| LED Digest 2643: Web Directory Findings |
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The LED Digest Moderated Discussion List "Effective Online Advertising, Since 1997" Data > Information > Knowledge > Wisdom http://www.AudetteMedia.com : the LED's Publisher Boutique Internet Marketing: SEO, SEM, Social Media http://www.SEOToolSet.com/training/ : the LED's Premier Sponsor Bruce Clay's Search Engine Optimization Training & Certification ================================================== List Moderator: Published by: Adam Audette LED Digest adam, led-digest.com http://www.led-digest.com .............................................. May 9, 2008 Issue no. 2643 .............................................. .....IN THIS DIGEST..... ====== NEW ====================== <Moderator Comment> ~ SEM Synergy --== Web Directories ==-- ~ Dirk Johnson "We have scoured the landscape...Here are some findings." ==== CONTINUING ================= --== Has the Stone Age Ended? Xara ==-- ~ Shari Thurow "A lot of programs can export into XHTML. That doesn't mean that they do it well." ========= NEW ===================================== <Moderator Comment> Bruce Clay's awesome team was kind enough to invite me onto their new radio show with Webmaster.fm, "SEM Synergy." We talked about email marketing and some of the common mistakes companies make with their campaigns. We also talked about the LED and email's relevance in this day and age of spam, social media and ubiquitous blogging. Here's the show: http://www.webmasterradio.fm/Search-Engine-Optimization/SEM-Synergy/Email... and there's a recap on the SEM Synergy site: http://www.semsynergy.com/ I thought my part went pretty well, but I cringe when I hear my voice. I'll be a regular listener to Bruce's show from now on - it's great to hear the Jedi master talk about internet marketing. He's one of the smartest people working in search. It was also great when Bruce mentioned his first post to the LED was around issue #0007 (and that he's a regular reader). Take note LEDers - there are some really influential and experienced internet marketers like Bruce reading your posts. Susan Esparza is another host on SEM Synergy along with her brother Robert (who interviewed me), and they're both really bright. Susan isn't afraid to share her opinions about things and has a lot of great insights. Robert I think would be a wicked poker player, because he plays it all nonchalant on the outside by is probably running mathematical formulas in his head most of the time. Definitely check out the show and let us know what you think! -Adam ---------------- From: Dirk Johnson Subject: General Web Directory Submissions - Real World Data Hi Adam, I just thought I'd provide a bit of insight for LED readers into the general, free web directory market, since we have been working in it for almost a year now. Full disclosure: We do offer unique services that are directly related to all of this. But what we have found is also of general interest to many readers here. Not surprisingly, there is a lot of mis-information, sleight-of-hand marketing, and some outright bogus activity mixed in among some genuinely valid reasons for getting a site listed in these directories. We have scoured the landscape, looking for as many of these general interest, free web directories as we could find. And we have tested them out, as well as many of the submission services that offer to do this. Here are some findings: 1) There are not "thousands" of these directory links to be had, as many of the submission services lead us to believe. There are only about 400 sites that are genuine free directories that are actively placing links against submissions, and that is pushing the envelope. It is just marketing hype to read that "we submit your site to two thousand sites". Theses submission services often want to appear larger than the next. In the end, you'll probably get no more than a few hundred valid links, from any one of them. 2) None of them are comprehensive. By comparing the submission lists of several of them, we've not found a single submission service that lists all of the active, responsive directories, regardless of how many they claim in their "bullpen". You'd have to deploy several of these submission services to be truly comprehensive. 3) Most all of these services charge "by the submission", and not for actual link placements. There is a huge incentive to pump up the numbers, at the expense of the client (literally). Many of these directories listed in a service's "bullpen" are either dormant, outright dead, or they are not genuine web directories in the first place. 4) There is no free lunch. Let's be real. The business purpose of many of these free web directories is to collect email addresses, which then qualifies for legitimate and legal "previous relationship" marketing. Use a disposable email address, but also keep in mind that most of the legitimate directories will not accept submissions using "free email addresses", like gmail.com. 5) In addition to the commercial email that accompanies all this, there is also a stream of confirmation email that will come your way. Some of these require that you take specific action, but most do not. Those that do require action are often the most reliable and responsible directories. You'll have to sort through all of it, to gain the most bang for your buck. 6) In the end, is it worthwhile? Yes. This does establish a foundation of links that, collectively, seems to have some real juice. These are not high PR links, by any means. It is the collective value of hundreds of them that makes a difference. It comes down to cost/benefit. We've seen sites in low competitive situations use these links to get first page placements, very quickly. For sites in more competitive situations, it's just another foundation of low cost links that most competitors do not have. Of course, sites owners and their advisors need to determine if this is the right way to go, for their situation. Again there is value to be had, if you look only to the actual link placements in the genuine directories that result. Just be aware that everything is not always what it appears to be, in the world of directory submissions. There is a huge difference between "submissions" and a real link placements. It's been a real learning experience for us, and just passing it along to LED readers. Best regards, Dirk Johnson www.domaindrivers.com ======== CONTINUING =============================== From: Shari Thurow Subject: Xara > Xara will export whatever you create on the > screen into a web page with Flash, 3D > effects, drop-down menus, links, imagemaps, > for all the pages of an entire site, all > created in one file in the program. You can > export graphics from the same file for > print or web. - Shaun Johnston, LED 2642 - http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2057/190/ Hi all- This is in response to Shaun Johnston's post in LED #2642 regarding Xara. I do not share Shaun's enthusiasm for this program based on my previous experience with XHTML editors. A lot of programs can export into XHTML. That doesn't mean that they do it well. Over the years, I've had to lecture about how FrontPage, ImageReady, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, etc. often creates really poor code, some to the point of making files that are not search-engine friendly, both text and non-text files. And I have used (and continue to use) Dreamweaver and Fireworks for years! When I first learned how to code, script, and program Web pages years ago, I learned it the hard way. I learned how to code without any HTML editor. It made me a better developer because if I used a client's HTML editor of choice (plenty of Web site owners like to modify their own content), I had to know how to troubleshoot poor code. I also learned how to code CSS the hard way as well. Software is supposed to make your job faster, easier, more efficient. In this situation, it is not a substitute for coding knowledge. I still won't hire a Web developer whose only knowledge of coding Web pages is WYSIWYG. It ends up being more cost effective for me (and my staff) to start over than to fix the horrendous coding, programming, scripting, graphics optimization, etc. If you like Xara? Fine, use it. But make sure you know how to use it well. Unfortunately, one of the biggest problems with the Web, which isn't being solved anytime soon, is that the people who are creating interfaces aren't creating effective ones, including those with degrees in Web design. I bristled at the comments a person made in a recent LED who thought that those with university degrees don't hold much credibility in the SEO arena. I agree, to a point. When I got to a point where I thought I needed to know more of what the software engineers know, I returned to graduate school. And it made me see what SEOs really don't know. Their ignorance about information retrieval is astounding. Try doing a metadata crosswalk or look at the metadata for motion pictures. Then talk to me about metadata and search. Their ignorance about interfaces is even more astounding. My respect for Jakob Nielsen increases on an hourly basis. Don't flame me for those last comments because I had to come to those realizations about myself. Okay, changed my mind. Flame away! I can take it. Sincerely, Shari Thurow, Founder and SEO Director Omni Marketing Interactive ~ Search Engine Visibility book now available http://www.searchenginesbook.com/ (c) Copyright 1995-2008 Orange Wheel, LLC. 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