I notice my $299 link on the Yahoo directory has expired (oddly, they never sent me a notice for renewal). With more then a year passing, does this directory still carry enough weight to make it worth the money (especially if most of top competitor sites are listed)?
you can check your server logs.. if you are geeting enough traffic from them.. then its definitely worth
I don't thing the directory provides much traffic these days, but was wondering if it weighs heavily with Google and search engines to be listed there like it use to be.
SEOexpert said it best, compute PR, give an approximation on its benefits from your search rankings, assign a value. Then look at direct click-throughs from Analytics, apply conversion rate, and determine a ROI. You should be able to compute your answer this way - none of us can really say "yes or no", but clearly, the answer is yes for some or the directory wouldn't continue to be popular.
One of the niches I work is a high cost product niche. And every one of the major competitors is in Yahoo Directory. So to compete against them you can either play the game on those terms or figure out how to rank higher without it. There is still plenty of evidence to suggest that in certain niches Google does in fact reward the people using them. I suppose there is some legitimacy in rewarding sites willing to pay to play.
Definitely not worth it. And if you notice Google doesn't give their directory pages any PR. It's considered a violation by Google buying directory links.
I personally would never pay (Yahoo or otherwise), I have always found that hard work has paid off, however that said, only you can judge if it helped you Dee
Yahoo directory listings don't generate that much traffic. Spend that money on other marketing strategies that would produce better results like PPC, etc.
Buying directory paid listings is not against Google rules. Google until recently even suggested that you got listed in Yahoo in its Webmaster SEO guide. I have seen great results from getting a link from Yahoo, business.com, BOTW and many other of the top paid directories. Even the free directories can help. You need more on topic links as well, but these directory links from Yahoo and others are a good way of getting links in the early days. It has been argued that they white list the site to Google. This means that because a human has had to check your site before listing you in Yahoo the site must be of some value and not just a spammy piece of rubbish. Therefore giving it a leg up on sites who do not have a link from Yahoo. You dont have to have a link from Yahoo to get to the top of rankings, but in my experience it does help.
I've paid for a listing on BOTW in the past and I think in the whole year I was featured at the top of my category I had 2 referrals. When my payment expired and my link was dropped I didn't notice any drop in rank or position. My guess is Yahoo is probably the same.
i don't thinks Yahoo directory Submission give's us boost in our SERPS and don't work for our money as well because there are so many Good High PR Free Directories available now a days.