Advice from Zeal Editors Needed

[Marina]

Hi,

I contributed a couple of sites to Zeal and of course, I am much interested in the integrity of their description. Alas, some targeted words were changed, and this led to reduction of ranks in LS and MSN. Essentially, one of the changes is not correct. Is it a good idea to stand up for my description, or should I be just happy of what I have?

[Farhan]

Hi, Marina

As far as the presence of your keywords in your description is concerned, remember that the editors are not interested in them. Rather they want the users of the site to have a better an idea about the content of the site when they click it.

If one follows the guidelines carefully, and uses the keywords not for ranks but for explaining the site, then he will get through it quite easily, BUT if something has gone wrong in your case, then I think you SHOULD appeal to the editor on his forum. I recently had a trouble with my site name and got it fixed by appealing.

[MsSearch]

As a contributor to the Zeal directory, you can go to the categorywhere the listing appears --> click manage --> find your listing (the one to be changed) and click on the edit button and try to have the description changed. (of course, you must be logged in to do this)...

[Spider Man]

Good advice. The only think I can add is that I tend to wait a little while and then ask for a change with a comment like "the site has expanded to include" or "the topic has shifted slightly in favour of" (you can add comments when suggesting changes in zeal..nice feature). Because the change request is likely to go to the same zealot that put the site there to start with, it looks less like you're suggesting they're wrong or you are trying to influence results. Seems to work every time I've tried.

[MsSearch]

Good idea Chris :up:

[Marina]

Thank you very much, Farhan and MsSearch.
I understand how technically it can be done. But is this in line with the normal practices to restore someone's description after it was changed by the LS editors - and obviously with the aim to reduce competitive power of that description? I don't want to be expelled from that category. Is there any risk?

[Marina]

Thank you very much, Farhan and MsSearch.

Chris too...

Nice weekend to everybody!

[MsSearch]

Essentially, one of the changes is not correct. Is it a good idea to stand up for my description, or should I be just happy of what I have?


If they changed the description and it does not correctly or accurately describe the site, then by all means, try to change it. Just remember when submitting titles and descriptions, the editors will change them if they do not follow their guidelines...

[rmridgew]

all of my competitors have their titles with South Carolina in them.


ie
South Carolina-Fish Call Charters
South Carolina-Marsh Grass Charters

I simply got Charleston Fishing Guide

Do I have a right to ask that the same standard be used for my site.

[MsSearch]

Your listing was done through Looksmart Express Submit.

After looking at your site, Charleston Fishing Guide is the right title for your site so I don't think they'd change it. I don't think you need to change the title...South Carolina is mentioned in your description.

Your site is also listed in a South Carolina category...

As for your competitors...they are listed in a subcategory 'States R-W'..nowhere in their category path is South Carolina mentioned.

[ihelpyou]

Yes. And LS does not put as much emphasis on your title as does Yahoo.

[rmridgew]

Thanks for the help, much appreciated!

what about the fact that my brother specializes in saltwater flyfishing,it currently reads...book a chartered fishing excursion...... could I ask that it be changed to....book a chartered fly fishing excursion.....

I think thats pretty legit considering fly fishing is not mentioned anywhere else

[MsSearch]

I do not think Looksmart will change your description just to add a keyword to it...Looksmart will only consider a description change if the site description is factually incorrect.

You can still submit a change request (your 30 days is not up yet...) but they may not accept it...It doesn't hurt to try it though...

[rmridgew]

it sure would be nice though and help searchers who are only looking for a fly fishing guide.

I sent an email to see what they thought about it.

All in all I am very happy with my listing.

Thanks for your guidance:cheers:

[Mel]

I recently sent a similiar change request to that email address and had to resend it a week later before I got a response, but when I did get the response it notified me that they had changed the LS title and description to pretty much what I had asked for.
Good Luck.

[rmridgew]

Got a reply back in about 2 hours

Hi Mac,
Thanks for your email.

I've changed your site description, per your request.

Please allow a few days for the change to be published on LookSmart. Also,
please be aware that it may take longer for the change to be published on our
partners' sites.

Regards,
***** ****
LookSmart Quality Assurance, Submit a Site

In order to help us provide you with better service, please do not delete the
text of this email when issuing a reply.




WOW

[Blue]

Good on you, Mac!!! :cheers:

[Mel]

Great Mac - sounds like you got what you wanted - Now if that had been Yahoo...............

Just one more reason why LS is becoming so important, even though its expensive.

[ihelpyou]

Very good deal mac! That one word will give you lots more hits!

[MsSearch]

:cheers: mac

It never hurts to ask....:up: good job

[rmridgew]

yeah if anyone wants to see a copy of the email i sent let me know, but Im pretty sure that I got lucky in getting an undertanding editor,

Heres to Bridgette from looksmart :cheers: