mainsearches blog

After reading discussions about unpaid submissions and the frustrations of directory owners regarding this, I thought we should all look at this from a different perspective in an attempt to reduce the occurrences of non-paid submissions.

After making some changes in our primary web directory, I noticed a nice improvement, and the number of unpaid submissions has dropped significantly.

1. Not all unpaid submissions are spam. Assume so and it could be your loss.

2. The biggest tip: the easier it is for a submitter to complete the process, the greater the chance of a successful submission. Smaller directories could benefit by not requiring a user to register prior to submitting a site, and also by removing the captcha.

3. Clearly define the pricing/term on the submission form. Nobody likes finding out it’s an annual fee after the fact. I think these accounts for a large number of abandoned submissions. You fill out the submission form thinking it’s a one time fee only to find out otherwise on the payment page. Look at it from the submitter’s perspective.

We’ve also modified our payment pages and PayPal receipts to clearly define the submission fee as well as the term.

4. If your directory was initially a free directory you could be receiving submissions from someone providing a service to others. Rather than ban the domain or penalize the site owner in some way, take a moment to contact the submission company and advise them that your directory now charges a submission fee. If it’s an automated process for them, they’re likely unaware that you’ve made any changes.

5. Consider the fact that errors are inevitable. Internet connections fail, payment processors have glitches, our own hosting can fail us sometimes. Again, take a moment to prepare a standardized email template and send the submitter a link to the payment page. They might have experienced an error during the submission process and gave up (remember about making the submission process easy?).

Sending them a link to the payment page and a courteous email allows them an opportunity to easily complete the submission and payment. I’ve had one submitter immediately follow up with multiple submissions - they had the impression that there was a problem with the directory after encountering an error.

6. Allow a few days before you decide to delete unpaid submissions - we’ve received emails a day or two later from submitters that are interested in their listing, but had a problem during the submission process.

7. Yes, there are a large number of submissions that can be considered as spam or intentional, but let’s not lump all unpaid submissions together.

Do you have any suggestions? I think we can all contribute and add to our overall success as a group; something I’d like to see.

Posted By CReed Your Comments.

There was a thread started on a popular Forum asking the following Question.

(I Have Removed All Names)

Hi folks, Is it acceptable to increase the price of a sitewide when PR increases, or should the agreed price be set for the duration of the contract, even if the directory has no PR?

 

1st Reply:

 

You don’t cancel a subscription on people who are already existing subscribers just because you gained a little PR, just to try and extort more money from them or raise your prices. A subscriber should stay subscribed until they themselves cancel out.

That is at least my view on it and how I see it. Opinions will vary. (I guess)

 

2nd Reply:

 

During the contract period that should stay the same.

When the link is up for renewal you can discuss the price again.

Thanks

 

3rd Reply:

 

Yes, I don’t think its good idea to cancel any subscribed customer without letting them know BEFORE they actually buy a link.

I have changed the payment options several times. It was initially $10 one time fee. Then $15 one time fee.

But those prices were when my directory pages were PR3. Now I charge monthly for the same pages, except they are all PR4.

Those who have bought their links on my directory never get to pay more just because the PR got high. It wouldn’t be fair for them unless you mention and let them know beforehand.

 

4th Reply:

 

I also agree that a subscriber should ALWAYS stay subscribed until they themselves cancel out, even if your site gains a lot of pagerank. Long term subscribers/customers are too valuable. If my site went from pr3 to pr6 I would not try to increase the money unless they cancelled and then tried to subscribe again. That is just the way I prefer to do business. Also a generous reputation will bring you more happy customers in the future.

 

5th Reply:

 

If you have integrity, then you’ll keep your subscribers onboard at the price they paid until their subscription period runs out. With anyone NEW that joins up, you can charge more.

Remember, PR can go up and PR can go down…will you be refunding people when your PR drops midstream?

 

6th Reply:

 

Contracts must be honoured till expiry–while PR is temporary, reputation and honesty are permanent.

 

7th Reply:

 

Hello….

Don’t fool around like that….

You are given the option at paypal for the subscription length of term…

Make it 3 month intervals then when PR updates

If they want to go at it again then it’s all good and your new price is set.

 

My Conclusion:

I think the best response had to be post 7.

If I sign a Subscription I expect it to last for 1 year unless I’m told otherwise.

Whenever you sell anything you should make it clear what the terms are before a transaction takes place.

Some would say that the buyer should make sure of the terms before buying and after all there do say buyer beware.

To avoid confusion both parties should ask questions and keep a copy of the details as proof if needed for the future.