JoeAnt is probably one of the best traffic directory that send you real visitors and it is great but i would like to mention here a couple big negative points that nobody have mention ever. I think that in summer last year staff behind JoeAnt have suddenly decide to delete all sites from their databases who have anything to do with anonymity and proxy servers. And there were not many. I guess between 3 and 5 sites. The problems start to be that JoeAnt staff deal very amateur with this issue because not any single email has been sent to owners of delisted websites (you must come by yourself behind and ask them why) neither guidelines on their websites was update. When i found that one of my site about anonymity does not exist anymore i have sent one email, two email, three email and then finally received answer The problem here is that they did not sent email for the owners of "proxy" websites and that by "effected by the new guideline" was never mention anything about proxy sites (i believe still not) and old term of submission is still not updated. It is indeed strange decision from JoeAnt to not accept anymore sites that have to do anything with anonymity, online privacy and anonymous servers but is more strange way how they deal with this issue. Finally after my complains JoeAnt took decision to deleted all sites (even those that have anything to do with proxies) and refunded money that was contributed for reviewing. After all i'm still surprise how one fame directories deal such a nonprofessional with their potential customers.
I have several sites listed in JoeAnt.com and have absolutely no complains about them. They send me more referrals than any other directory.
I agree partially with you and i have it already mention im opening thread but there is also another side of medal.
I understand you had a bad experience with them and you want your feelings expressed. Things like that could happen with any directory and I personally have experienced stuffs like that many times over the years with many top directories. My point above was to tell others that I am a happy customer and have never had any bad experience with them before.
That is a pretty big post and nowhere in there do you disclose the site that was deleted.... hmmmm All quality directories whether it is JoeAnt or another have an obligation to all the sites listed in the directory to monitor their listings and remove any that no longer fit into their guidelines. Linking to the wrong sites could damage the reputation of a directory far more than this post. I have a couple sites listed at JoeAnt and consider it one of my favorite directories. I too understand that you seem to have had a bad experience with them, but you are trying to state your side without even disclosing your site which was deleted. Without seeing the whole of the situation I would have to sit with the editorial standards that I know JoeAnt to have.
To make it more clear (however i have already mention it in my post) i'm gonna to repeat some points here. 1.)It is decision to no longer accept whole group of sites proxy related sites. (thus it is not only about my 2 sites which were deleted without any notice but whole thematic group of similar sites. See email quote JoeAnt.com has decided to no longer list/accept proxy related sites.) 2.) Submission guidelines were never official change on their site (and still not http://www.joeant.com/hill/TermsA.html (not any words about suddenly not accepting of proxy related web sites) 3.) Never any email was send to webmasters regarding not existent guidelines and after their sites were deleted. You must self to come behind and then send a couple emails before you receive response http://www.joeant.com/hill/TermsA.html 4.) If you have more sites that are not related to proxy thematic all of them will be probably deleted as result of your honest complain (at least it happened to me).
i understand what your saying..If they accepted payment for your listings,then deleted it,they should have sent out emails to all affected by this
Exactly. But even worse is the fact that one of affected site was reviewed by antie_em with max. possible ratings (3 star. Thus the best site in that category above EPIC) by internet security category and received each month more than 1000 unique visitors. The site was more than a year on top before got deleted without any notice of JoeAnt. Deleting... Ok i can understand change in TOS (however change is not visible on their site). But deleting without any notice to webmaster of affecting site that is simple NO-NO for any directory site including famous JoeAnt.
Although this seems unreasonable, we don't really know how you approached the subject with the staff. If you were nasty/abusive yourself, then this brings this point into a new light. But...regardless, businesses can decide who they want to do business with (as long as they act properly under the law), whether you like it or not. In fact, this makes me think you may have been an overly squeeky wheel...
Interesting that almost anybody act as lawyer of JoeAnt. Again some facts! 1) They acted not professional (taking money for review, listed site for more than a year and then deleting without sending any notice 2) They pointed me to to non changed and non exist guideline regarding theird suddenly decision of deleting all proxy related sites http://www.joeant.com/hill/TermsA.html 3) They deleted all listed sites after i requested refund of money for 2 delisted sites.
well they should have sent you an email, I dont think they can just decide to delete your site without letting you know, but as you said they are a good directory and will get you some traffic.
Joesant's pagerank got hammered recently which is not a good look for a pay for inclusion directory and it is likely that they are desperately running around killing links that might be perceived as being links to bad neighborhoods. Perhaps you got caught up in that. .
Notifications are not mandatory but one can expect a notification from a reputed directory like joeant that 'your site doesn't meet our changed or modified guidelines so if you have any other site we will consider' this. it will make the relationship stronger, no doubt. My 0.01 cent.
Not true. PR is still same. But i personally never care about PR. JoeAnt was different because it send you real visitors and from aspect of traffic was (is) probably the best directory. Again likely not true. It have nothing to do with it because decision was taken generally to not list anymore any site that have anything to do with anonymity & proxy world (remember one of deleted site was above other reviewed by antie_em with max. score.) At least that is what they told to me after i come behind that site was delisted, sending a couple emails asking what's going on and waiting 5 days on answer. I agree with you. It simple show how one reputable directory like JoeAnt can deal very immature with their customers (not sending any email to webmaster affected by their decision and not changing anything visible on their site into guidelines ) and childish (deleting all other sites as response to your honest request. ) It is true.
Of course. But without my monitoring of referers, finding out that 2 sites were delisted without sending any note and asking what;s gonna on it will probably never happened. That;s exactly my point about nonprofessional and immature dealing with their clients. And then childish revenge to delete all other sites because of your complain
The last thing I'd say is that, all I can tell you is that someone with a twitchy finger can quite easily create a 'referral' which coming from a dedicated server would translate to what for all intent is a 'real' visitor.