I have read different opinions on trying to add my site to the Yahoo business directory.Paying $ 299.00 and then wondering if you will be accepted.Is my money better spent elsewhere? Input please--thanks in advance.
I think it really depends on the market your in. But for *most* websites being in the Yahoo directory helps. If you only have $300 to spend maybe spread it over a handful of websites. But in the long run if your going to spend $x,xxx ++++ go get in Yahoo.
I'm sure a listing in Yahoo directory has some benefits however, I don't feel it's anything above what a listing in any "good" directory will provide. I just don't believe Yahoo gives any special consideration simply because you are listed in their directory or that it is in some way truly superior. For me personally I had to take my overall budget into account and decided that spreading my $299 out over a number of what I considered "quality" directories (a bit older and I knew just a bit about the owners, well indexed, well edited and for the most part didn't allow a lot of "junk" in) would be of greater value. If a had a large budget and could afford the $299 yearly review fees I might submit to Yahoo but since I don't I'm trying to get the best bang for my bucks. I looked for directories with permanent listings and a few yearly listings for $20 or less and submitted to those. Now I have several listings that continue to provide good backlinks and yes, send a bit of traffic instead of one single listing in Yahoo Directory.
If I have $300, I will buy a link from yahoo. But remember, this $299 is just a review fee, and if your link is reject, the money is not refundable.
A "Review Fee", $299.00 and the "non-refundable" don't mix with me, I stay away. A year passes by so quickly, unless you just want a bragging rights that your site is listed @Yahoo, then go for it $299.00 is kinda hefty and what are the benefits that you can get for $299 per year?
My opinion is no... Many of members have complained that they dont receive much traffic though they have submitted site to yahoo dir.
depends on your site. If your site's revenue is in $$$ / year, then it is certainly not worth investing in Yahoo Directory, but if you are making more money than that and have tough competition, then Y! directory can certainly help. That being said, I submitted my site to Y! after I submitted to BOTW and couple other good directories first.
so, what equals a spot like yahoos? Is the $250 for BOTW worth it? Thats a huge chunck of change too. What else is top of the top of directories? It seems directories just charge alot of money to keep junk websites out rather than only including really good ones. It seems to me that once you start taking money you accept everyone that pays as long as not against your TOS. Really has Y! ever turned down a link not against TOS? NO. Neither has any other directory.
I believe you can get in Yahoolocal for free. Don't know if it's as good as Yahoo main directory listing, but at least it's free. I heard of a few businesses that have got in yahoolocal. Mind you, after checking out Yahoo's main directory, there are a few big-name directories listed, and if they advertise there, perhaps it's not a bad idea after all.
I have noticed that Yahoo has changed in the last few months, I dont think it matters any more if you are in Yahoo business directory
Yahoo directory is a very good for SEO but it is not good source of traffic. If you want to get several high quality, trusted back link to your site then you can invest on yahoo.
When your niche is competitive you gotta do everything you can to get ahead, and Y! directory is one of them, but I would go with it (as I did) only when you are done with more important matters such as basic on-site optimization
Again, your talking about 'editorial guidlines'. The site was too spammy, under construction, adult, etc.... not because it wasn't the 'best of the web"! Im not saying there isn't anything to gain from BOTW, im saying its all about the money
TOS and editorial guidelines are not one and the same. I'm saying that you are wrong. BOTW gets the money regardless - whether a site is listed or not. Same thing with Yahoo. Pay for review vs. pay for inclusion. I fail to see the point that you are trying to make here...
As a basic promotional starting point only, I suggest the following: Submit to major search engines Search for the Country engines next Submit to Regionals Submit to some general directories (don't over do this, many aren't worth it) Seek out niche directories next Get as many on-topic links as you can. (Free or paid) Buy some sponsored listings on established sites But DO expect to pay for results
My point is it is obvious that google removed the suggestion to be in a directory like yahoo, for more reasons than yahoo being a competitor. They are hard up against paid links and that is what directories are becoming...
Here's what Matt says: http://groups.google.com/group/Google_Webmaster_Help/web/q-a-from-the-3rd-live-chat-oct-2008?pli=1 Marjy, Boca Raton FL: Recently, you removed this suggestion: "Submit your site to relevant directories such as the Open Directory Project and Yahoo!" from your guidelines. Is there any chance that you will be discounting these kinds of links for ranking value in future? Matt Cutts: Hey Marjy (testing out this 'post a response' thingie). There's always the chance that we'll discount directory links in the future. What we were seeing was quite a few novice people would see the "directory" recommendation and go out and just try to submit to a ton of directories, even if some of the directories were lower-quality or even fly-by-night directories that weren't great for users. Right now we haven't changed how we're weighting directory links--we've only removed the directory suggestion from the webmaster guidelines.