Treat Yahoo as a directory, NOT a search engine

Tips for Getting Your Web Site Listed in Yahoo

Yahoo is not a search engine; it is a directory. Yahoo defaults to a search engine (Inktomi) in the event that the results of your earch query are not listed in their directory.

Because Yahoo is a directory, every submission is viewed by a person. (Search engines use spiders and indexing software). Your submission is entirely at the discretion of the Yahoo employee viewing your site. That's why the submission lead time is 8-10 weeks.

Unlike Infoseek and AltaVista submissions that accept multiple pages from the same site, Yahoo prefers to view your home page, and they will navigate your site from there.

Fill out the forms on Yahoo exactly as requested.

We know this seems obvious, but some sites don't get listed because the submitters do not follow directions when filling out the forms. When Yahoo asks for a phone number, give only one phone number including the area code. When Yahoo asks for a 25-words-or-less description, don't try any fancy word stacking or keyword tricks. Stick to a concise, accurate description of your site's content. Besides, Yahoo often changes your site description after it's listed in their directory.

Although some fields are optional, try to fill in all of the fields in the form, especially the fields asking your company name, address, phone and fax #s. Yahoo wants to know that you have a legitimate business and will be around next year.

Select the categories (only 3) that you want to be listed under very carefully.

To select your categories, type in your selected keywords in a Yahoo query, and study the results. You want to be in the categories your competitors are in. Study your competitors' directory listing. See what their descriptions are, and then modify your site's description to show Yahoo that you definitely belong in the categories you selected.

If you are a U.S. company, under the category Regional/United States/ in Yahoo, all 50 states are listed. You should include your site in one of the regional categories, if applicable. Don't be surprised that most of your traffic from Yahoo is local. Many customers need to hear your voice or see your face to feel secure about hiring you or your company for a project.

It also goes without saying that your site's content should accurately reflect the category or categories you wish to be listed under.

Category listings are also at the discretion of Yahoo. You need to spend the time selecting your categories and studying your competitors so that you do not get listed under an "undesirable" category.

Get a virtual domain name.

Yahoo tends to recognize virtual domains (http://www.yourcompany.com) over others. Why is this? Yahoo wants to have legitimate organizations and companies in their directory. They do not want a small start-up company that won't be around next year, thus resulting in a dead link to a URL in the directory. A virtual domain shows that you are serious about your business.

Try to get listed in one of Yahoo's regional/metro directories first.

At the bottom of Yahoo's home page are the metro directories. If you are in one of the metro areas, you will get listed much faster in the metro directory than in Yahoo's main directory. In fact, we got listed in the Chicago Yahoo in only 10 days ,and getting listed in the main Yahoo directory happened within 24 hours after that.

Note: The metro and main Yahoo will require 2 separate submissions.

Lastly, the rule "Content is King" applies to getting listed in Yahoo. If they don't feel your site looks or sounds like a legitimate business, they don't have to list you. So make sure your web site is easy to read, easy to navigate, easy to find (on search engines), shows coherence/consistency in design and layout, and is quick to download.