LookSmart and Zeal directories united

July 26 2001

LookSmart will merge the LookSmart and volunteer-based Zeal directories. At the same time the Express Submit program becomes much more expensive.

Last September we reported that the LookSmart directory was taking over the volunteer-based Zeal catalogue. The plan was to keep Zeal, but to include Zeal results in LookSmart listings.

According to an email sent yesterday to the "Zealots" (Zeal editors) LookSmart and Zeal have been "unified". Looksmart is going to launch the new version of the combined directory any day now, and the new Zeal site is already merging results from the two databases.

Frustration

LookSmart has been responsible for joining the two directories, which has led to some discontent in the Zeal forums.

"Whomever edited the Games section, for example, doesn't really know the difference between a LARP and an RPG judging from that absolute mess of a Category," one Zealot stated.

However, others were more optimistic: "I went to the message boards to see what was going on. Everyone's upset and talking about leaving. Frustration... I found people working together to iron out the wrinkles. Editors and Zealots working together to make the directory better. This isn't so bad, it may be good. I think it will be great!"

The Zeal editors have been trained in LookSmart's way of writing site descriptions and titles. They are responsible for "non-commercial" sites, but are not allowed to edit sites belonging to the "commercial category".

We haven't found a clear definition of what constitutes a "commercial" site, but the category clearly includes all private companies. These will have to submit their sites through LookSmart and pay the relevant fees.

You may still use the Zeal site to search the combined LookSmart/Zeal directory, but the main function of the site is to provide a home for the Zealots.

Submitting to Zeal

There are at the moment no "add URL" links on this site (apart from LookSmart paid Express Submit), and we are unsure whether it will be possible to submit sites to the "non-commercial" Zeal part of the directory.

The Zealots are probably to find the relevant sites themselves. One alternative is therefore to become a Zealot yourself, suggesting your own site.

Some webmasters have wondered whether Zeal could become a free back-door into the LookSmart directory. This is clearly not the case. For instance: Pandia had listings in LookSmart as well as in the Zeal directory. At the moment the Zeal listings are gone. However, we do find our LookSmart entries.

This does not mean that it is impossible to get a free listing for commercial sites. Sites are divided between commercial/non-commercial and paid/unpaid, and an LookSmart editor may list a commercial site for free if he or she finds it a valuable site. The chances are very, very slim, though.

What's in it for LookSmart?

The Zeal directory is based on the same idea as the Open Directory Project: Create a community of enthusiasts that spend their spare time on editing categories for free. Given the costs connected to running a directory, this is a very tempting solution.

And in spite of the current controversies regarding pay-per-click and paid inclusion, the search engines and directories know that quality counts. That is: You may fool some of the searchers some of the time, but not all of them all the time.

Searchers are looking for relevant results, commercial or non-commercial. If they are dissatisfied they will migrate to other search sites like Google, and the rumor mill will see to it that the exodus continues.

By including the Zeal listings, LookSmart is able to include quality sites run by non-commercial webmasters that cannot (or will not) pay the LookSmart fees. In this way the search results become more relevant, making the directory more valuable not only to LookSmart, but also to sites like AltaVista, Excite and MSN. These have all adapted the LookSmart directory to their needs.

By the way, the Zeal site does not work as intended in the Netscape 6 browser.

LookSmart is increasing prices

Well, even if there is hope for high quality amateur sites, companies will have to pay -- more.

LookSmart will increase the fees for the standard Express Submit from USD 199 to USD 299 starting August 1. The price for the much slower Basic Submit will go up to USD 149 from the present USD 99.

Pandia's September 2000 article on Zeal
Zeal
LookSmart

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