Yahoo directory

[thehitbomb]

Is it cost effective to pay the $299 to be listed in the Yahoo Directory?

[tezehe]

I heard there are free Yahoo Directory, but till now I can't find them.

[manish.chauhan]

I heard there are free Yahoo Directory, but till now I can't find them.

There is not any free directory..you have to pay $299($600 if your content is adult) for review..If your website is accepted then you have to pay $299 more for inclusion in yahoo directory...:)

[tezehe]

So much $, i know, thanks manish.chauhan

[jonbuoy]

I don't think that it is cost effective in any way.
It's free with Google
The majority of search traffic comes from Google
Google updates more frequently

[Rudy1211]

Agree with jonbuoy. $299 for a listing in Yahoo's directory does not appear to be cost effective for a redirect link.

[thehitbomb]

So, it doesn't help getting a better page rank in Google? I thought that at a price like that, it would be incredibly beneficial

[pioneer1]

Ii is too expensive for one link. With tha money you could've bought 10 + other links

[mjewel]

I have 15 individual directory listings. It's one of the last authority links you can buy that will help your google SERPS without putting yourself at risk for buying links.

Is it worth $299? Depends on your site. Will it make your site go from #200 to #1? No. Can it take you from the top 20 into the top 10? Yes.

If your total budget is under $500 a year, then I would probably pass. You don't get a listing for PR or traffic, but to help you with SERPS (both yahoo and google). The $299 is a non-refundable review fee, not a guarantee of a listing. If you are serious about building a quality site, then $299 is cheap.

If the MSN/Yahoo deal goes through, there is speculation (pure) that MSN might do away with the paid listings (like they did with their own directory) so it might turn into a permanent (free) listing... and perhaps not.

[tsukara]

Is it cost effective to pay the $299 to be listed in the Yahoo Directory?

Some webmasters says yes. But for me, it's worth to submit my site in free directories with high pr already.

[mjewel]

Some webmasters says yes. But for me, it's worth to submit my site in free directories with high pr already.

The major difference is that google still considers yahoo an authority source - and now ignores about 99% of free directories.

[kaung]

spend your money on SEO and building contents and attractive site feel which will guarantee you more vistors and exposures and ranking then paying a directory lump sum.

[carleasingsecrets]

IMO, I don't think paying $299 for review and another $299 for inclusion in yahoo cost effective.
1. It does not give guarantee my site will be in the top 1 position.
2. I can do cheaper alternatives to rank better in google.
3. People are using more and more of Google for their search needs, not the Yahoo directory.
4. If paying this amount just for Yahoo traffic, it is not worth it as there are free social bookmarking sites out there that generates traffic.

[mjewel]

IMO, I don't think paying $299 for review and another $299 for inclusion in yahoo cost effective.
1. It does not give guarantee my site will be in the top 1 position.
2. I can do cheaper alternatives to rank better in google.
3. People are using more and more of Google for their search needs, not the Yahoo directory.
4. If paying this amount just for Yahoo traffic, it is not worth it as there are free social bookmarking sites out there that generates traffic.

You clearly have never had a yahoo listing (it's not an additional $299 fee) so how do you know what a listing would do for your rankings?

[carleasingsecrets]

Of course I never had a listing at yahoo because I learn from the experiences of others. Why would I waste my $299 for a review with NO GUARANTEE?

[mjewel]

Of course I never had a listing at yahoo because I learn from the experiences of others. Why would I waste my $299 for a review with NO GUARANTEE?

There is no guarantee for a yahoo listing which is one of the reasons google still counts them as an authority site. A guaranteed listing directory gets its PR and authority set to zero. I've never had a site turned down, but I wouldn't submit a crap site either.

If you learn from the experiences of others, please name a single industry SEO recognized expert that says a yahoo directory listing is a waste of money? Just one. I don't want to hear about some poster who had a site that wasn't ranking for anything and still didn't rank after only doing a yahoo listing.

Google's Matt Cutts specifically mentioned the Yahoo Directory as one he would submit to. The two others were DMOZ and BOTW. I've noticed an increase in SERPS with every single site I have submitted and had listed (15 in total) - although as I said, it isn't a miracle worker and might not be right for everyone. If your goal is to have a site that makes $500 or $1000 a year, then I would certainly pass. Going from a ranking in the 20's to top ten can mean tens of thousands of dollars annually in the right niche.

[carleasingsecrets]

There is no guarantee for a yahoo listing which is one of the reasons google still counts them as an authority site. A guaranteed listing directory gets its PR and authority set to zero. I've never had a site turned down, but I wouldn't submit a crap site either.

You are probably right. But there are other alternatives to Yahoo that would rank you in search engines. And I for one wouldn't gamble on anything with no guarantee. But that's just me. That's why I listed MY OPINION why I THINK paying $299 for Yahoo placement is not cost-effective. But then again, my site is not yet on the level where a few push on the rankings would matter. And I still stand on my point when I said "It (Yahoo) does not give guarantee my site will be in the top 1 position."

If you learn from the experiences of others, please name a single industry SEO recognized expert that says a yahoo directory listing is a waste of money? Just one. I don't want to hear about some poster who had a site that wasn't ranking for anything and still didn't rank after only doing a yahoo listing.

I read forums. I have no time digging for the URLs.


Google's Matt Cutts specifically mentioned the Yahoo Directory as one he would submit to. The two others were DMOZ and BOTW. I've noticed an increase in SERPS with every single site I have submitted and had listed (15 in total) - although as I said, it isn't a miracle worker and might not be right for everyone. If your goal is to have a site that makes $500 or $1000 a year, then I would certainly pass.

Are you sure your SERP increase is due to the listing in Yahoo and you did not do any link building and other promotions? Okay, if anyone opt to pay $299 for a few push on the SERPs, then I rest my case. But I wouldn't say it is cost-effective either. :)

Going from a ranking in the 20's to top ten can mean tens of thousands of dollars annually in the right niche.
I do agree with you here. If you say Yahoo was the sole reason for the increase, then I would probably reconsider.

[fotoviva]

Of course I never had a listing at yahoo because I learn from the experiences of others. Why would I waste my $299 for a review with NO GUARANTEE?

One would think that as long as your site is quality and not some shoddy piece of work then it will get accepted. Not sure what their policy is on gambling etc.

Anyone here been rejected before?

[InfoSmith]

One of my friend said he paid $299 but reject and no refund.

Anyway, if your site is damn good, you should list in yahoo and very good for your pagerank

[bhai457]

me too heared never fined it

[sapidadarman]

i thinks it's depend on what you need. if you have a big business company, why not? but if you just start your website, it's not cost effective.

[bfirst]

It is cost effective if you want to rank in yahoo because yahoo directory customers will be higher in the search results.

b-1st.com

[thehitbomb]

Good stuff. The responses really do seem to be on the fence with this subject. I just started a website for high risk auto finance, and I would LOVE to be a big player in this group, and I would like to see my site at #1 as soon as possible (wouldn't we all) and I am just looking for the CORRECT path to accomplish this. Too many bad guys out there promising crap. Yahoo seemed to be a good route, but now I am even more confused than before.

But thanks for all of your thoughts. Looking forward in reading more!

[felixthefire]

Would it not be better to spend $299 on 10 links elsewhere than one link from Yahoo?

[snowbird]

The major difference is that google still considers yahoo an authority source - and now ignores about 99% of free directories.

I would not go so far as saying Google ignores 99% of free directories. I have a PR 3 site that ranks well for its keywords and the only backlinks it has are from free directories. Granted, it's not a highly competitive niche but certainly not ignored.

[TrafficRider]

One would think that as long as your site is quality and not some shoddy piece of work then it will get accepted. Not sure what their policy is on gambling etc.

Anyone here been rejected before? They just added a new category "Gambling". You should be ok in submitting gambling related website.

[DJMC]

One of my friend said he paid $299 but reject and no refund.


If you pay with a CREDIT CARD.....you can dispute the charges.

That's what a friend of mine did......he told his CC issuer that "Services were not rendered" and the CC issuer gave him a FULL REFUND.

(NOTE: this will put you on a Yahoo blacklist, but at least you'll get your money back!!!)

[snowbird]

Yahoo is not unreasonable for listing standards. If one is concerned, remove Adsense and affiliate references before the submission. Basically clean up the site and make sure it does not look spammy or contain code errors.

For those that think $299 is high for a submission, please remember that Yahoo has many regional directories. So one submission could give you many authority links if your market is global.

[DJMC]

For those that think $299 is high for a submission, please remember that Yahoo has many regional directories.

*some* of those foreign Yahoo directories still have free submissions!

(so for some of us, its better to submit to "Yahoo Asia" and take chances on the freebie......?)

[Abbadox]

Seems to me that no one has ever done a real case study on the Yahoo directory, many people claim it helps and many claim it is a waste of money but no one has really done a controlled test site to see if it has any real effect.

Anyone want to test it so we can really get the right answer?.

[DJMC]

Seems to me that no one has ever done a real case study on the Yahoo directory, many people claim it helps and many claim it is a waste of money but no one has really done a controlled test site to see if it has any real effect.

Anyone want to test it so we can really get the right answer?.

OK, here's an idea:

One of the more respected members (Tauren & up) start a "Test Site" with a Pay Pal donation box ($one dollar US).

If 299 persons donates, you've got your $$$ for the experiment!

[Abbadox]

I will put in $10.00

anyone else?

[DJMC]

I'll put in $1.........LOL

[Abbadox]

Maybe another option would be do just do the case study and use the info to develop a list.

I think I will go ahead and do it.

Nevermind with the donation thing.

[kingofsanda]

I have heard that yahoo directory does not send very much traffic
personally I do not think it's worth $299.

[Abbadox]

I think most people agree that you get little in the way of traffic from the yahoo directory but does the directory help with the ranking of the site?.

[thehitbomb]

Yes, that is where I was really getting at; the overall rewards of submitting to the Yahoo directory.