mcanerin
08-19-2004, 12:34 AM
Hopefully this is the best spot for this.
What are people's thoughts on the Microsoft B-Central Small Business Directory? http://sbd.bcentral.com/
I have a genuine problem here. I tell clients that they should skip the whole "automatic submissions" software because it's stupid, doesn't work and tends to get you spammed, and instead focus on high quality, relevant link partners and directories.
With me so far? Fine. So if you go to the SBD you will see that it's a very nice little directory. I have a 15 point checklist to analyse directories and linking partners and it passed all of them, most with flying colors.
Except one. The "supports spammers" one (the checklist is more detailed than that, but that's what it boils down to).
When you submit to this directory, they FORCE you to sign up for their automated submissions program! There is no opt out. I was shocked and appalled, honestly. With regret, I took them off my submissions list.
Recently I had a client ask me about it, and I told him why I had not automatically submitted to it, and he agreed, but felt that it still might be worth it. We discussed it for some time. This client is very web and business savvy, has a lot of traffic and conversions and I respect both his ethics and interest in his websites.
At the end of the day, we agreed that we should submit IN SPITE of the automatic submissions. The directory has enough value that for him and many others it's worth it.
It's pretty bad when something that is clearly a trademark Microsoft "let's hold your hand" policy is considered good reason to avoid using the product.
Worse, they are teaching inexperienced website owners that automatic submissions are "ok", which is incredibly naive behavior for a company that wishes to take a lead in search. I know these are different departments, but geeze, this doesn't look good.
Currently I DO recommend submission, but only after I've educated the client as to what the issues are. I wish I could make a better recommendation based on the value of the directory itself, but I can't in good faith based on it's submission policy.
Maybe they don't get the concept that I would happily pay the same amount and skip the automatic submissions.
What do other people think?
Ian
What are people's thoughts on the Microsoft B-Central Small Business Directory? http://sbd.bcentral.com/
I have a genuine problem here. I tell clients that they should skip the whole "automatic submissions" software because it's stupid, doesn't work and tends to get you spammed, and instead focus on high quality, relevant link partners and directories.
With me so far? Fine. So if you go to the SBD you will see that it's a very nice little directory. I have a 15 point checklist to analyse directories and linking partners and it passed all of them, most with flying colors.
Except one. The "supports spammers" one (the checklist is more detailed than that, but that's what it boils down to).
When you submit to this directory, they FORCE you to sign up for their automated submissions program! There is no opt out. I was shocked and appalled, honestly. With regret, I took them off my submissions list.
Recently I had a client ask me about it, and I told him why I had not automatically submitted to it, and he agreed, but felt that it still might be worth it. We discussed it for some time. This client is very web and business savvy, has a lot of traffic and conversions and I respect both his ethics and interest in his websites.
At the end of the day, we agreed that we should submit IN SPITE of the automatic submissions. The directory has enough value that for him and many others it's worth it.
It's pretty bad when something that is clearly a trademark Microsoft "let's hold your hand" policy is considered good reason to avoid using the product.
Worse, they are teaching inexperienced website owners that automatic submissions are "ok", which is incredibly naive behavior for a company that wishes to take a lead in search. I know these are different departments, but geeze, this doesn't look good.
Currently I DO recommend submission, but only after I've educated the client as to what the issues are. I wish I could make a better recommendation based on the value of the directory itself, but I can't in good faith based on it's submission policy.
Maybe they don't get the concept that I would happily pay the same amount and skip the automatic submissions.
What do other people think?
Ian