Prepare Your Site for a Top 10 Listing In the Yahoo Directory

Yahoo's Directory is one of the the most important directories; unfortunately it is also the most difficult. Yahoo Directory submissions are reviewed by very selective human editors. To be accepted and therefore be in a position for a top ranking you must carefully prepare and submit your site.

Understand how the Yahoo! Directory works before you submit your site. You can search Yahoo in two ways - you can either type keywords into their search box, or you can click on a directory category on their main page.

A default search does NOT return Yahoo Directory Listings! Instead, it returns search results from partners like Inktomi. Despite this, a Directory Listing is still very important!! Yahoo Directory Listings improve your ranking in all the major search engines, so this is the most important submission you will ever make!

To search Yahoo's real Directory Listings you must click "Directory" from the left menu, and search from there this page. You will also see category listings here, where you can drill down into Yahoo's database of sub-categories and choose from their listed sites.

Yahoo Ranking Criteria (in priority order)

1. Title:  Try to get your top keyword phrase in the title.*

2. Description:  Keyword phrase again in the description.

3. Domain Name:  Keyword phrase in the domain name.

4. Category:  Helps if the keyword phrase is in the category you submit to.

5. Click Popularity:  Ranking is directly related to click volume.

6. Google Page Rank:  Your popularity in Google can affect your rank in Yahoo.

Preparing Your Site - Instructions And Tips

• Your TITLE

  The title has top priority in a search. This has a big effect on your directory ranking, and the number of visitors your site receives from it.

  Unfortunately for established companies, Yahoo absolutely insists on using your exact company name as the title for your listing. This presents a great opportunity for new startup e-businesses however, because you can use your firm's most important keyword phrase before establishing your company name and logo. This forces the editor to include your phrase as the title of your site! This has another huge benefit, because the Link Relevancy from Yahoo will boost your ranking on that keyword phrase in Google, and many other search engines!
  
  

• Your DESCRIPTION

  Make your description about 10 words long, packed with as many keywords as possible. Refrain from using subjective marketing slogans such as, "We're Number One," or "The Best Site on the Internet!" The editors have the right to change your description anyway, and they will reject outright anything they see as a sales pitch.

  It is extremely important to use your keywords in the description, since visitors to Yahoo can only find your site if the search words appear in your title, description or URL.

  However, don't just write a list of keywords for your description. Make sure it reads like a proper sentence, as in this example for a garden supply company:

  "offers seed, fertilizer, mulch and other products for yard and garden "
  
  

• Your DOMAIN NAME

  Your keyword phrase in the domain name is another important factor for achieving top ten ranking in a Yahoo Directory Search.  Having your top keyword phrase in your domain name can give a big boost to your ranking. (see keyword marketing tips)
  
  

• The Right Category

  Find the category most relevant to your offering. High level categories are best, preferably with the keywords in the category name.

  Therefore, in a search for audio components, a company listed in:

  Directory > Entertainment > Consumer Electronics > Audio

  Would rank higher than a company listed in:

  Directory > Entertainment > Consumer Electronics > Audio > Speakers

Yahoo does not guarantee inclusion when you pay for their Business Express Program. This fee Yahoo only ensures that will "consider" your submission and promise to reply within 7 days. Carefully follow Yahoo's submission rules below to ensure inclusion:

1. Your site must not already appear in the Yahoo! Directory.

2. Make sure your site supports multiple browsers. (Netscape & MSIE) It's a good idea to check your site in Netscape version 4. Editors often use this browser to check sites because it is less forgiving of bad html code. Download Version 4.79 Here

3. Your site is in the English language, or has an English-language version available.

4. Understand that there is no guarantee your site will be added to Yahoo!

5. Understand that Yahoo reserves the right to edit your site title and description.

6. Understand that you will be charged the recurring annual fee every year.

7. No part of your site can be under construction.

8. All links on the site must work, and there must be no broken images.

9. Your site must contain substantively UNIQUE CONTENT that is not already accessible from the Yahoo! Directory. (you cannot submit multiple sites with almost the same content) To find out why you should never duplicate content, read our web promotion faq.