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Yahoo WEB listings skewed by linking scheme

Domain names inserted dynamically in unrelated listings

         

LockUp

5:06 am on Nov 20, 2002 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



When we search on our domain name in Yahoo (Web) or AOL, first our domain name comes up (with a link to ENOM) our registrar. Then the numerous listings that follow have nothing to do with our website, except that our domain name has be dynamically inserted, twice, into the description of the unrelated websites.

Following the links from the unrelated sites (after a bit of digging) takes you to what looks a directory page. That directory page contains only a few items: two duplicate links back to our domain, two links to ENOM information and a search field for keyword terms, and a link to the unrelated site.

The concern is that eventually, this (unauthorized)use of our domain name will be seen as spam.

Weirdly, Yahoo Web and AOL display the spurious listings, but not Google itself.

Advice? Solutions?

Thanks for your help.

Brett_Tabke

7:44 am on Nov 20, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Is this a relatively new listing? (hence the old redirect to your domain registrar who probably had a page parked on the domain before you used it...)

2_much

5:47 pm on Nov 20, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



I've never heard of this happening Lockup. I'm afraid I can't help - I just don't understand the problem.

However, I don't see how this could hurt your domain.

LockUp

7:13 pm on Nov 20, 2002 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Brett,

Yes, it is a new listing, ENOM registraion October 16th, hosting reserved on Earthlink aound October 25th and the site was deployed October 29th.

Google still shows that the placement of the site is on ENOM. ENOM has advised me to point to nameservers elsewhere. However, I've made sure that ENOM points to Earthlink nameservers. Earthlink agrees, using PING, DIG and WHOIS that the site uses EarthLink nameservers.

2_Much

I'm worried that two things are happening.
That there will be some kind of spamming penalty levied against my site. As it is, it looks pretty rigged, when you type in a search query for the client's domain, also up come dozens and dozens of unrelated sites(20 pages on AOL), with the client's doman name inserted into the description.

And it gets worse. When you click on one of the listings, you are whisked away Sprinks, where the site is not found. You are routed away from the client's site to a dead end.

OR, on Yahoo, you dead end on FINDWHAT.

Not only does it look bad, listings that ostensibly direct to my client's site are dead ends.