AV and AV UK

[Advisor]

I received a question from one of my subscribers that I don't know the answer to, but would be interested in learning more about. I know we have many forum-mates from the UK here, so perhaps one of you may know the answer. Here's his question as posed to me:Let's say I want to register a site with Altavista. In the UK, some searchers use altavista.co.uk and others altavista.com. If
I register with .com, do I also need to register with .co.uk and vice versa, or is it all the same database? Anyone have the answer?

Thanks!

Jill

[JuniorHarris]

We could probably tell you what it used to be...

Given the recent reads regarding the consolidation of the international operations, it may be impossible to know until the dust settles. Funny I noticed the AVUK (http://uk.altavista.com/help/addurl?t=11&random=JSPBHC) submission page is [still] broken as well as the AVAU (http://au.altavista.com/help/addurl?t=11&random=GDLDYC) submission page. So is a submission even possible?

[Advisor]

What did it *used* to be?

Jill

[MazY]

The answer from my own relatively recent experience is that submitting to the .com does not put you into the .co.uk database.

Likewise, submitting to the .co.uk does not get you into the .com database.

Most UK surfers get automatically redirected to http://uk.altavista.com/s?r=1 if they type in altavista.com.

So, the answer is, submit to both.

[JuniorHarris]

Did not intend to leave the question unanswered, and Maz is right in suggesting submission to both. But if the UK submission page does not work, then where would one submit the page? I could not even find the world index submission page...

[manwah]

Think this story has been reported in a couple of places now. The only link I have to hand is http://www.pandia.com/sw-2001/49-altavista.html which basically describes the death of the AV regional services (albeit slowly).

From what I've heard (and this could be wrong) is that all of the regional searches will use the main database but have regional tweaks to their algo's.

Therefore they will rate a .co.uk domain before a .com (assuming that the websites are of the same quality).

Please don't take this as gospel - will have to wait til AV finally stops messing about and let's us play with their engine. ;)

M

[Advisor]

Well, my friend with the original question figured he'd go directly to the source, and here's what he heard back (he's also monitoring this thread, btw!):"Please be informed that currently, in efforts to control the quality of pages submitted to the International indices, users cannot directly add their URL's to specific country sites. We are looking into other
alternatives for future usage.

In the meantime however, users are encouraged to use the Basic Submit or Express Inclusion services that will work towards adding their respective URL's into the Worldwide index. In all country
specific search environments users can choose either the local index or the worldwide index. These programs enable users to tap into over 45
million users across the world."
Jill

[MazY]

Originally posted by webwhiz
(he's also monitoring this thread, btw!): Jill

LOL Monitoring? Does it need "monitoring" then?

[Advisor]

Okay, "reading" then! Is that better, Mr. Picky Englishman???

Sounds to me like AltaVista really just wants their international customers to ALSO use their dopey express inclusion. Delete submission forms and they have no choice!

Jill