i thinks it's depend on what you need. if you have a big business company, why not? but if you just start your website, it's not cost effective.
It is cost effective if you want to rank in yahoo because yahoo directory customers will be higher in the search results. b-1st.com
Good stuff. The responses really do seem to be on the fence with this subject. I just started a website for high risk auto finance, and I would LOVE to be a big player in this group, and I would like to see my site at #1 as soon as possible (wouldn't we all) and I am just looking for the CORRECT path to accomplish this. Too many bad guys out there promising crap. Yahoo seemed to be a good route, but now I am even more confused than before. But thanks for all of your thoughts. Looking forward in reading more!
I would not go so far as saying Google ignores 99% of free directories. I have a PR 3 site that ranks well for its keywords and the only backlinks it has are from free directories. Granted, it's not a highly competitive niche but certainly not ignored.
If you pay with a CREDIT CARD.....you can dispute the charges. That's what a friend of mine did......he told his CC issuer that "Services were not rendered" and the CC issuer gave him a FULL REFUND. (NOTE: this will put you on a Yahoo blacklist, but at least you'll get your money back!!!)
Yahoo is not unreasonable for listing standards. If one is concerned, remove Adsense and affiliate references before the submission. Basically clean up the site and make sure it does not look spammy or contain code errors. For those that think $299 is high for a submission, please remember that Yahoo has many regional directories. So one submission could give you many authority links if your market is global.
*some* of those foreign Yahoo directories still have free submissions! (so for some of us, its better to submit to "Yahoo Asia" and take chances on the freebie......?)
Seems to me that no one has ever done a real case study on the Yahoo directory, many people claim it helps and many claim it is a waste of money but no one has really done a controlled test site to see if it has any real effect. Anyone want to test it so we can really get the right answer?.
OK, here's an idea: One of the more respected members (Tauren & up) start a "Test Site" with a Pay Pal donation box ($one dollar US). If 299 persons donates, you've got your $$$ for the experiment!
Maybe another option would be do just do the case study and use the info to develop a list. I think I will go ahead and do it. Nevermind with the donation thing.
I have heard that yahoo directory does not send very much traffic personally I do not think it's worth $299.
I think most people agree that you get little in the way of traffic from the yahoo directory but does the directory help with the ranking of the site?.
Yes, that is where I was really getting at; the overall rewards of submitting to the Yahoo directory.