Many people have lost interest in the Yahoo directory but it is one of the basic steps I use to develop new site presence.

True the cost is $299 but with all the other products out there that nickle and dime you for less impact, YD is a solid investment in my mind.

I agree. I was a bit dissappointed when Yahoo stopped using its directory primarily in their search results, but now with their own search technology I think being in the directory makes a lot of sense. You gotta figure Yahoo will spider their own directory!

I don't know about the Yahoo Directory anymore. When your home page shows up in the SERPs, they are now showing information from the directory and not your title tag and a snippet of content from your page. I don't like that in that the title for listings in the directory is usually just the company name and the descriptions are limiting as well.

As far as PR benefit goes, I can think of a lot of other ways to gain PR rather than the Yahoo directory. I haven't added a site to Yahoo Directory since they rolled out their own search engine and don't know if I will.

I go after all the tier 2 directories (many only a one time $40 fee) before I would consider spending $300 / yr on a single Yahoo! listing.

I tend to agree with SEO Book, the one time payment to the second tiers is a good value, and we really do not know Yahoo's future intentions with the directory.

Hi Brad
I swear that feels like deja vu

Hi Brad
I swear that feels like deja vu

...all over again :D

I agree about the lesser directories. Definately good places to be submitted.

One thing I thought of with renewing your Yahoo Dir - check your referral logs to see if you are getting referrals from Yahoo. If possible see if any converted and try to figure out the value of those conversions. If they are worth more than $299, then it's probably worth it to renew.

I don't know about the Yahoo Directory anymore. When your home page shows up in the SERPs, they are now showing information from the directory and not your title tag and a snippet of content from your page. I don't like that in that the title for listings in the directory is usually just the company name and the descriptions are limiting as well.
I have the same grouse. In the niche in which we operate, it certainly looks as though those sites that have the search keywords in their Yahoo directory description and/or those sites that don't have a Yahoo! dir listing and/or those sites whose snippet is pulled from the content on the page are doing better in the SERPs for those keywords.

It's almost like being penalized for having a Yahoo! directory listing that does not include your main keyword phrase. They are linking to the Category so I don't understand why they need to pull the description from there as well. :(

Hello guys!
Nothing again the Yahoo! Directory.... but, if you are looking for a good Directory who helps your site, think DMOZ.
I used both directories (YAHOO! Express and DMOZ), and believe or not, I received more traffic from the ODP than the Yahoo's one.
It is my personal opinion! ;)

Hello guys!
Nothing again the Yahoo! Directory.... but, if you are looking for a good Directory who helps your site, think DMOZ.
I used both directories (YAHOO! Express and DMOZ), and believe or not, I received more traffic from the ODP than the Yahoo's one.
It is my personal opinion! ;)

I think the paid factor means that Yahoo! probably has greater consistant quality, but both DMOZ & Yahoo! have bright and bad spots. Directories do not usually send a ton of direct traffic. their best use as far as advertising dollars goes is through the link popularity they add.

I think the paid factor means that Yahoo! probably has greater consistant quality, but both DMOZ & Yahoo! have bright and bad spots. Directories do not usually send a ton of direct traffic. their best use as far as advertising dollars goes is through the link popularity they add.

I would agree with that assessment... very little traffic but a good kickstart for search engine placement, especially Google.

I think it's somewhat astonishing that we continue to wonder about the value of a listing in the Y Directory. Yahoo has had every chance to end the wondering by coming out and saying, "Yep. We spider our directory heavily and often. And you bet we reward those sites by considering a Y Directory listing a more valuable 'vote' about your site's value. And you bet sites in the Y Directory benefit in our natural SERPs more than sites not in the directory."

But they've never said that. Whether or not it's true isn't my point, but I applaud them for not taking that approach -- an approach that would end our wondering and have us all submitting sites tomorrow. At $299 a pop, that would be one profitable approach. But they've kept the Directory and the search SERPs separate -- at least publicly -- and in doing so, it gives a lot of us the opportunity to suggest the $299 is not money well spent.

I don't really add sites to Yahoo! anymore, although in the UK it only costs £199 as a one time fee to get a site in :)

I don't think that yahoo shoud be commended in any way for not taking that approach. I think its that they just haven't put much thought into the directory while dreaming up ways to make money with search.

I think its that they just haven't put much thought into the directory while dreaming up ways to make money with search.

You're kidding, right? Do you take them for a big collective of morons? I mean, jeez, it's such an OBVIOUS thing they could do.... surely you're not suggesting no one there has thought of it.

I don't really add sites to Yahoo! anymore, although in the UK it only costs £199 as a one time fee to get a site in :)
At currenct exchange rates that is $360... kinda sucks... I would say get it through the US site!!!

I think it's somewhat astonishing that we continue to wonder about the value of a listing in the Y Directory. Yahoo has had every chance to end the wondering by coming out and saying, "Yep. We spider our directory heavily and often. And you bet we reward those sites by considering a Y Directory listing a more valuable 'vote' about your site's value. And you bet sites in the Y Directory benefit in our natural SERPs more than sites not in the directory."

But they've never said that. Whether or not it's true isn't my point, but I applaud them for not taking that approach -- an approach that would end our wondering and have us all submitting sites tomorrow. At $299 a pop, that would be one profitable approach. But they've kept the Directory and the search SERPs separate -- at least publicly -- and in doing so, it gives a lot of us the opportunity to suggest the $299 is not money well spent.
I was never one to say the money was not well spent... I have seen the solid impact it has on new sites for PR and SERP at Google and the other engines... can you get in from a link on another site's page... yes... but you have to work with a solid anchor tag and from a good relevant site with a decent PR (sometimes the Directory is just quicker, cleaner and in the long run cheaper).

You're kidding, right? Do you take them for a big collective of morons? I mean, jeez, it's such an OBVIOUS thing they could do.... surely you're not suggesting no one there has thought of it.

Actually, I am suggesting that. I think the directory has always been a steady stream of income for them and ALL their attention has been on search. I'm sure SOMEBODY there has thought of it but I think the their concern over it is secondayr to many other things at the moment.

Actually, I am suggesting that. I think the directory has always been a steady stream of income for them and ALL their attention has been on search. I'm sure SOMEBODY there has thought of it but I think the their concern over it is secondayr to many other things at the moment.

Methinks you are really, really underestimating them. :)

That's very possible. I do like to be suprised. ;)