DMOZ and Travel Agents

Discussion in 'ODP / DMOZ' started by brizzie, Oct 9, 2006.

  1. gboisseau

    gboisseau Peon

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    #101
    The problem is /Travel is one of the categories that has traditionally attracted a lot of spam by "shady" SEOs. Some of the tricks they use are to buy aready listed domains and rebrand, redirect them. They create many, many mirrors and submit them.

    The title of the listing is normally the name of the company owning the site. We do not use keywords as the title - ie: Travel International of France, Inc. (prefered) vs. Travel the regions of France with us (keywords).
     
    gboisseau, Oct 21, 2006 IP
  2. brizzie

    brizzie Peon

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    #102
    A substantial number of the sites listed I have highlighted so far don't really fall into this bracket. A lot of them are real live travel agents with branches on real live streets, totally legitimate. Trouble is they have turned their websites into affiliates to add another revenue stream. From a business perspective good luck to them, competing against the big Internet discounters must be difficult, so if they can rake some money back it may ensure one or two continue with real live offices and a personal service. But, and it is a big but, DMOZ specifically does not list affiliates regardless of the legitimacy or other activities of the business concerned. The ones that tend to survive DMOZ affiliate rules are those without online reservations and how is a small and legitimate agency supposed to invest in the level of technology needed to build their own online system. They can't. That's business I guess, the world is changing fast.

    Then on top you have the spammers, promoters, affiliates, etc. It isn't pretty.
     
    brizzie, Oct 21, 2006 IP
  3. Ivan Bajlo

    Ivan Bajlo Peon

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    #103
    Problem is when this SEO paranoia spreads to irrelevant categories and editors go on keyword/hype witch hunt and see things which don't exist and innocent websites suffer.
     
    Ivan Bajlo, Oct 21, 2006 IP
  4. Arcos

    Arcos Peon

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    #104
    That is complete BS. Select a page, any apge you you find that your 'rule' applies to maybe 50% of the listings!

    But thats not what I am talking about!

    The holding company name is a distinct business from the online business name. Seems reasonable to me to have the trued business name as tht title!
     
    Arcos, Oct 26, 2006 IP
  5. popotalk

    popotalk Notable Member

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    #105
    You know I am not a DMOZ Editor anymore Arcos and I am one of the many ENEMY OF THE STATE in the ODP but what gboisseau is saying is true. It doesn't matter what the holdings says. The listing goes to what the site name is regitered and appears. ;)
     
    popotalk, Oct 26, 2006 IP
  6. Arcos

    Arcos Peon

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    #106
    Sorry not true!!

    Check the listings!!

    And if this were the case then WHY cant the site be changed to what is registered as site is www.xxxxxx.com yet in the listings is www.yyyyyy.com
     
    Arcos, Oct 30, 2006 IP
  7. dogbows

    dogbows Active Member

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    #107
    Business sites are titled according to the company that owns them, not what the company titles the site for keywords. It can't be changed because it goes directly against the guidelines. If you know of listings that are incorrectly titled according to the guidelines then post the links to the DMOZ categories and an editor will check it as soon as DMOZ is back up and running properly.
     
    dogbows, Oct 30, 2006 IP
  8. brizzie

    brizzie Peon

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    #108
    Well the URL got removed from Resource Zone, bah humbug, which is a shame because the existence of genuine original travel agency sites with a twist is an unusual find. So here it is http://www.singleparentsonholiday.co.uk . It has all the attributes of a travel agency site that DMOZ should be listing, and hopefully will list in due course. Links to external resources but not, unusually, affiliate links; a truly original concept that is different to any other travel agency site I have seen (and that is quite a few); and good quality content. Only one criticism - no obvious street address, which is normally expected on a business site these days, particularly when the phone number is non-geographical (it could be anywhere). A pedantic editor could use it as a reason not to list on the grounds of where should it be placed? With some categories 80-100% affiliate spam, this one is a good example of a listable site.

    Oh, and a note to the webmaster, Andrea - since the site does not appear to be the usual spam affiliate material that heads towards DMOZ, there is a way to find out the status - when the editor side of DMOZ is back up then ask politely at the alternative DMOZ editor sponsored forum which has no "no status checks" rule, and someone there may be able to help. No guarantees though. You need to know the category submitted to.
     
    brizzie, Oct 30, 2006 IP
  9. popotalk

    popotalk Notable Member

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    #109
    That's very nice reporting it, so some editors here could take a look at those when DMOZ is up and running. Keep up the good work and report any similar site if you happen to bump on them. ;)
     
    popotalk, Oct 30, 2006 IP
  10. dogbows

    dogbows Active Member

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    #110
    Hmmm! Travel sites were never my thing to do. I avoided them like the plague, because I had enough sense to stay away from reviewing certain types of sites if I couldn't get a full grasp of the guidelines that applied.

    You have given some very helpful information pertaining to travel sites, though. Thanks brizzie, and thanks for posting this site as an example. One thing is for sure, this one is quite a refreshing change compared to the few I did look at as an editor.
     
    dogbows, Oct 30, 2006 IP
  11. brizzie

    brizzie Peon

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    #111
    http://dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/Canada/Travel_and_Tourism/Travel_Services/

    Canada travel guide on kasbah - bookhostels.com, lastminute.com, airline-network.co.uk - full list on the About page. Seems to specialise in UK and US travellers so what it is doing in a Canadian category is anyone's guess, especially when it is registered in the UK.

    Canada's Virtual North - zero content.

    exploreourcanada.com - runtime error and redirects to a login page.

    Conga Bay - all hotels, flights, and cruises are affiliate links.

    CWT Inspire Vacation Club - yet another Carlson Wagonlit site.

    Destinations Canada - "Please note that Destinations Canada is not offering touring and adventure holidays for the 2006 season. Please check back with us for the 2007 season." - not much use for a travel company.

    Goblin Consulting - Canada Information Services - Duh???

    Just Ask Eva - I'd rather not, Eva "is no longer available as a stand alone web site. EVA will soon be found within Carlson Wagonlit Travel's on-line booking tool". Them again.

    Rails NW - Since when was Portland in Canada? And they are not Canada specialist tour operators.

    Rotary Youth Exchange Canada Tour - "The Rotary Youth Exchange Canada Bus Tour has been cancelled"

    Tourcan Vacations - part of skylinkgroup.com

    TourWorld - Canada's Vacation Guide - ihsadvantage.com affiliate - "TourWorld is a website design company"

    Traveloffers.ca - redirects to travelalerts.ca - media.adcentriconline.com adverts and not much else.

    They just fill you with confidence don't they...
     
    brizzie, Nov 1, 2006 IP
  12. gworld

    gworld Prominent Member

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    #112
    It is not fair that first the poor guys have to pay for the listings and then you come along and spoil it. :D
     
    gworld, Nov 1, 2006 IP
  13. brizzie

    brizzie Peon

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    #113
    Now editors can get back in, there is plenty of material here to keep them busy with quality control. ;)
     
    brizzie, Dec 22, 2006 IP
  14. Ivan Bajlo

    Ivan Bajlo Peon

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    #114
    But how many are there left? Can annie do it all by herself? ;)

    P.S.
    Will there be December report? :rolleyes:
     
    Ivan Bajlo, Dec 22, 2006 IP
  15. brizzie

    brizzie Peon

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    #115
    I would think they have more important things to be thinking about!
     
    brizzie, Dec 22, 2006 IP
  16. Ivan Bajlo

    Ivan Bajlo Peon

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    #116
    Yes it is to early anyway, automated editor expiration probably won't start for another three months - then we shall see true damage done. :(
     
    Ivan Bajlo, Dec 22, 2006 IP
  17. savetheplanet

    savetheplanet Peon

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    #117
    Let me comment on your post on Oct. 9, 2006:

    I personally submitted our company site to DMOZ under both countries - Canada and the Philippines, specifically because we are represented in both countries. If you take a closer look and understand fully how I described our company when I listed it, OCW are overseas contract workers originating from the Philippines and not in Canada. I will not claim that we service that sector of Filipino travelers if we don't. That's mis-representation and it's bad for business.

    Hope I cleared it up with you.


    Manuel
     
    savetheplanet, Apr 21, 2007 IP
  18. randz

    randz Peon

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    #118
    Who is the senior editor with travel affiliation are you referring to?
     
    randz, Apr 24, 2007 IP
  19. popotalk

    popotalk Notable Member

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    #119
    Your new and might be a good thing to go and introduce yourself at New Members Section as I don't understand your username randz or randy or whatever it may be. :rolleyes:
     
    popotalk, Apr 24, 2007 IP