Best of the Web

[TheShortStack]

I've got a couple of questions for those of you who have submitted sites to Best of the Web.

First up, is the good old question of "is it worth it?" Do you find yourself getting any direct traffic from the link? Or did you purchase the link purely for SEO reasons, in which case do you feel you've benefited?

Secondly, I'm rather aware of the fact that I need to agree to the fact that 'The site I'm suggesting is not a weblog or "blog."' Now while I use Wordpress to run my site, I don't feel it's a blog. It's run using Tom's HighRoller theme so is very much a website, with an updated news feed.

Do you think I'll run into problems with this? I'm just wary that my submission price is non-refundable. Is there any way I can contact someone there to check before hand?

[Giorgio]

About two months ago I have bought a couple of placements in several directories that should still have some value - but until this moment I haven't seen any improvements nor rankings in the SERPS for some of my chosen keywords.

So my opinion - I don't think they are all that, but I guess for the money they charge, a life long link from them, BOTW in particular, is still worth it.

[themike537]

Traffic wise I don't get anything. SEO-wise I feel like it's a good link, and for $250 lifetime you can't go wrong. As far as getting accepted, I've never had a site turned down and I've submitted some mediocre ones. I wouldn't worry about getting accepted as long as your site is decent.

[OPC]

I've got a couple of questions for those of you who have submitted sites to Best of the Web.

First up, is the good old question of "is it worth it?" Do you find yourself getting any direct traffic from the link? Or did you purchase the link purely for SEO reasons, in which case do you feel you've benefited?

Secondly, I'm rather aware of the fact that I need to agree to the fact that 'The site I'm suggesting is not a weblog or "blog."' Now while I use Wordpress to run my site, I don't feel it's a blog. It's run using Tom's HighRoller theme so is very much a website, with an updated news feed.

Do you think I'll run into problems with this? I'm just wary that my submission price is non-refundable. Is there any way I can contact someone there to check before hand?

More and more people are using wordpress for their entire website. Just because one uses wordpress, doesn't mean that they have a site that is "just" a "blog."

Additionally, just because you have a blog on your site, which is via wordpress, does not make your entire site a blog either.

Some sites are set up to have a main site, a forum, as well as a blog all on the same domain... They're not "just" a forum, or "just a blog...

That being said, I'd be surprised if by using wordpress for your site's design that they find you to be nothing more than a web-log.

[Michael Martinez]

You can use Wordpress as a CMS without activating the features for a blog.

Generally speaking, a blog publishes content through posts which can be both tagged and categorized and which are distributed through RSS feeds. A blog will also "ping" blog notification services when a post is published. Pages usually don't result in pings, are not typically included in RSS feeds, and (to the best of my knowledge) should not be tagable or categorized.

Having said that, if you leave "wordpress" in your page URLs then someone may arbitrarily conclude you have a blog and leave it at that.

Also, if you use a typical blog template for your site someone may arbitrarily decide you have a blog and leave it at that.

Don't argue with directory operators. If you're in doubt about whether your site meets minimum quality guidelines for submission, don't submit.

Directory links should really (in my opinion) only be acquired because you feel they will help with crawling or send traffic to your site.

Your mileage may vary.

[Josh]

I took advantage of a promotion they were having a couple months back. Basically you get a sponsored listing for 2 months free. I just checked and they are still doing it:

Free Advertising Trial - Best of the Web Category Sponsorship

I didn't notice any benefits from the listing I got. I suppose the only thing I can truly measure is traffic and I didn't get any.

[TheShortStack]

Legend - thanks OPB