Hmmm ... no more hassle free submit?

[KeyWord]

Hey,

I submitted a site to goguides last week and i don't think I had to become a editor or pay.

Now it seems that you must either pay or become an editor.

Sometimes things aren't as they seem ... can someone validate?

Thanks

Kenn

[martekbiz]

bump...

gotta agree here.

2 weeks ago I added a site which was free (still waiting obviously) and now I go to add another site and its not free.

After my submission a few weeks ago I applied to become an editor to which it was denied :(

I wish when you were denied for being editors of places you were given an actual reason as to why. This way we know in case we wanted to submit another application which we might end up waisting our time because of hard-core issues that were found on the initial application.

Thanks for the space.

Aaron

[Advisor]

Whoah...and what did they do with the look? It hurts my eyes to look at it.

What are you goguides up to over there?

Jill

[martekbiz]

Originally posted by Advisor
Whoah...and what did they do with the look? It hurts my eyes to look at it.

What are you goguides up to over there?

Jill

I agree Jill. I forgot to mention that.

Usability is definitely off the mark here.

Aaron

[Advisor]

Looks like you guys are right about the free submit. You have to become an editor, and I'm not sure if that's something that anyone can be without jumping through hoops. When I checked it awhile ago, it was a bit of a pain.

I'm not going to look any further at this time, because I seriously had to close the page because it was literally making my eyes burn.

I hope that the good people at GoGuides know what they're doing because things do not appear to be changing for the better. I will have a hard time discussing GoGuides with a straight face with their current look and Add-url policy. Sorry.

Jill

[martekbiz]

Originally posted by Advisor
Looks like you guys are right about the free submit. You have to become an editor, and I'm not sure if that's something that anyone can be without jumping through hoops. When I checked it awhile ago, it was a bit of a pain.

I'm not going to look any further at this time, because I seriously had to close the page because it was literally making my eyes burn.

I hope that the good people at GoGuides know what they're doing because things do not appear to be changing for the better. I will have a hard time discussing GoGuides with a straight face with their current look and Add-url policy. Sorry.

Jill

I don't have a huge problem with the editor application process as I can understand them wanting good, quality editors that won't simply submit sites for the heck of it or approve for the heck of it.

I seem to like the JoeAnt heirarchy process but there's always room for improvement.

Like I said though, let people know why they were declined for an Editor not simply tell them thanks.. but no thanks.

*shrugs*

Aaron

[ihelpyou]

yep. Looks like you either pay or play(editor).

http://www.goguides.org/index.php/add/8247

Is this a good thing? ..... hmm

[Advisor]

Is this a good thing? ..... hmm Not imo.

J

[robwatts]

SPAM FREE SEARCH

Whats with the Spam Free Search claim? I think they are setting themselves up for a fall with claims like that. Remember, websites change hands, what was once pristine, can quickly degenerate under anothers control.

Colour's not to my taste either.

:eek: (sorry designer, its just too in yer face!)

[KeyWord]

Lessons to be learned?

1. Do not unpleasantly surprise people without an explanation? (esaily findable explanation)

[martekbiz]

Hmm.. I emailed support there yesterday afternoon asking what was up and have yet to receive a response - 12 hours later.

Wonder if a GoGuide will pop their head in here and let us know what is up?

Aaron

[Jodi]

Interesting topic.

I applied to be an editor over at GoGuides a few weeks back and was turned down with no explanation. I'm a contributor at JoeAnt - which isn't very difficult to accomplish. But I'm also an editor and contributor at Zeal, which IS difficult. I've had to take a couple of tests over there to even be able to add a site plus, they don't let you handle a topic until you've added at least 10 sites and your "quality quotient" is pretty high (something I've already accomplished).

Who knows why they're turning down folks at GoGuides? I didn't try to hide that I was working for multiple clients in the area of SEO. Maybe they took exception to that and didn't like the fact that I'd be trying to add my clients (even though the ultimate goal of my SEO is to exponentially improve the quality and content of my clients' sites - which should make them very good candidates for the GoGuides directory). Don't know.

I agree that it would have been nice to know why they turned me down though. Obviously, they won't be accepting everyone. And I'm not *mad* at them for it or anything. :) But I don't understand their reasoning - and it's obvious from this topic, that not many people do.

Anyway, good luck, folks!

Oh, and I SO know what you guys mean about not being able to look at their index page. I think I'm seeing sun spots. :-/

All the best,

--Jodi

[martekbiz]

Well.. I got an email from GoGuides support last night.

Here is the contents:


Hi Aaron,



Thank you for contacting us. We truly appreciate your interest in GoGuides.Org. We understand the confusion that may be present while we make some adjustments, enhancements and upgrades to GoGuides.Org, its database and guide scripts. To accomplish these needed improvements, we have had to remove the Free Add URL program for a while. This will allow us to accomplish a number of things in a brief time span.



This will allow GoGuides.Org to virtually eliminate our backlog of pending reviews. This will in the long run speed up the turn around time for pending submissions in the future.
Leaving our Express Review Service in place will allow those that need their site listed quickly an opportunity to do so, without becoming a Guide, while we make adjustments and lower our backlog.
Allows us to remove our backlog of pending reviews and lessens potential data losses while we make adjustments and upgrades to our database system.
Allows the community to continue to work while scripts are enhanced.
Gives the community a chance to further expand in membership while users take advantage to the privilege to join as a Guide and care for their topics.
Allows GoGuides.Org the opportunity to make some enhancements which will allow GoGuides.Org to increase its market exposure, usability and value. This will, in turn, increase the value of your own listing in GoGuides.Org.


In the mean time, please take this opportunity to accept our invitation to apply as a GoGuide. The process is simple. As a word of advice, please review and follow our guidelines before filling out your application to eliminate any potential problems in you application. The Express Review service will also remain open to users while we improve the array of GoGuides.Org services.



Thank you for allowing GoGuides.Org this opportunity to communicate with you and share in brief our goals as we aspire to attain spam free search. We apologize for any current inconvenience or confusion our changes may have caused.



Kind regards and best wishes in all your endeavors,





GoGuides.Org Team Support & and Community

[Jodi]

Very interesting. Thanks for posting that, martekbiz. I still wonder what their criteria is for accepting/not accepting GoGuide editors. But if you do apply, let us know how it goes, hmm? I'd be curious to know more. :)

I can see why GoGuides would be taking a bit of a break to catch up. It makes sense. And why cut off your revenue stream while you're doing it? ;)

Speaking as someone who's had some sites waiting for months and months to be included (that I've checked on and are still "pending"), I think this is a good move on their part. Just hope it doesn't take them TOO long.

--Jodi

[martekbiz]

Originally posted by Jodi
Very interesting. Thanks for posting that, marketbiz. I still wonder what their criteria is for accepting/not accepting GoGuide editors. But if you do apply, let us know how it goes, hmm? I'd be curious to know more. :)

--Jodi
I did apply last week and was declined.

They obviously didn't "read" that part about me being declined in my original email to them.

*shrugs*

Aaron

[Jodi]

Maybe they're just afraid of folks from the Toronto area (I'm in Newmarket). :D

Sorry about misunderstanding that myself. When they told you to reapply, I forgot that you already had.

Ah well. Has anyone else out there applied to GoGuides as an editor and been accepted? If so, did they tell you why you *were*? Maybe we can deconstruct this... :)

--Jodi

[martekbiz]

Originally posted by Jodi
Maybe they're just afraid of folks from the Toronto area (I'm in Newmarket). :D


--Jodi

Ahh, no kidding eh?

Actually, my office is in Richmond Hill and *I* live in Cooks Bay/Keswick.

Small world :)

Aaron

[Jodi]

I used to live in Thornhill and just moved here to Newmarket this past November. But I hear your neck of the woods is really beautiful.

Yup. Small world. :)

(Sorry folks. I know this is pretty off topic. :) )

--Jodi

[KeyWord]

If GoGuides has an intention of allowing free submits in the future then why not allow free submits now and just store them somewhere till they can get to it AND put a message on the site saying that they are overwhelmed with submissions and it will take a while.

I would guess that they don't plan on allowing free submits.

I believe it's a mistake to keep site visitors or users in the dark about things that may affect them ... good or bad.

[tlpretender]

Whats with the Spam Free Search claim? I think they are setting themselves up for a fall with claims like that.
The link it points to (http://www.goguides.org/info/spamfree.html) helps explain that.


:p It was either that phrase or...."Hey, our server still works!", but that would have been rude. lol


TL

[robwatts]

Oh right I see it now. (It isn't the most visible link in the world :))

I can't fault the aspiration.

I can see the reasons behind it too.

People hate spam, so a site proclaiming 'Spam Free Web Search' must be a good thing. A journalist looking to write about spam for example, could use goguides as an example of the fight against it.

Clever marketing ;)

[martekbiz]

I wonder how much longer until the free submit is back up and running?

Any news on this would be awesome!

Thanks!

Aaron