Yahoo Stores - help or hindrance?

[jatar_k]

I have a client who has a yahoo store. I am an advocate of moving to regular hosting. Yahoo charges too much with percentages etc and I feel that I have more control with a standard setup. Yahoo doesn't process CC's or anything so I don't really see any drawbacks.

I know I will lose the traffic from yahoo shopping but from looking at stats it is minimal anyway. I feel that the added control will outweigh that minor loss. Scripting, optimization, better stats, less time spent on programming and db access are all advantages that I see.

My question really comes down to the fact of any hidden advantages of a yahoo store that I may be unaware of.

[pmac]

The only drawback to moving it is that Y! shopping customers convert at a much higher rate than average.

[jatar_k]

fair enough, the money coming in from there though is very minimal. My client will actually save more than they lose so that isn't a huge concern.

It is way down as far as referrers go.

[mivox]

Why not have both? Keep the Yahoo store as a clearance/sale/special features site, and link it to the regular hosted, complete inventory site?

I always use Yahoo Stores for bargain hunting, so if they've got products they can rotate through there at low cost, it could introduce repeat customers to the company. Sorta the "loss leader" principle.

[jatar_k]

a very good point I never thought of that. Only problem is they only have one product.

added- that does give me a couple of ideas though.

[agerhart]

In my experience, the Yahoo! stores are much more difficult and a disadvantage than they are an actual advantage.

If you want to stay with the Yahoo! store format, learn RTML so that you can totally customize the format. There are too many restrictions with the standard format.

[Marcia]

>>Why not have both? Keep the Yahoo store as a clearance/sale/special features site, and link it to the regular hosted, complete inventory site?

THAT is a great idea! When an additional category or product line is added to a regular site that's related but slightly off topic, it would give the exposure on a second site for a different keyword set and still brings in however much from Yahoo shopping, which would be an advantage for both sites.

>learn RTML

What is RTML?

[Hunter]

Really Terrible Markup Language
Ridiculously Tired Markup Language

Am I getting close?

[digitalghost]

Oh yeah, Remote Telescope Markup Language...

Or [nvo.com...]

:) Really trying markup language. Learn all about wids. Fool your friends. Fun at parties. Act now and we'll throw in this set of Ginsu steak knives absolutely free!