Re: Search Engine Placement

At 03:29 PM 12/13/2000 -0600, Tamara Abbey wrote:
>At 03:51 PM 12/13/00 +0000, Bryan Bateman wrote:
>>Anyone seen this??????????
>>
>>http://docs.yahoo.com/info/suggest/faq.html

Yahoo and the LookSmart Network have been charging for some time 
now.  Infoseek/Go has just followed suit as well.  I know allot of folks 
are not going to like this, but it is here and will not be going 
away.  Thought I would share what I see happening over the past 5+ 
years...... trying to be helpful so no flames please. ;-)

><snip>
>
>(Mental blank --- sorry) LookSmart? is it, went to pay-per-list period and 
>I just thought -- oh well, there's enough others, but that tide has turned 
>quickly. However, I did notice my sites are /not/ listed in LookSmart -- 
>course I didn't pay, but are all the other directories/engines going to 
>boot non-paid listings eventually?

That is not clear whether they will be "booting" folks.  But certainly, if 
you are not listed now, more likely than not that unless you pay for a 
review you will not be listed.  These services are very clear that the 
price does not guarantee placement or any preferential treatment.

>In all fairness -- folks on this list have been predicting this for quite 
>some time. So, while in theory, I can kind of understand the whole 
>*quality* thing that the engines/directories want.

I would love to see the directories that are charging also make it clear 
that not only are they now charging but in tandem are cleaning up their 
dBs.  Get rid of all the dead links and URLs that produce error messages, 
then charge for a listings.   Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be the 
case.  :-(

Just like the Yellow Pages, extremely high prices can make it prohibitive 
to many small businesses - but, if you know your market and are creative - 
you really don't need to buy that display ad - same applies 
online.  However, if your market uses those Yellow pages, it is a necessary 
evil and you have to pay so that you get found with your 
competition.  Doesn't mean you have to like it though.  ;-)

>But, what about Daniel -- small business, just getting going and now Yahoo 
>wants $ and GoTo wants $ and LookSmart wants money and --

It /can/ be a definitely strain.  You can always do them one at a time - 
not all at once.  Folks have always borrowed from relatives, got second 
mortgages, business loads to start businesses off-line.  This will apply 
more and more online - TNSTAAFL when it comes to running a 
business.  Business is war and costs money.  Those who are aggressive with 
their marketing, paying for what is necessary to tap into their market 
while also using the benefits of technology to market their site at no cost 
(other than their time) will do very well.  And, those serious about 
getting found, who are serious about their businesss' success will budget 
the funds for these submissions.  The bar is being raised.

>  let's see does Alta Vista want money, or is it part of one that does?? 
> -- so, now, on top of the money he's spending to just be on the web, 
> that's a few hundred more on top of what he's already paid.

The LookSmart Network includes AltaVista, Excite, MSN and Webcrawler 
including over 370 ISPs.    However they state clearly that each "partner" 
will use the data provided as they like.  Here's the details:

<http://submit.looksmart.com/info.jhtml?synd=US&chan=lshomebus>

>I know, you guys said it was coming but I'm still confused! I can tell the 
>next one how much it will cost and just factor in the cost along with 
>hosting, domain name registration, etc., but Daniel is /not/ going to like 
>this.

I have been doing this since '95 and the bar is being raised on a regular 
basis due to all the noise online as well as the need for these directories 
to have a profitable business model.  As search engine technology improves 
watch for more of this trend.  I also see the days of free, cheap and easy 
quickly going by the wayside for those serious about online commercial 
success.  The old saying it takes money to make money is kicking in big time.

Many small businesses who got on the Web due to the low cost barrier may 
not be able to continue.  This low cost barrier also has effected the 
quality of what is out there.  You didn't have to spend money to do it 
right if you didn't want to - therefore allot of folks didn't.

Our partners (hosting, application, connectivity) are raising the stakes to 
insure they work with folks who understand that being online is serious 
business too.  One company actually refers all customers to us for 
development work that a) do not want to spend a certain amount, b) have a 
business plan.  You don't have a or b - they will not do business with 
you.  Whether we agree with that analogy is mute - that is how they run 
their business to insure profitability.   The bar is being raised.

Now, more than ever, having a commercial Web site is having a real business 
online - to be taken as seriously from production costs, to maintenance and 
marketing.  You can do things less expensively but more times than not you 
will have to work a bunch harder.  To market a business and build exposure 
costs money (and time) off-line as it will online.

I recommend all my clients budget for these expenses or if they cannot, 
they have to realize that their traffic levels /will/ be effected.  I coach 
them on all the no-cost marketing strategies that require they only learn 
and spend their time - but find many times that those who don't want to 
spend the money for listings rarely want to make the effort to learn or 
spend the time either. <shrug>    Guess it is the get-rich-quick mentality 
prevalent in society now a days that contributes to this attitude.

Facts of the current playing field?  It takes time and money to make money. 
Commercialism (.com) is in full swing here and will not be going back to 
the days where listings were at no cost and a no-brainer to attain.  The 
bar is being raised . . .

My one-ninety-nine....  ;-)
/j

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