Yahoo Domain Block Feature

[majorbta]

I saw a few good tips on here recently so I thought I would try and reciprocate. This might be old news to many though, as anyone who watches analytics intently would see this. After seeing a recent study that ~55% of yahoo's paid search traffic comes from their "network" (off Yahoo.com) I decided to take a look at my traffic.

Looking at a sample size of a little over 1.2M visitors over the last few months, i found that about 44% of my paid yahoo search traffic was coming from off of yahoo.com. 1000 different domains made up this 44%, with about 600 of them being .info domains.

Only about ~120 domains converted at a higher rate than yahoo.com.

I blocked the top 250 domains off this list, with one of the largest culprits being "us.com", a major arbitrager.

Within days of this block, my impressions dropped, my ctr went up, and my conversion rate almost doubled.

Moral of the story, if you aren't blocking domains on Yahoo you should, and large arbitragers are still alive on Yahoo. If you haven't had success with yahoo in the past, try this and it might make a difference. I might make a more detailed post on my blog about this in the future, but I thought I would post what I have so far. Remember, I am not talking about the content network here, just sponsored search results.

 

[kingfish]

Cool thanks for the tip

 

[airforcematt]

Thanks for the tip - How about posting those 250 domains up for us?

 

[Niwrad]

Good news. One problem is that the domains you blocked will be obsolete in a month or two. Most of it is through a sophisticated click fraud network that just rotates in and out sites. It's unfortunate Yahoo! doesn't allow us to block out more than 250 domains, or just block out their "search network".

 

[dogfighter]

Now check back next month to see how many of those were successfully blocked. Problem with YSM's domain blocking tool is that you can't block their partners... and their partners are 95% garbage. It's also mildly insane that the onus is now on the advertiser to exclude sources of poor traffic... after they've already paid for the clicks. Rather than handing them your money and telling them where you want your ads to be, they're putting your ads wherever they feel like it and waiting until you complain. Just last week there was a thread on WMW about how they changed their TOS to give them the ability to add keywords and ads to your account without asking you first.

OPTIMIZATION. In the U.S. only, for those advertisers not bound by an Insertion Order, we may help you optimize your account(s). Accordingly, you expressly agree that we may also: (i) create ads, (ii) add and/or remove keywords, and/or (iii) optimize your account(s). We will notify you via email of such changes made to your account(s), and can also include a spreadsheet of such changes upon your written request. If you would like any of such changes reversed, please reply to such email within 14 days of the change(s), and we will make commercially reasonable efforts to reverse the change(s) you specifically identify. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you remain responsible for all changes made to your account(s), including all click charges incurred prior to any reversions being made. It is your responsibility to monitor your account(s) and to ensure that your account settings are consistent with your business objectives.

Is that not fucking astonishing? Go go YSM! Milk every last dollar you can out of your advertisers before the company implodes.

 

[majorbta]

Now check back next month to see how many of those were successfully blocked. Problem with YSM's domain blocking tool is that you can't block their partners... and their partners are 95% garbage. It's also mildly insane that the onus is now on the advertiser to exclude sources of poor traffic... after they've already paid for the clicks. Rather than handing them your money and telling them where you want your ads to be, they're putting your ads wherever they feel like it and waiting until you complain. Just last week there was a thread on WMW about how they changed their TOS to give them the ability to add keywords and ads to your account without asking you first.

I completely agree

 

[dickson]

Thanks for the tips. They really should provide a bulk block function so that we can block .info and .us.com like no brain.

 

[majorbta]

Thanks for the tip - How about posting those 250 domains up for us?

In order of traffic, here were some of my top network partner referral domains. I know for me, blocking local.com, us.com, and toseeka.com made a big difference. Some of these domains might convert for you, so I wouldn't just block them because I listed them here.

local.com toseeka.com verizon.net findstuff.com toolboxtales.com diyhomeguide.com dogpile.com us.com kitchencabinetsanddesignsonline.com trafficz.com tastelife.com goodsearch.com netzero.net 101guide.net secrets-101.info infospace.com rr.com excite.com discounted101.com charter.net altavista.com icompared.net barbecuesandgrills.com fireplacesandwoodstoves.com click-research.info blurtit.com blingo.com instant101.com couponmountain.com shopica.com yardandgardendecor.com hintstar.com cox.net industrial101.com kitchencabinetsonline.net juno.com chitika.net 101bargains.net classifiedads.com cloodup.com

 

[dickson]

In order of traffic, here were some of my top network partner referral domains. I know for me, blocking local.com, us.com, and toseeka.com made a big difference. Some of these domains might convert for you, so I wouldn't just block them because I listed them here.

local.com toseeka.com verizon.net findstuff.com toolboxtales.com diyhomeguide.com dogpile.com us.com kitchencabinetsanddesignsonline.com trafficz.com tastelife.com goodsearch.com netzero.net 101guide.net secrets-101.info infospace.com rr.com excite.com discounted101.com charter.net altavista.com icompared.net barbecuesandgrills.com fireplacesandwoodstoves.com click-research.info blurtit.com blingo.com instant101.com couponmountain.com shopica.com yardandgardendecor.com hintstar.com cox.net industrial101.com kitchencabinetsonline.net juno.com chitika.net 101bargains.net classifiedads.com cloodup.com

Thanks a lot for the nice info. That is a gem bought by real money.
For the sake of money, I would prefer to block them firstly and then add several a time for test.