Yahoo gives me no choiece...

tmax · 01-08-2002, 06:42 PM

I try to register my websites at yahoo.
When I click "suggest a site" they only give me the link for express registration option for $299.00. It doesn't seem like I can find the link for the regular 'free' registration anywhere.

Is Yahoo only taking paid registrations? or am I missing something here?
Why is it so hard? Am I getting too old?

*Binky* · 01-08-2002, 07:49 PM

From the Search Engine Report newsletter:

Quote:

Yahoo Now Charging Annual Listing Fee

Yahoo is now requiring that new sites seeking to be listed in its
commercial areas pay an annual listing fee of $299 or $600, if they are adult sites. Previously, the fee had been a one-time charge. The change transforms Yahoo from being a web guide to an online yellow pages, to some degree. A look at how the new program works, as well as the potential the impact on searchers and site owners. The full story can be found via the URL below:

Yahoo Now Charging Annual Listing Fee
The Search Engine Report, Jan. 7, 2002
http://searchenginewatch.com/sereport/02/01-yahoo.html

dank · 01-09-2002, 02:10 AM

Is anyone else confused by the mixing of "adult" and "commercial" terminoligy throughout the article when referring to those sites affected by annual fees?

At any rate, I've just about given up on Yahoo as a web directory. It started with them cramming everything imaginable on their home page (remember when Yahoo used to be praised for its simplicity and uncluttered approach) and seems to have escalated with poorer and poorer service, de-emphasized directories, and now near-mandatory fees.

Dan

tmax · 01-09-2002, 02:54 AM

WHAT?

WHAT?

Everyone must pay at least $299?
I think that's disgusting.
I feel violated and dirty. I want to take a shower.

I hope this is not a pattern.
Maybe google will start charing.

Is there any kind of movement out-there to protest yahoo's new policy?

*Mandi* · 01-09-2002, 02:27 PM

Their traffic will drive their business decisions. If sites refuse to pay, their database will shortly become obsolete, and the poor search results will be obvious to searchers.

Sure there's a movement . . . beat a path out the door to Google.

koala · 01-09-2002, 04:46 PM

I have discovered that if I go to Yahoo's country-specific site (Australia, in my case) that I am able to submit a listing for free.

Maybe they just haven't got around to updating their Australian site yet - we are down-under y'know

Simon

*jak* · 01-09-2002, 04:59 PM

hey tmax,

i too remember when we were all allowed to list our sites for free whether commercial or non-profit.

from what i gleaned recently (all in US dollars):

DMOZ: is free and is shares information with google, aol, direct hit, hotbot lycos, netscape

Yahoo: $299.- (for commercial, for-profit sites in 7 days)

MSN : $299. - (for commercial, for-profit sites in 2 days time), $149 (in 8 weeks time). they share information with Altavista, cnn-com, juno.

hope this helps,

julie
jak graphic solutions, inc.

tmax · 01-10-2002, 03:44 PM

I had no idea that MSN is charging $299 also.

Thank you for the info.
Now I know which websites to avoid.

*Jeff* · 01-10-2002, 04:23 PM

MSN is just partnered with LookSmart now.

Interesting, because one of the sites I manage paid $199 to get a LookSmart listing, and the description they provided wasn't very good (no relevant key phrases, so not too much good for extending visibility, and not very "romantic" phrasing either). Now I see they're offering a service to update the description for $199!

I was also interested to see Yahoo in addition to it's own paid listings also featuring GoTo Pay Per Click Sponsor links at the top.

thudfactor · 01-11-2002, 10:07 AM

Any word on how Yahoo! is doing? I recognize my tolerance is lower ( and my access to web tools higher) than most people, but I can't see how people stand to use Yahoo! any more. I still hit it occasionally by accident because old habits are hard to break. But the advertising is so oppressive now! I moved a club out of Yahoo! to my own site and I installed my own web email software onto thudfactor.com so I wouldn't have to put up with Yahoo!'s web-based email encouraging me to lose weight. I used to rely on them quite a bit, but they shovel so much advertising at me when I visit I rarely drop by there any more.

They *have* to be losing traffic... right?