Does Y! proper (not yahoogle) update on a continuous basis?

[dogboy]

so... the question is NOT about the backup results powered by Google... but the actual sites that get in to the Yahoo.com directory. In paticular, I am talking about "Yahoo! Site Matches" found by using the search box (not by looking at the alphabetical category listings)

...ok, now we have that straight... the question is: Do these results fluctuate on a somewhat regular basis, or does no one around here or SEF really pay too much attention to this because a listing, once stabilized, basically is there for the long haul... and as SEO, we all point our attention towards engines that require it?

I almost didn't post this question because it seemed almost too confusing to ask ... and because I think it is a difficult, time consuming thing to answer... mainly because there are so many different ways that you could be misinterpreted due to twists in terminology and logic.

... but if you are following my pretzel logic...

Is the answer that the site listings, on a given serp, fluctuate on a category basis, independent of one another, over time?

[dwedeking]

We've seen movement at the beginning of a listings life cycle, I think due to click throughs making the site rise. Once a certain level is reached (different for each site) things stabalize and we've only seen minute shifting (3 - 5 spots).

[dogboy]

excellent... this 3-5 spots is what I'm talking about:)

do you think when your site shifts, mine do/can also? ...or can yours move independent of mine? (presumably because we are in different cats and index according to 'popularity'?)

That might explain why we never see a post like 'Y! updated!!', ...and when we do, it ends up being about google (or ink, for all you old timers;))

... I think this 3-5 spot float has to do with click pop and is cat specific... that would account for movement in the most popular/competitive areas.

Anyone?

[JamesR]

Hi dogboy, I would have to agree with you, I see some sort of shift around 3-4 weeks. I will try to keep better track of it, let's compare notes down the road.

[dwedeking]

Unscientifically I would say the 3-4 week range is about right. Also it will depend on the categories that they put in front of site listings also (placement not time frame).

[dogboy]

thanks folks:)

[skibum]

3-4 weeks seems to be the interval between shakeups. One site listed in Feb, is still seeing rather wild sings in the results. Initially entered around SER #60, (out of about 75) went as high as 29, then just dropped back down to the 50's. There's been a bit of tinkering going on, just experimenting to test various click through patterns, which may explain it.