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Yahoo Listing Secrets and Strategies
I have devoted this whole section to Yahoo, because it is, hands down, the number one search engine used by information hungry Web surfers. Actually, it isn't really a search engine at all. It's considered more of a directory or catalogue of Websites, as all sites are listed alphabetically by category. Aside from its steadily increasing size and popularity, one thing that sets Yahoo! apart is the way in which it evaluates sites for inclusion on its index pages. For the most part, real live human beings do the indexing; they read your site description and your own suggested location and determine for themselves what category to list your site under. Because Yahoo's editors (the dreaded "Yahooligans") spend time reviewing and rating site submissions, people have become accustomed to finding high-quality content at this site.
Yahoo! Ups the
Ante One More Time... TIP: Non-profit sites may still submit
to Yahoo for free, however, if you go the free route there
is no guarantee that your site will be reviewed at all, much less in a timely
fashion. You’re also given more opportunity to appeal any initial rejection
when using the paid service.
Certainly the advertising exposure from a
good listing on Yahoo is worth far more than $299/year because of their
massive traffic volume and the amount of business it can bring you. The
key phrase here, however, is a "good listing." The listing you originally submit and get will be the one you're stuck with for the duration, so if you're smart you'll so some research on just what the powers-that-be at almighty Yahoo! are looking for. TIP: Fortunately, Neil Shearing, of Scam Free Zone fame, recently contrived to get access to Yahoo's brand new ranking code, and he reveals all in Yahoo! Exposed, providing step-by-step instructions with screenshots of every step. In fact, he boldly states that his book will get you "A Guaranteed #1 Listing In Yahoo For Your Keywords in Just 14 Days!" The information is hardcore, up-to-date and deadly accurate. An excellent resource if you want to make sure your site gets listed. Click here for more information. Because you'll get ample bang for your advertising buck, getting listed on Yahoo is well worth the expense no matter how you look at it. But if you don't go about it right, you might wind up throwing your money down the proverbial drain. Here here are some strategies that might help:
What To Do Before Submitting 1. The Yahoo! editors don't even attempt to process all the thousands of site applications they receive each week. The editor of "Search Engine Watch," Danny Sullivan, estimates that only about a quarter of all sites that apply get listed. So, if your site is just one of several hundred thousand sites with nearly identical information on the same topic, your odds of getting noticed, much less making the cut, are slim. On the other hand, if you can set yourself apart from the rest by making your site interesting, quirky or somehow attention getting, you'll increase your listing odds significantly. The more you stand out from the crowd, the more compelling the content on your site, the more the Yahoo! editors are going to sit up and take notice. 2. Although content is the most important consideration, the Yahoo reviewers won't even bother to delve into what your site is about if it is poorly designed. They're not looking for sophisticated graphics and layouts so much as simplicity, organization and professionalism of design. Some things you can do to improve your site's appearance are:
3. Pay particular attention to your choice of keywords. You want to pick a keyword phrase that is as unique as possible, while still being one that is often or commonly used. In general, you should make use of all the advice in our Building Your All-Important Keyword List tutorial. You should also bear in mind that Yahoo reviewers search for keyword strings, not actual keywords, which gives you some leeway in the words you select. It's a good idea to use phrases and keywords embedded in other words. 4. If you don't already have one, try to register a domain name that includes your primary keyword. 5. With Yahoo, two elements are vitally important.
Yahoo's latest "sort by relevancy" default option returns (or lists) pages with the selected "search" keywords in the Title first - and then, all other things being equal, by alphabetical listing. Your page content MUST be consistent with your Title! 6. Make sure to submit a compelling, professional, top-quality site description. Do not use HYPE! Your description is going to determine whether or not the Yahoo reviewers even bother to review your site. So, make your description as interesting and thought provoking as possible while remaining within the Yahoo guidelines. Although they say they allow up to 25 words, you should aim to use no more than 15.
7. Above all its important to bear in mind that what you think your site offers has little to do with what the Yahoo reviewers are going to think. Word has it that when they review a site, they typically only spend about 3 minutes at it, usually less. This means that you have to present them with enough solid information about your site's content and its value in less than 3 minutes if they are going to approve your efforts. So, before you submit, be sure you take a look at your site with an objective eye. Put yourself in the shoes of a Yahoo reviewer, someone who gets five thousand submissions a day and who has seen just about every type of presentation. Does your site not only measure up but also stand out. And is this immediately apparent to an unbiased observer? Bear in mind that you need Yahoo far more than they need you! Two important articles that will give you more of the lowdown on getting listed in Yahoo are:
TIP: If you're smart and you want to be assured of getting an optimum Yahoo listing, you'll avail yourself of Sumantra's Yahoo Listing Service and avoid all the fuss! Click here to find out more.)
Strategies to Up the Odds During the Listing Process Once you've polished up your site's content and keyword enhancement to the best of your ability, go ahead and apply to the main Yahoo! index. 1. Make sure you put your home or office address on your Website if your business is in any way commercial. If you don't put a physical address somewhere on your Website, it will not get listed. 2. When you submit your listing, make sure you read and follow the submission guidelines precisely and only submit your main index.html file or homepage URL. Yahoo will not accept your site registration if you initiate the submission from the wrong place on their site. You MUST first go to the category page that you wish to be listed on before you click the Add URL icon found at the top of each registration page. 3. If you want to speed up the listing process, take special care in selecting the category you want to be listed under. The Yahoo reviewers have final say on exactly where your site will be listed, but proper categorization helps them to process your listing faster and more effectively. Yahoo categories run in strings of sub-categories, leading hopefully to the one that you request your site to be placed in. Take some time with your selection process as it is imperative that you choose wisely. Think of some of your competitors and check out where they are listed. Try ALL of your primary keywords and phrases, and you'll soon learn which categories are the best - and the most appropriate. 4. Definitely take advantage of the option Yahoo offers of suggesting another category for your site to be listed under. It doesn't happen often, but if your second choice is as appropriate as your first, you might just get your site added under both categories. Try to choose the two best UNRELATED categories rather than two categories that both lead to the same final sub-directory. 5. If your site is not listed after six weeks or so, try polishing it up and re-submitting it. If it still isn't listed, try submitting it again (after a six week wait). If you jump the gun and resubmit too soon or too often, you're only going to hurt your chances of ever getting listed. Yahoo reviewers are too busy to appreciate such perseverance on your part and will likely ban your site for spamming. 6. If you've resubmitted twice and still don't find your site in the Yahoo listings, and you truly believe you have a site worthy of a listing, you can try contacting the powers that be at Yahoo directly by sending an e-mail to: url-support@yahoo-inc.com. You can reach them by snail mail at the following address: Yahoo Inc., 3420 Central Expressway, 2nd Floor, Santa Clara, CA 95051, USA. Your could also try phoning or faxing them at: (408) 731-3333 or (408) 732-3301, respectively between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm PST. To Review - 4 Top Tips:
TIP: If your site among the blessed few that get listed, count yourself very lucky and don't resubmit unless you've made significant changes to your site. It's true that when a new site is added it's listed at the very top of its category for a week, but don't get greedy and expect too much of a good thing. For one thing, the cost is prohibitive and for another, you'll annoy the overburdened Yahoo staff. In order to stay on their good side, if you have significantly updated the content of your site, try editing your existing listing rather than resubmitting.
If All Else Fails, Go Local While you are awaiting the "big decision," or if your site doesn't ultimately pass the intense Yahoo scrutiny, you can go ahead and apply to a local Yahoo! index. Major areas around the country, as well as in other parts of the world, have their own Yahoo! indexes. Go to the main Yahoo! page at http://www.yahoo.com and review the section "World Yahoo!s" near the bottom of the page. Find the local index closest to you and fill out the application. Your chances are much better of getting listed here than on the main Yahoo! site. Some localized Yahoo! metro guides you might submit to include:
Some of the Yahoo! country guides include:
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