I ask this question for a reason What is the point? Who actually reads them? more to the point who bloody follows them? Answer to the above questions Nobody. Submission terms have got to be the biggest waste of time. Why add something that is always ignored. I have a blog directory that i submitted to Directorycritic.com. Before i submitted i got around 1-2 blogs a day submitted and afterwards 40-50 none blog submissions a day. Even if you had flashing text it would still be ignored.
First of all... welcome to the forums The submission terms are there to protect you and your directory as Marty stated above. Personally I don't believe that no one reads them. The serious submiters always take note of your terms and conditions. The others will probably read them once their site was rejected
Hello... Well ive noticed that its usually those that submit to free directories or that submit and dont pay for the review that are the ones whom dont bother to even read those directory owners terms since they submit and dont give a dam whether you accept it or Not or the guy they hired who doesnt care since he was paid $10 bucks for a few hundred. thx malcolm
it gives you some authority in the case of a dispute I think most times when you get a customer who is disputing, the advice is to refund and remove the link
It does not matter if people do not read them, as stated by others they are there in case of dispute and protects the owner.
Well I have read a bunch when I was starting submissions but yes lately I don't read them. I assume if the submission terms are not the "normal" ones, they would be highlighted somewhere
I think you should look at the top directories. Business.com, Yahoo and keep going down the list. They all have them so I think the answer is fairly obvious whether everyone reads them or not.
Just wait til you have a paid directory and include in the terms that the paid fee is for a review of your site and is non-refundable and does not guarantee a listing on your site. I'm sure that way almost everyone will adhere to your terms.
Have you been peaking at my 1st line of ALL the Submit Page Guidelines * Submitting your Sites for "Review" Does Not mean it will be automatically accepted under any circumstances and reserve the right to reject any "non quality sites" submitted with NO refunds available after Review has been made.* thx malcolm
Nope, no chance! My point was, nobody cares when its free, they'll even submit a site about pheasant shooting to a directory about social websites. If the social directory was paid, do you think they would submit a site about pheasant shooting? Me neither
heheheh how true that is! But thats on all my directories as default whether Paid review or Free thx malcolm
For me its more about protecting the owner than requesting the submitters to read. Of-late I have initiated 50% refund only policy if sites are not accepted on two of my directories. I expect this policy to put off- undesired sites from submission and going the whole process of reviewing, then declining and then refunding. I clearly state in the terms that 50% of the submission fee will be kept for the time the editor has put in. On the other-hand clear-cut Guidelines -like I have here will ensure quality submissions ( I am starting to populate this directory slowly with some great sites).
I don't think you need complicated terms, just a few rules and information for the submitter. I am still surprised to see many directories don't even list the term length of submissions.
Submission terms and guidelines are always necessary to not to confuse submitters.. Also some information on homepage regarding "what is your site about" is good.
I think you hit it right there. I have been wasting so much time looking at submissions I have to decline anyway. The main ones that it will weed out are the sites I would decline anyway. Webmasters know if their site is quality or not. If it is they will submit knowing quality sites will be accepted.
I guess if you're just a link pimp, guidelines aren't necessary or of concern to the directory link farm owner. A legitimate directory would have guidelines and terms of service published on their site regardless of the level of interest to the submitter. What are you going to refer a submitter to when you don't accept a submission because it does not conform to your guidelines?
If you have a review fee involved, submission guidelines and TOS are vital in protecting yourself. Paypal chargebacks are just a small example.