Updates

[WebSavvy]

We just finished adding 103 new categories to WebSavvy and have some other updates going on as well.

This week some new features will be implemented that will reflect how many sites are listed in each category, and a what's new page that's organized by date so a site owner can tell when their site was added to the database.

The 'featured sites' list located on the main page that contains 5 random URLs of sites from our database will now load 5 random sites in that area with every page refresh. This provides a more equal opportunity for everyone's site.

We're also adding two more payment options for PayPal and IKOBO, for those who wish to use either of these when purchasing a textad order.

Also, we'd like to welcome aboard our newest editor, Rob Watts, who is a MOD here (as you know) and he will be an editor in our Travel category beginning today.

:)

[polarmate]

Congrats Rob! And Welcome to Websavvy!!:cheers: :cheers:

[qwerty]

This is odd... the two sites I submitted when you first opened the directory (and got in almost immediately) seem to be gone.

Should I resubmit them?

[WebSavvy]

Hi Bob, they will be put back in. We restructured the database and everything was moved out into a temporary database. They will be back in within the next 2 days as we have quite a few more to move back in.

Sites had to be redone to fit the new data structure because of new fields being implemented.

[qwerty]

Ah, I see. As long as I'm not in some kind of trouble :)

[WebSavvy]

LOL. No, you're fine and the sites you submitted were fine. We implemented ratings and sites that were added before that had to be removed to a temp base until they could be reviewed, that's all. :)

[WebSavvy]

Things just keep getting better and better, every day. Another warm welcome goes out to our new editor in the Business and Money category, Bernard! (IHY MOD) :)

:cheers:

[qwerty]

Great choice, Deb. Congratulations to everybody working on this project. I think it's going to be a great directory :cheers:

[Bernard]

I'm glad to help out! :)

[polarmate]

Congrats, Bernard!! :cheers:
And, yes, we're getting there!!

[AndrewB]

I'm not sure if this is because of the updating but when I do a search for domain names that I know are in the websavvy search results for certain keywords it doesn't find anything.

Eg. Did a search for "Cars" the site http://bioskincare.com/ comes up. So then I do a search for "bioskincare" and "bioskincare.com" but nothing turns up. This happened for every other domain name I searched that I know is in the websavvy directory.

The reason I wanted to know is because I couldn't remember if I had submitted my site so I wanted to do a search for the domain name.

[WebSavvy]

You have to use the advanced search to search for a domain name. You can't do that from the basic search.

I just checked your record, and apparently, the editor that added your record made some typos which resulted in it showing up under the wrong keywords. I've just fixed this and now it shows up under the proper keywords.

[AndrewB]

Ah I see. Thanks. Any special reason why this kind of search is in the advanced? Might be good to include in it in both basic and advanced search?

Search by Title and description are good features but what is
"Search the database records by Keyword:"

What does that mean? Isn't that the SE itself?

[WebSavvy]

The search by keyword in the advanced search features is quite a bit different from the normal search.

The search the database by keyword in the advanced search, will return records of every site that was submitted using that keyword set/phrase.

This was a special feature that was requested by some SEOs. Doug was particularly happy when this feature was implemented. :D

<edited for further clarification>
The advanced search feature for "search by keywords" uses just the meta keyword data information to match the records with. It doesn't use title, description, or on the page data, as does the main search. The main search uses an algorithm, whereas the search by keyword (meta data field) in the advanced search does not use the algorithm.
</edit>

The URL search is specifically an advanced search feature and will not be coupled with the basic search for purity of the algorithm.

I hope that makes sense. It's about as nontechnical as I can explain it.

:)

[Bernard]

Hey Deb,

Would it be feasible to add a preprocessor to the regular search to analyze the query term (with a regular expression) to see if it is a domain name and then automatically use the appropriate back end search function?

[WebSavvy]

No, Bernard, it wouldn't actually. Things are set up the way they are for specific reasons. We have data partners who will be utilizing our data and things had to be done in different ways to accommodate this. That's why "advanced" search features are a separate process.

[Bernard]

OK. BTW, the fact that Websavvy will be syndicating the directory to partner sites is great. Not too many directories doing that as far as I know!

:cheers:

[bwelford]

I submitted my website very early on in the process and it still hasn't appeared in the database as far as I can tell. Is there still an appreciable backlog or should I start panicking? :confused:

[WebSavvy]

No, no need to start worrying. :) Yes we still have a HUGE backlog. The editors are moving through them in a swift manner, while trying to ensure accuracy and quality.

My editors are even checking source code for hidden links and hidden text, because we're not indexing sites that employ those techniques.

Give it about another week and your site will be in the index. We have some categories with 1000s of submissions, and it's in categories that we don't have an editor for.

While I am working on, and implementing new code, I'm also clearing the submission queue in editor-less categories.

:)

[bwelford]

Thanks for the prompt response. If only other directories were as speedy, everything would be hunkydory. :cheers:

[WebSavvy]

:) I've been lucky so far ... I have editors who are seasoned editors at other directories, and it's because of the training they've had there, that's made the transition to editing for WebSavvy, effortless.

Other directories might not be as 'speedy' as you put it for the simple reasons that they are more established, have many more editors, and have a bigger submission queue.

We're small, just starting out, have around 20 editors, and therefore are maybe not as swamped as the other directories. I know they work hard too, and they are doing a great job.

I'm kind of honored to have WebSavvy even considered in the same breath as GoGuides, JoeAnt, Gimpsy, and DMOZ. :)

[WebSavvy]

We have yet another new addition to our WebSavvy team, another MOD from here, Qwerty (Bob) will be our new editor in the Movie category.

Welcome aboard Bob! :cheers:

[qwerty]

Thanks Deb.

I know a lot of people who know a lot of film sites, so I'm betting we're going to see quite a few sites get submitted in the next few weeks. :D

[ihelpyou]

Nice going Bob! :thumb:

[WebSavvy]

Hey that's great Bob. With your extensive knowledge of the subject, I'm sure it'll be a great category. You'll be an asset to our team (just as all of our editors and Admin's are). We have a GREAT little team so far. :)

[WebSavvy]

We have another IHY addition to our little team at WebSavvy, welcome aboard (tlpretender) Tony!

He will be our new Editor in the Sports category.

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

[qwerty]

Cool! Welcome to the club, Tony :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

[Farhan]

Congrats Bob :cheers:

wait for a bunch I am going to send you :) (Bollywood Rocks!) :)

[qwerty]

Great. I don't know any Bollywood sites at all. But I've been trying to see the films. I caught Koi... Mil Gaya a few weeks ago.

So, from your bookmarks, to the directory, to my bookmarks :)

[Bernard]

:cheers: Tony!

[tlpretender]

Thanks! Definately enough Sports to watch this month as well!

:cheers:

[maninderwalia]

Hey great to know that we have some Bollywood Film lovers out here.
Anyways congrats Tony!

Mani

[Farhan]

You know how much we love Bollywood, Mani :) I literally celebrated Amitabh Bachan's birthday a day ago :) :bday:

[maninderwalia]

Thats real cool Farhan.
Hey we haven't had a chat for a long time so when are you coming online on MSN.

Mani

[WebSavvy]

He's just been busy Mani. :) He talked to me for about 15 minutes a few weeks ago, the first time in a few months. :(

My schedule has been pretty full too. :)

When you and I talked in MSN yesterday, did you have any luck with your situation? :)

[Myway]

What a lovely directory!! Congratulations to all of you!!

I have been carrying out a few searches and it works really well:cheers:

I did come across a few problems:

Did a search for fish and I got 2 identical sites.
Bass Fishing USA


I also carried out a search for wine and I got this site.
Harrison's Packaging
http://www.harrisonspackaging.co.uk/


Dietitian Central.com
comes up twice

FitnessOnline
Seems to be listed twice.


Zoomerang online survey tool
http://www.zoomerang.com/

The title is not right with this one.


I also carried out a search using "car" as a keyword, the directory came up with lots of sites not relating to cars at all, seems to me that the search is searching for any wording that has the word car in it.

:eek:


Here are some examples:
Bio Skin Care
National Gardening
GardenGuides
Styles 101
American Hospital Directory
TipTopJob.com
Jobs Info

A few tweaks and the search should work ok
:confused:

[ihelpyou]

Welcome to the forums Myway! :hi:

I'm sure once they get all submitted sites into the index, the search functions will get better and tweaked. There is only 500 indexed so far with a few thousand yet to be listed.

[polarmate]

:hi: Myway and welcome to the forums

Thank you for your kind words about WebSavvy. Thank you also for pointing out the duplicate sites. We are currently fixing these entries and a few more.

WebSavvy is different from other directories in that it is SEO friendly. So you will see things being done differently from other directories, including titles of the sites. :)

We are also currently wading through a ton of spam.

Deb is travelling currently and when she has the time to peek into the forums, she will explain what the problem with the search is.

[ihelpyou]

Yeah, and again, a brand new directory is going to have glitches and should be expected. I want this directory to get ALL the submitted sites listed, and worry about the search function later. To me, it's a non-issue right now and no need to concern yourselves with 'search' at this point.

ALL directories have complaints such as this ALL the time. Nothing new. No big deal.

[WebSavvy]

Hi Myway, and welcome to the forums. Thanks for the kind comments about WebSavvy.

Right now stemming is set low to where it will match against words with letters of three & up that are the same.

The purpose for this was to be able to judge how to set the algorithm weights once there were more records in the database to use as a measure.

It's much easier to define the weights and adjust them appropriately against a full database Vs against one with less than 100 records.

As the rest of our submission queue is indexed, the weights will be adjusted to hone the algorithm to perfection.

[jaz04]

Hi deb,

Just checcked your directory, if you need any assistance in concept design for your directory, i'd be happy to help. check out my site:dm04.com

Ciao
Jaz

[g1smd]

Hmm. Are you stalking debs, or something? Wasson?

And why the fek are you bumping 362-day old threads?