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Free internet marketing search engine newsletter Mar 2001 by Tina Reed
Yahoo is the most popular directory Web site on the Internet. It is easy to use, and they have done a masterful job of marketing. What this means is that they get tons of traffic to their Web site, including submissions to their directory which they must sort through every day.
Imagine the 1,000's of submissions Yahoo receives. They must have a method of determining a "fair" way of indexing submissions that will contribute to their bottom line, and meet the needs of users. Some of these methods may seem unfair, but like search engines they try to create ways to identify spam. After all, the value of any directory or search engine is its content and relevant links.
How Yahoo Works
How will you get your site listed? First, let's define how Yahoo works. There are two parts to the Yahoo Web site. Yahoo Web Pages lists results pulled from Google after typing in a keyword in a search box. These listings are called Web Page Matches. Your site may be listed here, but Yahoo may not have indexed it, as this is separate from the directory.
The other section is Yahoo Web Sites, where sites are listed alphabetically in categories in the directory portion of the site. You can see listings either by typing a keyword in a search box (as on the home page), or by manually clicking on categories. These listings are called Yahoo! Site Matches. Web sites are handpicked for inclusion by an editor, contrary to the way search engines work.
Yahoo charges $299 for its "Business Express", to review submissions of business Web sites within 7 business days. All commercial sites submitted must pay this fee, but there is no guarantee your site will be listed or how it will be listed. You take a chance on losing money, because your site may be rejected, accepted but not listed in your chosen category, or listed with a changed description.
Update: As of December 28, 2001, an annual fee of $299 is required to keep a directory listing. If your listing was indexed prior to this date the fee is waived.
You have to decide whether the review fee is worth it. It should be seriously considered if the extra traffic will generate more than $299 in business. For businesses with big-ticket items, it can be very worthwhile.
If the submitted listing is put in a different category or with a different description than provided, you can request a change or appeal. An email address for this purpose is provided in a return email after submission. In your change request, be very clear and brief as to why you think the description, title, category, etc. should be changed. It is MANDATORY to send this request from the same email address you used in your submission. If you don't it will be very difficult, if not impossible to get it changed.
Be sure to read the acceptance guidelines and instructions BEFORE submitting your site.
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/suggest/busexpress.html
More tips
Tip #1:
Take advantage of Yahoo's help pages as follows:
Yahoo! Business Express Help
http://help.yahoo.com/help/bizex/
Suggested Sites Help (Important change request and submission information and feedback form)
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/url/
Current Business Express Categories
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/suggest/categories.html
Tip #2:
Beware of submitting multiple Web sites that are part of a network. If the sites are connected, Yahoo feels that they should only list one even if the subject matter is different. It may be helpful to have one main site that leads to all of the others for this reason, and then try to get that primary site indexed. (Although, I don't recommend this in all cases.)
Tip #3:
Don't assume that the editor actually views your site. They may only read the title and description you have provided. Also, if you have a site network did you provide the same title and description for all of the sites that you have submitted? Make sure that they are all different so that they look like different sites.
Tip #4:
Don't use the same email address to submit multiple sites! That is one way that they may screen submissions for spam.
Tip #5:
I have mentioned this before, because this is crucial. A good title and site description is what drives click throughs. Make sure you have thought out your marketing strategy, including chosen keywords. Remember that people will be searching using keywords to find a site like yours. The wording that you provide will determine the keywords the site is indexed under.
Tip #6:
There is a limit on the number of characters that can be submitted for the title and description, so include the most important keywords.
Tip #7:
Perform several searches to ensure you are selecting the right category before submission. Choose the most relevant category, and one in which your competitors are listed. The category is the most important element to improve your positions in the directory.
It is important that you submit your site right the first time, because you may not have another chance. Your listing can affect potential click throughs and traffic for a long time to come. Best of luck indexing your site with the #1 Web site on the Internet. Let us know how you do!
For help indexing your site in Yahoo, or in the other main directories (LookSmart, NBCi and Open Directory) drop us a line @ mailto:info@marketnetconsulting.com. We will submit your site to these directories with guaranteed professionally written titles and descriptions, and to the most effective categories for your site.
For more information see last month's article SEARCH ENGINES VS. DIRECTORIES.
http://marketnetconsulting.com/search-engine-newsletter-search-engines-directories.html
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