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Business.com Directory - Any experience with?

Lists Looksmart as partner. Will this get you into their DB?

         

martinibuster

10:51 pm on Sep 19, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



They list L$ as a partner (in the "Other" category) on their "artners"
page.

Business.com charges an annual $99 fee. They apparently don't ask for money from month to month. Is this a backdoor into the Looksmart DB?

indigojo

12:29 am on Sep 20, 2002 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I generates traffic that I can count on my 2 hands, a complete waste of time and very difficult to get listed where you want to. We felt we should have been placed in a particular directory with a reasonable PR they buried us deep in some obscure sub directory that doesnt better reflect our site and decided on our page title rather than our title that reflects our content. Dont waste your money, spend it with Inktomi if any and get 4 key pages put in for the same price. Business dot com BOOOOOOOOOO!

Beachboy

12:55 am on Sep 20, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



I had a business which I got listed in business.com, however it was pointless. Waste of time and money.

Mike_Mackin

2:18 am on Sep 20, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



what Beachboy said

mcguffin

2:35 am on Sep 20, 2002 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Funny, I'd been wondering about business.com after I saw a few hits in the log from them last week. I was even going to ask this question, but martinibuster beat me to it. :)

So, the general consensus is that there's no benefit of being listed in their directory, even from a linkpop perspective?

Is that the case?

Mike_Mackin

2:42 am on Sep 20, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



even from a linkpop perspective?

Sure link pop works but traffic doesn't.

martinibuster

3:10 am on Sep 20, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



CONSENSUS:

It seems that link pop helps results in other directories, and that the $99 can help. But that on deeper consideration, one could cultivate equally valuable links for free.

Am I wrong?

Hunter

4:19 am on Sep 20, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



>>>one could cultivate equally valuable links for free.

Exactly martinibuster

Chicago

3:04 pm on Sep 21, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Business.com is, in fact, a valuable tactic for any comprehensive approach to search engine strategy. I have been using this directory for my business and clients for 4-5 months now. They rank within the top 15 referring sites in all cases.

Consider the following:

1. Business.com has a CPC model which was not mentioned above.
2. Business.com controls the listings for several other web properties- can think of them off hand. (therefore your CPC rankings will show up on these properties)
3. They have given me a flat and fixed .45 cents CPC- a far cry from the 3-5$ I am paying in other cases per click (so very cost effective)
4. Business.com works with you on the PHONE to pick a good catagory for your listing.
5. This directory listing will help your PageRank on Google and others.

Give them a call, if your buying media, then you should be aware of their model. I think you will be surprised. This site is not going away.

I am new to this site and this is my first posting. I have been in the Internet marketing arena for some time, however, and advise dozens of clients on such topics. More than anything, however, I am here to learn more, and appreciate the opportunity to read and respond to messages. I will always provide accurate information and will expect the same of others. Our industry is tight, small, and every changing. It is in places like THIS where we can confide in eachother, with our knowledge and volunerabilities so that we can make better decisions for businesses, be them either ours or those that we consult for.

Chicago

3:23 pm on Sep 21, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



The more I think about it, CPC is probably your best way into Business.com. I can think of any other reason why ALL your experience was negative.

My rank for my top keyword phrase- #1 position is sponsors section #1 position under the matches section. That is #1 and #2 positions on the page for my top term. I have had this position since the start and not a single other competitor of mine has purchased what would translate to a #2 or #3 sponsorship? Hmmm.....

You know its funny- in the past I would just give you guys the keyword string so you can see exactely what I am talking about- but the CPC has changed everything is that regard. Do you guys ever feel that way ..."GO here and type in this....but, but...please don't click".

Topics and Geographic Qualifiers....

martinibuster

4:16 pm on Sep 21, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Welcome to Webmasterworld, Chicago!

Thanks for your input. Looksmart is a few minutes from where I live, and I almost took a bus down to their offices to have a talk, but then someone called me back and was very candid.

Two days ago I sent them an email with my questions but they have not yet responded. So I guess I'll phone Business.com and see if I can have them clarify what their so-called "Partnership" with Looksmart means, and how this is a benefit for me. Their web site is vague about this.

Torben Lundsgaard

4:44 pm on Sep 21, 2002 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I only use it as a source of link popularity
The traffic is :(