How Important Is Submitting To The Yahoo Directory

[efjay1018]

Hi. I have read that submitting to Yahoo's Directory is a fast way of getting your site indexed in the SEs. But $299 is costly. Can you submit a site to the Yahoo Directory for free? If there's no free option, what would be an alternative to this? Thank you very much in advance.

[David Wallace]

I believe that the only free option that still exists is for non profits and then who knows how long it will actually take to get reviewed, if you get reviewed at all.

[mcanerin]

The general consensus among most SEO's I know is that it's not worth it.

Since the average good quality directory is around $40 per year, you can get into 7 of them (with money to spare) for the one Yahoo listing.

The only time I submit my clients to Yahoo is if we are having issues with the Yahoo bot or the client asks me to.

It's not that it's a bad directory to be in, it's that it's overpriced for the results.

Ian

[Robert_Charlton]

Keep in mind that if you're listed in Yahoo, your default home page is stuck with the Yahoo Directory title (usually your company name) in Yahoo crawler-based serps. A company name is generally less persuasive than a well crafted page title, so, ironically, a Yahoo Directory listing puts you at a click-through disadvantage in Yahoo search.

Here are two threads which touch on the subject. Many of us would like to see our own titles instead of Yahoo's...

Yahoo! Directory Titles No More?
http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/...ead.php?t=6334

Does Yahoo Directory use DMOZ listings as the supplementary listings?
http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/...ead.php?t=4920

Largely because of the title issue, I generally warn clients off of Yahoo, unless they're in a category like big city hotels where it's at least somewhat likely that users are going to drill down and browse a category.

Anyone have a sense of how to compare drill-down traffic in the Yahoo Directory vrs search traffic in Yahoo search? I'm guessing that drill-down is not a big number these days.

The link reputation benefits of a Yahoo listing are debatable, though I'm beginning to believe once again that there may be some.

[seoqueen]

Originally Posted by Robert_Charlton

Keep in mind that if you're listed in Yahoo, your default home page is stuck with the Yahoo Directory title (usually your company name) in Yahoo crawler-based serps. A company name is generally less persuasive than a well crafted page title, so, ironically, a Yahoo Directory listing puts you at a click-through disadvantage in Yahoo search.

Largely because of the title issue, I generally warn clients off of Yahoo, unless they're in a category like big city hotels where it's at least somewhat likely that users are going to drill down and browse a category.

Anyone have a sense of how to compare drill-down traffic in the Yahoo Directory vrs search traffic in Yahoo search? I'm guessing that drill-down is not a big number these days.

The link reputation benefits of a Yahoo listing are debatable, though I'm beginning to believe once again that there may be some.

9 out of 10 times I have had the success of updating my listing after they have posted it. You have that option after all you did pay $299 for it.

Just my 2 cents.

Seoqueen

[Manpasand]

Originally Posted by efjay1018

Can you submit a site to the Yahoo Directory for free?

Yes, there is some places like regional categories where you can find Express and Standard (Free) directory submission. I don't know success rate of free submission but if you are eligible for regional category you can try.
Good Luck!

[Savweb]

I think it worth $300 to be listed there, i would even pay twice, if i knew my that site is there for sure.

[pleeker]

Originally Posted by seoqueen

9 out of 10 times I have had the success of updating my listing after they have posted it. You have that option after all you did pay $299 for it.

Seoqueen -- when you say you have success in "updating your listing" -- do you mean they'll change the title for you, so that your company name doesn't also show up in the regular SERPs? Or are you talking about something else?

[seoqueen]

Originally Posted by pleeker

Seoqueen -- when you say you have success in "updating your listing" -- do you mean they'll change the title for you, so that your company name doesn't also show up in the regular SERPs? Or are you talking about something else?

pleeker, I have changed the title but it was still within the company name.

here's the kicker (from theory) if it's already listed and you don't know the original email address from the initial submission you're doomed.

seoqueen

[pleeker]

Originally Posted by seoqueen

pleeker, I have changed the title but it was still within the company name.

here's the kicker (from theory) if it's already listed and you don't know the original email address from the initial submission you're doomed.

Okay, thanks for the reply on that.

[Robert_Charlton]

Originally Posted by seoqueen

...I have changed the title but it was still within the company name.

That doesn't make up for what Yahoo takes away from the kind of "well crafted page title" I was talking about.

[GDMInteractive]

Hi,

You should create an advertising budget for your optimization campaign with a set time limit (for instance: $3000.00 over 6 months). Once you have a budget you should then attempt to list all the different facets of your campaign that you are interested in doing over that time period and how much they cost. At that point you will be in a better position to evaluate whether or not it is worth submitting to the Yahoo directory, for you will see how that $300.00 affects your ability to obtain other goals within your set time period.

Be well,

Moshe

[seoqueen]

Originally Posted by Robert_Charlton

That doesn't make up for what Yahoo takes away from the kind of "well crafted page title" I was talking about.

You're absolutely right Robert, I'll give it a try with a different title (non-company name) and keep you posted.

What's the harm they'll either accept or reject right?

seoqueen