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Overture systematically Removing Grandfathered Bids

Anyone else noticing this?

         

MikeNoLastName

12:15 am on Jan 6, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



In the last two weeks I've received about 5 e-mails from Overture claiming my keywords which were okay for over 2 years now, have been reviewed and are suddenly no long valid. They claim:

"The URL submitted for this listing does not have enough content related to the search term. The search term must also match the overall theme of your Web site. The following elements alone are not considered to be substantial content: 1. A link, banner, or picture related to the search term. 2. A brief description of a link related to the search term. 3. Contact information (address, phone number, Web address, e-mail, stock symbol, etc.)."

All of these to date have been on my keywords which are grandfathered in at .05 . In every case we have far more content about the terms than the top paying bid sites which are paying $1+. Granted our content about the terms is divided among many different pages according to different aspects, and so it is not possible to link to a particular page. versus the others which have a single small page specific to the term. However they have not said anything about it for over 2 years until now.

I've also noticed the primary company responsible for the terms, and who I personally know have suddenly started targeting the internet with a vengence, are also bidding on the terms. Perhaps some pressure on Overture from them?

Complaints to Overture have gone unanswered. Has anyone else noticed this? Does anyone know if there is a class action suit pending on this? Anyone interested in starting one?

eWhisper

3:02 am on Jan 6, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



I've got several grandfathered bids that Overture's not messed with, and personally, if there's a lot of competition for a KW, and I see someone grandfathered, doesn't bother me, as I know they aren't going to change their bid and won't be a factor to worry about in the bidding process.