Overture Direct Path Rules

Conflict between Direct Path Rules and Good Design

[lgn]

Overture is getting very strict on Direct Path Rules.

We have a whole range of products, that the customer
may be interested in. However Overture wants the URL to point
to the product that matches the search term exactly.

We have always considered dumping a user in a middle of a website
as being poor policy. We have a well designed website and the item
that the customer is looking for is very easily found in a click or two
from the home page.

Overture claims that the customer is more intent to buy if the URL
points to the exact search term.

I have been using a featured item that matches the search term that
needs to be listed on the home page, until the listing is approved, to
get around this little conflict of ideas.

However I am having second thoughts. If you have
a website, in which the user will most likely buy several
items, does direct path linking give better results than
by linking directly to the home page.

Am I wrong, and Overture is correct or is Overture to restrictive
on Direct Linking.

[Mardi_Gras]

I have had the same problem. For example, on a small bed and breakfast site, the home page talks about the type of accomodations available. Overture insisted that we link directly to a bed and breakfast page. So the visitor gets thrown into the middle of the site, without any orientation.

I can understand if you are searching for "Sony Televisions" you may not want to end up on the Best Buy home page. But for my purposes, at least, the direct links made for a less useful user experience. Overture did not agree.

There are creative solutions. Use your imagination. ;)

[Mike_Mackin]

>There are creative solutions. Use your imagination.

The Internet Marketing Montra