Here is a letter I wrote Yahoo!

[Lead]

Here is a copy of the letter I just sent Yahoo!
Maybe everyones opinions may help.

Lead :hi:

Hello,

I have loved YAHOO as a search engine for years.
It is my Home page.
YAHOO's search box is at the bottom of every web site I build, because of your highly relevant search results.
Plus, you weed out any bad sites with your $299 submission service.

I just finished a new web site www.LSQuiltshop.com

My customer has a limited budget and wants top search engine rankings.

I was showing here the listings on YAHOO for a future paid submission of $299.

But do a YAHOO search on "quilt fabric"

For 9 cents she can be the Number 1 web site on YAHOO.

You have to scroll down to see anyone in the real directory.

I know everyone has to make money, but take a look at AOL for example.
AOL Packs the 3 top sponsored listings tightly at the top, as not to take a way from the real search results.

I am still advising my customers to pay for your directory, but anyone with a $19 build a web site at home program, and $50 bucks can be Number #1 on YAHOO!

From this stand point your $299 for only a chance to get listed seems to be losing it's prestigious value.

My only suggestion as a faithful YAHOO user is to at least tighten up the sponsored results like AOL, as not to devalue the quality of your search engine results, and paid submissions.

Thank you from a Loyal YAHOO customer.

Sincerely,
Bret Fencl
www.fenclwebdesign.com
mail@fenclwebdesign.com

[ihelpyou]

Very good excellant letter! You were very polite and right to the point. I could not have been that polite. You were, and got the point across very well. :cheers:

[MsSearch]

Good letter :up: ...please let us know if they respond and what they say

[Lead]

Hello,

Thank you for writing to Yahoo! Search Results.

We appreciate your suggestions and comments regarding Yahoo! Search.

It is through user's feedback that we are able to continue to make improvements.

We're already starting to build a database of user suggestions for our next round of enhancements.

Thank you again for contacting Yahoo! Customer Care.

Regards,

Yahoo! Customer Care

I don't know if they really read it, or if it is a time delay autoreponder. It didn't seem to be personalized, but I imagine they have received a ton of mail on this.

Lead :hi:

[ihelpyou]

Next enhancements? oh no.

That is a canned response only. Hard to say whether they will read it or not.

[Lead]

This is crazy. I have never had trouble getting anything listed on GOTO. Now I just applied my customer to Overture and they rejected every search term for www.LSQuiltshop.com

Here are a couple of the comments:
Attached to this e-mail is a Welcome Packet which explains how to make the most out of your advertising campaign with Overture.
Thanks again for choosing us as your partner!
The following information displays the details of your search listing request.
Approved Search Listings: 0
Declined Search Listings: 27

cotton quilt fabric (URL: http://www.lsquiltshop.com/)
Reason(s): No Clear Path

cotton quilting fabric (URL: http://www.lsquiltshop.com/)
Reason(s): No Clear Path

quilter (URL: http://www.lsquiltshop.com/)
Reason(s): General/Specific

quilting (URL: http://www.lsquiltshop.com/)
Reason(s): Title & Description
Notes: content

quilting fabric (URL: http://www.lsquiltshop.com/)
Reason(s): Title & Description
Notes: content

Wow. They are all like this. How much tougher did they have to make it because of YAHOO.

I will be hard to get $20 a month in hits at 5 to 8 cents a listing if they don't give you a little.

Has anyone else listed anything since this Yahoo took on Overture?

Lead :hi:

[ihelpyou]

I have heard Overture has cracked down a bunch on getting search terms. Those terms are a little over doing it to me. Should have been let in IMO.