public forum showing in search results

[Marie Ackerman]

I am still waiting for our site to be listed in the ODP. I created a status thread several weeks ago. My site does come up in Google search, but now it also shows the public forum as matches. So now my site is listed below these public forums that were created with my status search. I am losing ground. Why are these coming up as matches and how can we get them to go away so our site is the only result?

 

[hutcheson]

The forum creators have discussed this issue, and they decided to allow these forums to be searchable. That decision was based on the benefit to these forums, and effects on other sites' search engine positioning was a criterion that they considered -- and explicitly rejected.

So you can pretty well figure on there being no interest in making the changes you want.

 

[Marie Ackerman]

another question

Why would anyone use our name to search for a public forum status? I guess I don't understand the application for their use. Don't these jsut clog up the search engines? Can you give me a scenario as to how these are of use to anyone.

 

[miromulus]

Why would anyone use our name to search for a public forum status? I guess I don't understand the application for their use. Don't these jsut clog up the search engines? Can you give me a scenario as to how these are of use to anyone.

Yes. In this forum is at least one link to your site. This is increasing your PR (page rank) and you will be listed higher in search engines.
And this is just "one scenario".

 

[hutcheson]

I think the forum administrators were considering the possibility that this forum's threads might be relevant to some other search term.

 

[miromulus]

I think the forum administrators were considering the possibility that this forum's threads might be relevant to some other search term.

Of course. I was just giving the lady a happy scenario.

 

[jjwill]

My site does come up in Google search, but now it also shows the public forum as matches. So now my site is listed below these public forums that were created with my status search. I am losing ground.

I'm not sure how this hurts you.
What term are you looking up in Google. Surely your not looking up "ackermanagent". Who does that? I think most who know your name will look up "Ackerman agent" or just put your URL in the address bar.

miromulus is correct in that it actually helps you a little.

Have you tried paid directories like Yahoo?

I understand your frustration. I'm right there with you, but remember, the ODP is mostly interested in the benefit it has for web users, not webmasters. Also, from what I hear, ODP is constantly bombarded with real estate spammers so I would understand if it takes a while for you to get listed, if you get listed.

 

[Busy]

Surely your not looking up "ackermanagent". Who does that? I think most who know your name will look up "Ackerman agent" or just put your URL in the address bar.

I wish I could find the link to a usability article I read the other day that talked about this. There's actually a pretty big chunk of internet illiterates that think the IE icon is "the internet" and think the only way to find a site is to close the browser, reopen it and type the name into "My Yahoo" and click on the listing for the site when it shows up. (This is an extreme example, and a little rediculous, but I've actually seen people do this before!)

Depending on who might visit your site, this could be something to think about, but there really isn't much you can do about it, other than keep working on your site. And it's true that if the pages ranking above you link to your site then they ARE helping you, so don't worry about it too much.

 

[vitaly]

I have found this forum only thanks to Google search... so I don't see a problem here...

If it's not a secret how did you find out about this forum?

 

[Busy]

I have found this forum only thanks to Google search... so I don't see a problem here...

If it's not a secret how did you find out about this forum?

I'm sorry, what exactly are you saying? Secret what?

 

[Marie Ackerman]

Status check after six months

I am still trying to check the status of my web site http://www.ackermanagents.com which was submitted last August. I checked in October and was told to wait six months and check again. Can someone tell me whether it was ever reviewed. It was submitted to http://dmoz.org/Regional/North Amer...nita Springs:Business and Economy:Real Estate

 

[nea]

I'm sorry, but we don't give status reports any more. Please see this announcement for more information about that.