I'm looking at directories to sign up clients and well I've noticed that the bad are the ones that have affiliate link banners all over them...(The ones that have high payout rates such). But I came across WebHostingJury today and although it looks good, it has those affiliate banner links all over. What should one look for when submitting to hosting directories and what are considered legitiment and non-legitiment companies?
Hosting Directories Like Web Hosting Jury? Good or not?
- Thread starter Senad
- Start date
Blue
New member
It may be ok but it is still too easy to cook the numbers.
This was brought up in another post here, but if a host were to encourage his/her clients, with incentives, to post good reviews at WebHostingJury they could easily get the top ranking.
I am very suspicious of hosts who have great reviews on a single ranking site but don't seem to have any reviews elsewhere.
You can easily find this out by checking a few of the "top" hosts on the WHJ list and find out if they have reviews on other sites.
This was brought up in another post here, but if a host were to encourage his/her clients, with incentives, to post good reviews at WebHostingJury they could easily get the top ranking.
I am very suspicious of hosts who have great reviews on a single ranking site but don't seem to have any reviews elsewhere.
You can easily find this out by checking a few of the "top" hosts on the WHJ list and find out if they have reviews on other sites.
cats-hosting
New member
Out of all the review websites, I have always liked WHJ the most, as they seem to have more bad reviews then good 
TJR Networks
New member
It definitely looks more reliable than most hosting directories.
We've published an article on our home page on "How To Choose a Reliable Web Host". i can not say it says everithing but I think it would keep newcomers out of torubles. Every directory should decide its own business model. Some go for affiliate contracts with networks others work with web hosts.
Users should know that most of the listings they see online are paid. But thats' not bad. If hosting directory cares about its reputation it have to feature on top positions only established providers.
cheers
Users should know that most of the listings they see online are paid. But thats' not bad. If hosting directory cares about its reputation it have to feature on top positions only established providers.
cheers
Mmm after further information I found that WebHostingJury is not reliable at all. After finding some information about a web host in regards to purchasing reviews for incentives (thread located here: http://www.hostingdiscussion.com/web-hosting-discussion/7247-ethics-review-incentives.html ). WebHostingJury is in fact no different than the rest.
I don't know about other directories but i find this website very helpful. It shows the host's uptime and stuff.
).
peter phillips
New member
What do you guys think about the reviews of all hosts on hostsearch.com and webhostingunleashed.com
I think they are real reviews by actual users and not paid fake reviews. I may be wrong so I want to know your opinions.
I think they are real reviews by actual users and not paid fake reviews. I may be wrong so I want to know your opinions.
Blue
New member
Webhostingunleashed.com?
Not a chance. There is no accountability for the reviews at all. Just look at all of the reviews posted by "no name"
Don't you also find it a little coincidental that all of the top rated hosts are the ones who webhostingunleashed make the most money from affiliate programs?
I like hostsearch more because even though there are a ton of shill reviews you can pick them out pretty easily because the reviewers IP address is shown.
Not a chance. There is no accountability for the reviews at all. Just look at all of the reviews posted by "no name"
Don't you also find it a little coincidental that all of the top rated hosts are the ones who webhostingunleashed make the most money from affiliate programs?
I like hostsearch more because even though there are a ton of shill reviews you can pick them out pretty easily because the reviewers IP address is shown.
As Blue said, webhostingunleashed is infested with affiliate links. Quite ironic for an honest review web site.
As far as hostsearch goes, I was never a fan of search engine based sites because you can't control listings, while a lot of companies cheat on them to get better search results.
As far as hostsearch goes, I was never a fan of search engine based sites because you can't control listings, while a lot of companies cheat on them to get better search results.
I both agree and disagree with Artashes. It is true that companies can manipulate their ranking on search results. However, this doesn't mean that search engine like directories provide incorrect information. They still list the hosting plans that fit your search criteria.
Potential customers can check the web site of the web hosting company to make sure they provide the same features with the features that are present on the directory web site.
Potential customers can check the web site of the web hosting company to make sure they provide the same features with the features that are present on the directory web site.
WebDomain
New member
As someone said: "There is no BEST host, there are only hosts that fit your needs the better."
And in that game, the clearest your informations will be the better you'll have chance to attract new customers.
By the past, we signed up with many of these directories, to generate traffic and get advantage fom a cheap advertising.
Even if it was hard to believe, the traffic we got from these directories was untargeted and unefficiant. The only good point of these directories was the link-backs to get a better position in SERP's.
We are now more focusing on an extremly targeted audience and SEO.
Since last monday, we hired someone who'll be in charge of optimizing our website: SEO if the way we choosed to follow.
No matter which directories you'll sign up with, referrals links or "customers" reviewed, the traffic you'll get from them will be mainly (i mean above 80%) customers who are looking for the cheapest offers. In facts, only 4% of these visitors will consider reliability, uptime and support.
We can't affoard to enter in competition with providers able to pay $25 and more for a click (PPC) or those who are offering "unlimited" packages for a monthly buck.
That's why we choosed to optimize our pages in a way they will talk to customers who are looking for reliability, uptime, features and support. We will certainly generate less traffic. We are now focusing on quality of our traffic and not anymore of quantity.
So, my tip is: You may sign up with directories, no matter which one, but (and, above all, if you are new into this business) don't expect to get a good traffic from them if you are not able to inject there a big advertising budget (ironicly, which can be used anywhere else, i am thinking about Overture or Adwords, efficiently.)
And in that game, the clearest your informations will be the better you'll have chance to attract new customers.
By the past, we signed up with many of these directories, to generate traffic and get advantage fom a cheap advertising.
Even if it was hard to believe, the traffic we got from these directories was untargeted and unefficiant. The only good point of these directories was the link-backs to get a better position in SERP's.
We are now more focusing on an extremly targeted audience and SEO.
Since last monday, we hired someone who'll be in charge of optimizing our website: SEO if the way we choosed to follow.
No matter which directories you'll sign up with, referrals links or "customers" reviewed, the traffic you'll get from them will be mainly (i mean above 80%) customers who are looking for the cheapest offers. In facts, only 4% of these visitors will consider reliability, uptime and support.
We can't affoard to enter in competition with providers able to pay $25 and more for a click (PPC) or those who are offering "unlimited" packages for a monthly buck.
That's why we choosed to optimize our pages in a way they will talk to customers who are looking for reliability, uptime, features and support. We will certainly generate less traffic. We are now focusing on quality of our traffic and not anymore of quantity.
So, my tip is: You may sign up with directories, no matter which one, but (and, above all, if you are new into this business) don't expect to get a good traffic from them if you are not able to inject there a big advertising budget (ironicly, which can be used anywhere else, i am thinking about Overture or Adwords, efficiently.)
Actually that is what I was opposing. By manipulating listings, I meant that they would list false information. They would list $1, or unlimited, when their plans start at $9.95 - just so that the search engine results list them higher.HMarker said:
Most of the time you will find its true.
-
HostingDiscussion
A community for web hosting professionals and enthusiasts, since 2002.
