Yahoo Search Submit Express

Yahoo Search Submit Express

"Through Search Submit Express you can submit your listings for consideration to appear in algorithmic search results powered by the Yahoo! search engine. " ---Yahoo!

The above service began sometime about a year ago where Yahoo would let you pay to be included within the natural search engine results pages. I'm not really sure what Yahoo's intention was with this service but to treat any site differently based on what people pay you is risky, especially when you claim that algorithmic results are those generated only by the computer software programs that rank web pages. Maybe they were trying to put in place the frame work for a completely biased search engine which serves only results from paid advertisers.

Don't think it's risky? Look at the uproar caused by the Net Neutrality issue and the fact that cable and phone companies want to control what you see and do online based on who pays them more to present that content. Things like this are very touchy subjects depending on how they are presented.

Any who - I have experienced plenty of my own troubles with Yahoo for the past year so I am conducting a vote for those site owners who have experience with this "Search Submit Express" program.

The below information is quoted by Tom Forrest of HTPCompany who has reported similar issues:

• "Yahoo can not mix up paid and non paid listings and present it to the public as all non paid listings."

• "Furthermore I believe it is illegal to not mark all the people that pay you for every click as sponsored listings. By FTC rules you need to make it clear what are paid listings and what are natural non paid listings. Yahoo is clearly in violation of FTC rules. Yahoo can not mix up paid and not paid listings and present it to the public as all non paid listings."

http://gototom2.blogspot.com/2006/06/report-yahoo-to-federal-trade.html

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-ads.htm

FTC Recommends Better Disclosures To Search Engines