Yahoo rejected!

Okay, so what now...

[backus]

I have a number of clients, let's say 10 (it's more than that, but I don't want to give away numbers), in the past month, these people have all signed up with me yet have declined Yahoo in the contract saying they are not willing to pay the $299 Yahoo wants. I explained to them that the number of possible customers could outway the costs, but they declined all the same saying; "Yahoo is getting too greedy. Yesterday it was $199, today it is $299, what's it going to be tomorrow?" What should I do? None of my clients want to promote for Yahoo, all of whom have said that they don't need the business from Yahoo.

[markd]

Hello Backus

In a way I am pleased that clients are taking this stance. I have also had some that have paid the increased fee and have been 'rejected' for not conforming to Yahoo's stringent terms for inclusion.

Of course, I have advised them where I feel that they will fall foul of these policies, but many will refuse to change fundamental aspects of their sites just to get into Yahoo.

I believed that when Yahoo decided to put up their prices without notice, and continue to enforce their submission policies to the most draconian degree they would loose business. I hope that they are lurking this forum and see these comments.

I now only recommend Yahoo to clients with severe caveats. I far prefer Looksmart's Express submission services which, together with their affiliates, are yielding some good traffic.

[agerhart]

<added>

People get mad about paying $299, but will spend tons of money on print marketing and advertising and find other ways to waste their money.....makes no sense.

Yahoo will show you a ROI.

[rcjordan]

Simple. Raise your fee by $299 and buy it for them.

[backus]

True, yet these are directors of corporations who understand the value of a dollar, how do I convince them the Yahoo's policies are correct. They are sure the Yahoo will not accept their site, or will mess around with the description.

[backus]

Rcjordan - that's unethical. I pride myself on giving my clients an option.

[agerhart]

They are probably right about Yahoo messing around with the description. The way to minimize the chances of this happening is to be straight-forward with the description.

If these guys are corporate types, I would think they would understand ROI

[agerhart]

I pride myself on giving my clients an option.

IMO, there is an opinion when deciding to go for Looksmart....not Yahoo

[Ove]

ROI ????
Translate that for me please

[backus]

Not if you have enough of an income to not really care. ;) *grumble* One thing I like about yahoo is the pool!

[agerhart]

ROI ????
Translate that for me please

ROI = Return on Investment

[markd]

One suggestion Backus is to clearly inform the client that you are not Yahoo and they will set their own Terms of Service.

Again, you as the SEO, have no power over how Yahoo publish a site description.

For the bigger clients, I find it is not the fee itself that is an issue rather the chance of them spending this money and not being accepted into the directory. Particularly when they are appearing in ODP, Looksmart or other more minor or niche directories without problems and sometimes FOC.

I have voiced my views several times in relevant threads about Yahoo, many times in a critical way. I have received many excellent 'counter arguments' from other contributors but have never had a post unfairly deleted.

[2_much]

Show them numbers Backus. Do you have a site that does well in Yahoo? Or maybe you can show them stats from media metrix?

If YOU really belive that Yahoo's worth it, I'm sure you can convince them.

[backus]

I don't know though. Yahoo does bring in a lot of visitors, but though our own analysis, businessmen tend to use Google, Fast, and AV rather than Yahoo, which is used at home, by students, etc. It doesn't bring in their clientelle.