoo! Directory

You will find 410 websites in regular listing $299. If you add your site, it is highly possible that you get included in page 8-9.

It would be of no use to get listed in that position. I would rather go for small directories which charge 2-5 dollars, and they will also make your site on page 1.

However the priority of Yahoo directory is high, but if you get listed in pages 8-9 for that amount, then its the time to look for some other directories within your specific business niche.

[thersey]

Thank you, spending $299 to be listed on the first page in the Yahoo directory compares to playing craps in vegas.

[villageloop]

The fact alone that you may not get listed is reason enough to not pay $300.

A few years ago when yahoo dominated, I could see thier justification of charging for listing in thier directory. Now in 2008, I feel that they are just milking a cash cow.

If you are going to pay $300 you should know what you are getting for it. What is your ROI?

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by innominds

If you are considering to target Yahoo search engine, I would advise you to invest in Yahoo Directory, orelse do not go for it. It is better to concentrate on other free directories which are authoritative.

The most important issue to consider is whether or not one has brick-and-mortar and is desirous of customers being able to readily find it.

If the such is the case, then Directories are quite important, given that 40% or more of buying related searches are for merchants in the buyer's locale; and, use of Directory searches for such is steadily increasing.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by davidweb

It is not important whether you select Yahoo directory or not.

The most important criteria is whether you would be placed on page 1 or not.

Take for example Search Engine Optimization Services in the Yahoo! Directory

You will find 410 websites in regular listing $299. If you add your site, it is highly possible that you get included in page 8-9.

It would be of no use to get listed in that position. I would rather go for small directories which charge 2-5 dollars, and they will also make your site on page 1.

However the priority of Yahoo directory is high, but if you get listed in pages 8-9 for that amount, then its the time to look for some other directories within your specific business niche.

You've completely overlooked the usage of Directories for local search. Over 40% of buying related searches are for a merchant that is in the customer's locale, and usage of Directories for such continues to increase.

For those merchants who both have brick-and-mortar, and want customers to be able to locate them, Directories, including Yahoo's, are not to be ignored.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by villageloop

The fact alone that you may not get listed is reason enough to not pay $300.

A few years ago when yahoo dominated, I could see thier justification of charging for listing in thier directory. Now in 2008, I feel that they are just milking a cash cow.

If you are going to pay $300 you should know what you are getting for it. What is your ROI?

If one has brick-and-mortar, and wants customers to be able to find such, Directories, including Yahoo's, can be invaluable, given that 1) over 40% of buying related searches are for a merchant in the customer's locale, and 2) the use of Directories for such continues to increase.

For a merchant who might thus benefit from such listings, which is more desirable - submitting to, for example, DMOZ, and hoping that their might be an editor actively handling the appropriate category, or paying, for example, Yahoo for a guaranteed and timely review?

For Yahoo's fee, one does in fact know precisely what they're "getting," the guarantee of a timely review of their submission.

As for "cash cows," presumably you have the requisite financial data to support your contention, and will shortly be providing us with such.

[villageloop]

Originally Posted by deepsand

For Yahoo's fee, one does in fact know precisely what they're "getting," the guarantee of a timely review of their submission.

As for "cash cows," presumably you have the requisite financial data to support your contention, and will shortly be providing us with such.

If you are happy paying $300 for a review than that is fine.

As for Cash Cow, of course I do not have any financial data. But I do have the memory of when submission and review on yahoo was FREE! (even for commercial sites)

Just like many other internet startups, the business model is... Offer your service for free, build up a user base and a brand, then start charging for the services that you used to offer for free.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by villageloop

As for Cash Cow, of course I do not have any financial data. But I do have the memory of when submission and review on yahoo was FREE! (even for commercial sites)

Well, then, such remains but an unsubstantiated conjecture.

As for being reviewed, and to repeat, commercial sites are still reviewed, and listed if deemed qualified, in the Yahoo Directory at no cost. The difference between the active route of self-submitting, and the passive one of waiting to be reviewed, is time.

You want quick results, with notification of the findings, you pay for such; you want free, you wait and wonder.

[villageloop]

Originally Posted by deepsand

As for being reviewed, and to repeat, commercial sites are still reviewed, and listed if deemed qualified, in the Yahoo Directory at no cost. The difference between the active route of self-submitting, and the passive one of waiting to be reviewed, is time.

Unfortunately, we are speaking about the Yahoo Directory and not the Search Index. And commercial submissions are not free. They incur a recurring $299 annual fee.

From the yahoo website:

<B>

Business or Commercial Sites

If you are suggesting your business or a site that is commercial in nature, it must be submitted to a commercial sub-category within the Business and Economy section of the Yahoo! Directory. The Business and Economy section contains two major sub-categories:

• A wholesale or business to business area labeled: Business and Economy > Business to Business
• A retail or consumer shopping area labeled: Business and Economy > Shopping and Services

When you go to the appropriate commercial sub-category relevant to your site, you will see that the Suggest a Site links to the fee-based Yahoo! Directory Submit process --which is required when suggesting a commercial site. For more information please read our Directory Submit FAQs. Or, go to Yahoo! Directory Submit to suggest a site.

</B>

You can find all of this information here.
Link: http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/dir/su...uggest-01.html

I still say Cash Cow!

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by villageloop

Unfortunately, we are speaking about the Yahoo Directory and not the Search Index.

My post clearly addresses the Directory alone, as opposed to the SI.

Originally Posted by villageloop

And commercial submissions are not free.

I never said that such submissions we not without cost; only that they are not the only means by which a listing in the Yahoo Directory may be realized.

Originally Posted by villageloop

They incur a recurring $299 annual fee.

Only if one wishes to be automatically re-reviewed, on an annual basis, for possible continued inclusion in the Directory.

Originally Posted by villageloop

From the yahoo website:

<B></B>

You can find all of this information here.
Link: Yahoo! Help - Directory

If you carefully re-read your citation, you will find that it simply states that if commercial sites self-submit, they must use the service in question. It does not state that such is the only means by which commercial sites may be listed.

That commercial sites can be so listed without using said service is a fact to which I can personally attest.

[villageloop]

Originally Posted by deepsand

If you carefully re-read your citation, you will find that it simply states that if commercial sites self-submit, they must use the service in question. It does not state that such is the only means by which commercial sites may be listed.

Ummmm. Im not an attorney but .... yes it does....
Since you must have missed this portion. Or maybe you just interpret this statement differently also.

If you are suggesting your business or a site that is commercial in nature, it must be submitted to a commercial sub-category within the Business and Economy section of the Yahoo! Directory.

I see where you are trolling with this.

Good luck to you.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by villageloop

Ummmm. Im not an attorney but ....

While one need not be an attorney in order to correctly understand the issue at hand, must one have certain qualities that are required of a proficient lawyer; namely, the ability & willingness to:

1) Set aside any preconceptions;
2) Examine all the pertinent facts, including those which rebut your desired conclusion; and,
3) Examine such facts in the cold hard light of logic.

Originally Posted by villageloop

Since you must have missed this portion. Or maybe you just interpret this statement differently also.

Well, apparently you missed the opening clause, which is a conditional. It reads, "If you are suggesting your business or a site that is commercial in nature, ..."

And, you conveniently ignored that part of my prior post which reads "That commercial sites can be so listed without using said service is a fact to which I can personally attest."

Originally Posted by villageloop

I see where you are trolling with this.

Ad hominem.

If you wish to continue to engage in sophistry, you'll need to find another to humor you.

[Limtexit]

Yahoo directory is good for all those who are able to afford it.