Email or No Email?

[WebSavvy]

This is a question for our submitters:

To date, we have not sent out an email response to the submitter to inform them whether or not their site has been accepted.

I've heard from many people that their chief complaint about submitting to directories was the email being sent them afterwards.

Then on the flip side to that argument, I've heard also, "It would be nice to hear something to let me know if my site was accepted or not."

We're getting ready to implement all of our new changes now (the work is completed) and I'd like to know how the majority feel.

Do you want an email letting you know your site has been accepted/declined?

-- OR --

Do you not want any email at all?

If we did send one to inform you if your site was accepted/declined, it would be the ONLY email you would ever get from us and your email address would not be shared with third parties or sold.

[ihelpyou]

hmm. That's a tough one. Real tough one.

You are on your own with that decision.


You should put the options in a form of a vote poll.

Oh, you did. LOL

Make a third option of "indifferent".



The thing to consider is that right now you are not asking for an email address. You may be getting more submissions because of that. If you start sending out emails upon being listed, of course you ask for an address. Submissions may go down. There are strong arguments for both sides.

I don't have an opinion as it makes no difference to me.

[WebSavvy]

Doug, actually we've asked for an email address all along. It's in our submission form. We have a field for email and for contact name.

The contact name & email address are used as a verification measure for validating requests for changes to records.

If you're indexed, and some competitor comes along and decides they'll make a "request" (as you) for your record to be changed/delisted -- we verify the legitimacy of the request by the email address and contact name.

If the request for changes comes from an email address other than the one we have listed, no changes to the record will be made.

<added> You'll have to insert the 3rd option into the poll for me. I get a permission denied response. </added>

<added> Thanks for adding the other 2 options Doug. </added>

[~Karen~]

Deb,

Would it be possible to make it optional? Have a yes or no check box asking if the submitter would like to receive confirmation?

Karen

[WebSavvy]

That's a great suggestion Karen. Yes, that would be very easy to do.

[captainccs]

I would send an e-mail only when the site is accepted. The acceptance brings joy to the site owner, rejection does not! Not only that, it gives the site owner the opportunity of an early review of your editor's work, miskates do happn.

Of course, you should send an e-mail if the editor has questions.

I'm still waiting for my Savvy e-mail!

[WebSavvy]

Good suggestions Denny, thanks.

Yes, I know you are still waiting, as are many folks. Thanks so much for your patience and support though. Your site will be indexed very soon as we now have over 2000 newly added categories.

Ask my editors. They nearly fainted in our staff area when they saw the list of new categories I've created.

We have tons of new features, new search functions, etc. Tomorrow evening, one of my programmers and myself will be setting all the new stuff up. On Monday, it'll be in public view. I'm really excited because I've worked very, very hard on this.

[ihelpyou]

Oh okay. My 'submit' gal does that for me so I did not know you asked for an email address.


Good suggestions everyone.

[maninderwalia]

Hi! Deb
As Doug mentioned its a tough one.
People(having Dmoz experience) more or less assume not to get any information about their site status and believe me they think that the sites/directories not sending them an email are more genuine.
Logically people should appreciate the effort of updating them about the site status.
Hey Deb lets be more innovative , how about sending an Sms

Mani

[captainccs]

Originally posted by maninderwalia
People(having Dmoz experience) more or less assume not to get any information about their site status and believe me they think that the sites/directories not sending them an email are more genuine.

I don't know what people with Dmoz experinece think but I do like to get a confirmation. This is helpful in various ways. First I don't waste my time trying to find out if the gods have been favorable to me or not. No email = no favors. Mail = favors. I would think this produces positive feedback. Also, I appreciate the fact that I can check my listing while it is still fresh in the editor's mind.

Hey Deb lets be more innovative , how about sending an Sms

What is Sms?