Search Engine Roundtable has reported that Yahoo has removed the Directory links from the organic search results. Of course you would have only seen the Yahoo Directory link if the site had a listing in the Yahoo Directory. The piece goes on to state that this could be an early indication that Yahoo is considering the Yahoo Directory entirely.
Yahoo defines it's directory as "Subject-based directory listing web sites in a wide range of topics, from arts, entertainment, and society and culture, to science, education, and health." It is one of the oldest directories in the online universe. I cannot see Yahoo turfing the fairly popular directory for one simple reason. Money.
Users pay $299 US per year to be listed in the Yahoo Directory. While I'm not sure on the exact number of submissions and renewals each year, you can bet that Yahoo pulls in a nice chunk of change just from their Yahoo Directory submissions. So the question becomes, what does the future hold for the once mighty Yahoo Directory? Well here's some wacky ideas:
- Merge with the Open Directory Project and provide users with the Ultimate Directory
- Auction the Yahoo Directory off to the highest bidder (hmm the Google Directory?)
- Lower the cost for Yahoo directory submissions (this will probably only open the door for spam listings)
- Retire the Yahoo Directory and focus on search
- Place the Yahoo Directory on hold indefinitely until they figure what to do with it
Well I'm not sure what exactly the future holds for the Yahoo Directory, you can bet that Yahoo will look for ways to further monetize their services.
For more on the Yahoo Directory visit Yahoo Directory Help.
Labels: yahoo directory
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