Yahoo & introductory site

Some advice would be appreciated

[Jane_B]

Hi A site is undercontruction for a client. They are very keen that it is found on search engines/ directories on day one of being launched! My colleague has come up with the suggestion that we design an introductory page which uses the official domain name which we then register with the likes of Yahoo. When the "proper content" is finished it will replace this introductory text. Do you think Yahoo would reject our domain given that it only one page of introductory text? If that happened would the domain be blacklisted so we could not register the site when its completed content was ready.

[TallTroll]

Submitting one site for review, then changing to another later is a tactic known as "bait and switch", and is rather frowned upon by directories generally, regardless of whether you are "improving" the content or not, as they see it as deception of their users

>> Do you think Yahoo would reject our domain given that it only one page of introductory text?

It would have to be some amazing page to get in, IMO

[SmallTime]

Yes.
Your clients have an unrealistic expectation, they need a brief intro to how search engines work. Yahoo will want to review the site.

They could buy some Overture and Adwords listings if they need exposure quickly, but even those are reviewed, and need probably a week or so.

[Jane_B]

Thanks for that in-put. As a result I think I've managed to persuade all concerned not to try registering "introductory" site but to hold off for real one.

[Harley_m]

As smalltime says, paid visitors are by far and away the best way to go right at the start if you need hits. Adwords for example allows you get get a number one spot (equivilent) from day one...

What may be of use to you is an introductory page for search engines, but make its readable and useful to humans coming to it. Make it nice and keyword rich and this will give you a small headstart in the engines - but DO NOT submit to any directories. An engine will index you well down for a basic intro page, but then at the next update (with all your lovely new content and site) your considerably up on where you would be. Directories will just balck list you and ruin your chances full stop

And no intro site has a realistic chance of ever getting in...it goes against almost all of their criteria, and a human is very unfoolable...

Good Luck...i hope that helps

Harley

[Shakil]

Harley_m = very well explained.

This is what we usually do when site is in development, create a 1 page information site with relevant content and keywords (both to Humans and Spiders).

Site is usually picked by robots and gets a low ranking, but upon launch and next update with Fresh content, the difference can be many places higher in the results.

excellent use of waiting time.

Shak

[Harley_m]

it is always very fustrating having to wait for your website to mature in the search engines - i have it, we all have it, and the only thing to speed it up really is money (and the correct knowledge!) before launch make this site, make it as great to look at as it is spider friendly - pack lots of text, tags and metas in there, and leave it. you'll then 'prime' your day one campaign as well as you ever could. one launch day swap it all over, and submit/ask for links and spread the word like hell for a week. then sit back and wait for incoming links to appear, search engines to update (or add you in via paid inclusion). Use plenty of paid hits with Adwords and overture for the first month, then it will begin to take hold itself, and your clients will be happy pretty much from launch day.

even google guy couldnt pull enough strings to jump to page one in all the SE's and Directories on day 1!

Best of luck, let us know how you get on...