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We supplement this free crawl with the paid inclusion program, which allows us to add dynamic database content and other content that we could not otherwise discover and crawl. Currently less than 1% of our index is content that is included via our inclusion programs.
Our paid inclusion programs provide a superior way for sites to interact with us in a clearly structured fashion. These sites get the following
benefits:
1) Control over which URLs they include in the index (subject to content
guidelines)
2) Frequent refresh
3) Clearly defined way to interact with us (for example: clear feed
specifications)
4) Quality review and consultation (for feed customers)
5) Detailed reporting to track and optimize performance
6) Customer service
Participation in Yahoo!'s paid inclusion program does not guarantee rank in the search results. URLs are ranked in search results in the same way as all other URLs from the free crawl. The key drivers of ranking are keyword-specific relevance and site quality, as assessed by our regular search relevance algorithms with input from the quality review process.
(Note that Inktomi Index Connect clients are receiving Yahoo! Search traffic going forward, and Inktomi Search Submit customers are receiving a free trial of Yahoo! traffic until 4/15/04.)
We will also be launching free URL submission during the week of 3/1. This service allows content providers to suggest that the crawler should visit a site during the main crawl cycle. This service is different than paid inclusion in two ways:
1) There is no guarantee that we will crawl and include the URL in the index.
2) As this site potentially could be added to the main crawl, Yahoo! Slurp will follow links from that URL.
This service will reside on the Yahoo.com site and be accessible via a Yahoo! login. This service has been available for the AltaVista and Alltheweb Indices previously and the tradition will continue with Yahoo! Search.
Not true. Yahoo said a few months ago that Ink would be the basis. The quote was posted in WW. Hopefully I can find in the next few hours...
"Inktomi Inclusion Programs: Make sure your site is available to search users on Yahoo! and other major portals. Benefit from rapid submission, frequent refresh, and detailed reporting to track and optimize performance. Pricing is per-URL or per-click."
So it's easy to see how someone might get that impression.
I'm not commenting on what might actually happen. I hope it becomes clearer, and I hope their new paid inclusion isn't too onerous or obligatory for small biz.
"Our short-term goal will be to have [the Yahoo! network throughout] the entire world using our algorithmic search in Inktomi," said Terry Semel, CEO of Yahoo!, speaking yesterday at the Smith Barney Citigroup Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications Conference in Phoenix. "We really feel that we've only just begun. We've been working very closely with both Inktomi and Overture outside of the U.S. We've been introducing both of those platforms to our search outside of the U.S."
I mean they could indeed be using an Inktomi algo, but that doesn't mean they are keeping the Inktomi db.
Um, that's what I said. Please don't confuse the issues.
What was contracted for was for what had been the status quo... pfi gets you in MSN.
So far as I'm concerned, basically anything Yahoo does with Yahoo is a fresh start. They can do what they want. But Inktomi, via resellers, has had existing commitments to people to feed MSN and other minor entities. Yahoo owns Inktomi, and Inktomi seems to like it may evaporate, as it seems reasonable that all these separate entities would do. Yahoo takes all its stuff and bundles it together and calls it Yahoo search technology.
The basic question is, what is going to feed MSN? The secondary question is how Inktomi PFI and any future PFI will relate to MSN?
pfi gets you in MSN.
For now. Right up until MSN bring in their own technology which will kill off Inktomi stone dead, I presume.
Well.. that's no more Inktomi PFI orders from me then.
Added: this is typical Yahoo in my opinion. Coax money out of webmasters and then shaft them. I know people who were wiped out when Yahoo effectively killed off their directory.. this looks like another attempt to do the same.
I think Google is melllttttinggg....like the wicked witch of the west.What's so funny to see is Google actually giving the enemy (Yahoo and MSN) the gun and the ammo to take Google down with (Florida update, etc... word filters).
I, for one, am not even going to bother trying to optimize for Google again because it is a total waste of time.
Thought this was a yahoo forum?
But I think you are making a massive mistake ignoring Google. They still have a massive majority of search traffic, much more than Yahoo. And I seriously doubt this will change. Plus all I see is spammy keyword rich pages in Yahoo at the top. All Google is trying to do with it's new filters is have quality serps for the user, not the webmaster. This is what a search engine's main focus should be. Not taking the money from spammers and running.
yes its about time the new results were on .uk so any ideas when this will happen
I hope his doesn't happen, results need to improve for the UK.
As professionals we spend a lot of time working to keep within certain rules laid down by the search engines. Yahoo has no doubt enjoyed a large boost in Ink PFI revenues over the last six months. If they didn’t know why, they must have been the only ones. So did they dispel the rumours? No, they fired them up with statements like the one Kirby tracked down.
Everything is correct,legal and certainly within the bounds of “we never said…” but to call it anything other than an act of bad faith is naïve. If search engines want webmasters to play fair this is hardly the way to go.
It has left me with a rather nasty taste in the mouth, but like most of us here, I’ll no doubt be getting my credit card out come April and Yahoo knows that. Nonetheless, letting down your paying customers not once but twice is not likely to be good for business in the long run - or am I now being naïve?
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
CompWorld
This is just whats needed. Cant wait.
If we are currently in the index and all looks well, would you suggest we do nothing at this point. Or, will things change after you launch this inclusion program?
When will the Paid Inclusion program kickoff and what can we expect in terms of cost?
I think it's 14/04
One mans spam is another mans ham. At least Yahoo results aren't filtered. I can still find what I am looking for there. Call it spam all you want, what ever makes you feel good. I now use Yahoo as my primary search engine. I do not think I am alone. It's kinda funny to still see Google cheerleaders out there after what they have done. That's my 2 cents. ;-)
Tim, thanks for your contributions both now and in the future. It looks like you'll be getting a lot of action now. Many of us have awaited for the Yahoo! Search to step up and be the Mother Ship it has always been.
Tim
If we are currently in the index and all looks well, would you suggest we do nothing at this point. Or, will things change after you launch this inclusion program?
Thats my question too! and i think also for many many others as well.
But keep in mind one thing. Google offers a really clean interface for their search results. Very uncluttered. Yahoo and MSN tend to clutter up the results pages with Overture ads and what not, where Google works in their AdWords ads much more tastefully. I think this is a big deal from a user experience perspective and should not be underestimated.
One mans spam is another mans ham.
This maybe so for the webmasters, I doubt this statement holds true for the user. This has always been Google's main priority. I just get the feeling Yahoo is more interested in the bucks rather than the results. I really hope I am wrong and Yahoo challenges Google. I agree with most webmasters that Google does need valid competition. I just feel the Yahoo results are poor at the moment. The fact Yahoo are not using any filters maybe a good thing, but in my sector presently all the good quality content driven sites are being beaten by spammy / keyword rich sites. A friend of mines 3 year old site which hasn't been touched for 1-2 years (poor google pr, and an early SEO spammy keyword rich site) is currently doing great in Yahoo. His main site (ranks great on google) is based on the same topic and is updated daily with good content can't be found. This is a problem Yahoo needs to sort.
I just get the feeling Yahoo is more interested in the bucks rather than the results. I really hope I am wrong and Yahoo challenges Google.
I understand this concern and I think many feel this way, but it's my hope, in regards to Y and G is that the users will determine value. There should be a good balance between commercial and popular that equals useful. Just "popular" might not be that "useful" or "fair." ("Tacky" is very popular.)
This might not be as true in local search, however, where commercial interests might rule with a heavier hand than the popular. I'm watching this carefully.
My only question is - does this really mean people have to pay for INK/MSN and pay again for Yahoo - the whole while knowing MSN is about to crawl up the shorts of both Yahoo and Google with their own search engine.
There's an old guy that lives here on the Gulf Coast that said right after Hurricane Freddy - "you reckon' they'd a known builing a house on sand that wasn't that 30 years ago wasn't smart".
Wonder what he'd say to this?
-s-
[edited by: Tim at 12:26 am (utc) on Feb. 29, 2004]
1. Sites that submit pages through paid inclusion are not penalized for having submitted through this program
2. Customers who have already paid for the current Inktomi program will continue to get all the benefits they have paid for - distribution across the pre-Yahoo! Inktomi network. As an additional bonus, they will get 60 days of free traffic on the new Yahoo! distribution.
3. The new single URL program will be sold directly via Overture as well as via channel resellers such as Positiontech.
4. If you are currently in the index and all looks well I would continue creating more great content that we can crawl for free. I think the only change you will see in the future is greater comprehensiveness and freshness.
The new program will kick off in the next week or two. I will post details on pricing and other features as soon as announced and be available to answer questions.
Seems sort of pay if penalized..............
Thanks Tim
