whats_up_skip - 6:34 am on Aug 31, 2004 (gmt 0)

Yahoo Japan has released new "guidelines" for advertisers with travel related sites using the Overture PPC advertising system.

Now any web site deemed by Yahoo JP to be travel related must be a member of the Japan Association of Travel Agents or All Nippon Travel Agents Association and have a business in Japan. This applies even if the business and the focus of the site is outside of Japan.

These new "guidelines" are stopping sites that are destination focused sites and work as affiliates with travel agents.

The criterial for these new "guidelines" for the Overture advertising on Yahoo are different to the Yahoo directory listings. A site may be listed in the Yahoo directory, but excluded from Yahoo via Overture.

Overture clients are being dropped from Yahoo JP Overture ads without the clients being informed. It is only when clients discover the issue themselves that the true situation is discovered.

There are inconsistancies with the Yahoo JP policy as sites such as those run by the Australian Government are allow to advertise similar sites even though they are not travel agents.

Overture JP says the criteria is determined by Yahoo JP, but they cannot give you a contact at Yahoo JP to request a review.