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==================================================
List Moderator:                     Published by:
Adam Audette                           LED Digest
adam, led-digest.com     http://www.led-digest.com
..............................................
June 25, 2008                       Issue no. 2669
..............................................


            .....IN THIS DIGEST.....


==== CONTINUING =================

    --== Yahoo Domain Scam ==--

        ~ Donald Nelson
"...I registered quite a few domains
there and will now move them."

        ~ Ron Coble
"The huge increase for domain registration
is just a last gasp for revenue..."

    --== Quantifying SEO Results ==--

        ~ Dirk Johnson
"Good SEO work manifests in good rankings."


======== CONTINUING ===============================

From: Donald Nelson
Subject: Yahoo Domain Scam

> The internet community should be up in arms
> about this gross abuse of the system. It is
> not hard to understand why Yahoo is getting
> one of the worst reputations on the
> internet for abusive behavior towards its
> customers.
    - Thom Reece, LED 2667
    - http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2082/190/

Dear All:

Thanks for the heads-up about Yahoo's drastic price rise for domain
registrations. Over the past few years I registered quite a few domains
there and will now move them. I will personally boycott anything to do
with Yahoo and will do my best to share my opinions with others.

I really thought Yahoo was a solid company and that is why I registered
domains there in the first place (also it was easy to do using my Yahoo
account; now I am paying for my laziness and trust!)

Best Wishes,
Donald Nelson
www.a1-optimization.com


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-------- new post - same topic --------

From: Ron Coble
Subject: Yahoo registrar

It really should not come as any surprise how arrogant and greedy the
folks are at Yahoo.  I mean think about it, how long have they been
demanding $299 for the "privilege" of having someone "consider" entering
your web site into their "once" almighty Directory.

This does not surprise me at all.Yahoo once had the top position in the
search engine world but through their mis-management and greedy
practices they have relegated their engine to the Internet scrap heap.

The huge increase for domain registration is just a last gasp for
revenue to make themselves more attractive for a higher takeover bid.

I just checked my "Google" analytics stats for the past 30 days and
Yahoo provided a whooping 3.77% of our traffic.  I believe Yahoo
management still dreams of the days when they were in the control seat
and can demand and extract whatever they wish from the minions who
absolutely need their services.

I say abandon Yahoo, go to Godaddy or 1and1, they are two that I have
used and found to be user friendly.  Maybe when the dust settles Yahoo
management and stock holders will wish they had taken MSN's last offer.

Ron Coble
International B2B Marketing Services
http://www.ImportExportHelp.com


-------- new post - new topic --------

From: Dirk Johnson
Subject: SEO results

> So if you are a SEO working with a small
> business - for instance - how do you
> quantify what you are going to give them,
> as well as show improved metrics, and
> proclaim a success?
    - Brad Spencer, LED 2668
    - http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2083/190/

Brad,

We're not big fans of the "SEO wizard behind the magic curtain." We get
to see the outcome of a lot of SEO work when prospective clients come to
us for some kind of fix of the work done by an unqualified SEO vendor. A
lot if it is pathetic, in terms of the delivered work product.

In almost all instances, the prospect had hired the firm based on a
bunch of opaque, fear-laden SEO-speak, and they did not insist upon a
well-defined scope of work. The client had no idea what to ask, and paid
dearly for their own lack of knowledge. It's kind of brutal, actually.

Good SEO work manifests in good rankings. Without the proper work being
applied, there are no rankings.

SEO work can be defined, in terms of the scope of the competitive
research, the scope of the keyword research, and the creation of a
tangible work plan. Then, specifically in terms of pages created, pages
edited, and finally, links earned. Sorry, but there is no magic potion.

Any SEO consultant who cannot look at the competitive environment for
their client and figure out what exactly needs to be done to position a
client to compete in it is just incompetent. In the course of doing
that, they will develop the framework of a work plan. If they can get
the prospective client to pay for the competitive research, more power.
In depth competitive research has value, on it's own merit, but most
clients will not pay for it, so it has to be built into the quote.

The elements of the plan that evolves from that competitive overview can
be conveyed to client without divulging "trade secrets" or whatever. It
can be transparent enough that the client can determine that the actual
work to be delivered justifies the cost, and they can be reasonably
assured that the end result will be a site that is properly *positioned
to compete*.

As business owners become more savvy about SEO issues, and reject the
"SEO wizard" concept, they will begin to demand what I have outlined
above. SEO consultants who refuse to comply might find it harder to sell
their services, if it is based on the old "Give us your credit card and
leave it to us" method of quoting SEO work.

We see this as the direction that SEO quoting is headed, from our
vantage point on the industry. It's the "self-bailing effect", and not a
moment too soon.

Best regards,
Dirk Johnson
www.domaindrivers.com


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