Yahoo description

Changed after listing?

[Liane]

I just don't understand it. For whatever reason, my Yahoo description has been changed (shortened) since paying to submit less than three months ago.

The description I was given was pretty poor to begin with: Bareboats BVI - bareboat sailing and motor yacht charters in Tortola, British Virgin Islands ... but now it has been shortened to: Bareboats BVI - bareboat sailing and motor yacht charters in Tortola.

Do I have to pay again to have tyhe description I want? Should I write them and ask why it was changed? This is really depressing. I actually had to save pennies to pay for that listing ... and now this!

[agerhart]

I don't know how much of an effect it will have, but I think that it is worth a shot to explain to them the situation and ask them to change it back to the original

[Liane]

Thanks Agerhart. I'll try. This is really depressing. WHY?

[agerhart]

This knida stuff happens with Yahoo!.....it is a risk that you take when dishing out the money when submitting.

They may have thought that it was too long, or that the end piece didn't matter to the description.

[Liane]

That's like saying:

Bareboat sailing and motor yacht charters in Kingston instead of Kingston, Jamaica. How many people know where the heck Tortola is?

[agerhart]

true.....very true

[Macguru]

Hope they are not following L$ steps again...

(edited by: Macguru at 8:47 pm (gmt) on Sep. 18, 2001

[agerhart]

If they do, we're all going to have some empty wallets......

[Macguru]

duplicate post

[Liane]

Well I went to the "change form" thing and it won't let me describe the problem in any detail. Anyone know where you can write them and state your case in more than 200 words?

[NFFC]

Although I'm surprised that they have the staff availible to "clean up", their general MO is not to repeat the cat in the description.

I would hold fire, you may find that you will rank better across a broader range of keywords with a shorter description.

[Liane]

Really ... well o.k. I'll go check and see if that theory pans out. Thanks NFFC!

[Liane]

Well, it doesn't appear that the site shows up in any more categories or searches than it did before and the search results are the same for all searches. The good news is that the site has actually moved up one notch in an important category and I am now above my supplier ... so I guess I won't do anything about it.

Just seems peculiar to me and I really wonder why they would do that. All the other descriptions in my category include the words British Virgin Islands. I am one of the very few that doesn't have it.

[2_much]

Hi Liane,

It seems like it may be working out for you?

I've had this happen before. My guess is that editors sporadically go through their categories and check to see that the listings are appropriate, as well as the descriptions. There's really no rhyme or reason to it, apart from editor's choice.

You could either let it go and keep this, or you could try emailing the editor back (the one who sent you the acceptance email). Be sure to be very friendly, and explain why it's important to have the entire description (it'll enhance Yahoo's user's experience, blablabla).

Maybe you can observe for a week and send the email then, if you wish.

[markd]

As we are now paying an increase price for our Business submissions, does it say anywhere in the terms of service that an editor can go back and change what you have already paid for?

[Liane]

Since the editor completely ignored my suggested description which was all of 16 words ... and since Yahoo retains all editorial control over the description AND categorization of your site ... ah yup!