jeff said:
If a vendor has done proper SEO on his site, what would be the benefit over, say, Google?
What would be the motivation for a vendor to keep two product databases updated, his store's and a separate search engine?
Those are really rhetorical questions. If the interest is there, go for it!
I don't think those are rhetorical questions, thy are valid questions with valid answers. The advantage over google is that this would be just for the IAP community and would not search the entire earth! If you type gator jaw into google, I imagine you'll flip through many pages before finding a pen blank. Also, I think the results that float to the top are for people who are willing to pay more money to google. This would be a free (or small uniform fee thats equal for everyone if that is preferred) and unbiased search engine.
And as far as vendors motivation for keeping two product databases updated... What was their motivation for asking you to create this catalog in the first place? It's the same concept, they still have to keep this catalog updated as well as their own website, right? But if its going to be done anyway, why not take it a step further and create a searchable database? I believe it would be more useful. A vendor catalog idea was pitched, I'm just trying to improve upon it...
2nd msg:
Also, the vendors might not have to keep two databases updated. I would assume with any web store, the information is stored in a database and that information can probably be extracted. Then that could just be imported into our database. Can any vendors tell me if their software has an export feature where the inventory and pricing info is exported to excel or a csv file or something like that?
Good questions Jeff.
For me, there is a little more too it though than just having a "targeted" search here rather than using google etc. I like being here because I like giving back to IAP and the member's here. This is where I came when I was a newbie and part of the reason we ended up starting the product lines that we have, I like being able to put everything together into one "catalog" and have that where our members can easily find out if they are likely to find what they want when they get to the site...
The idea of a searchable data base might be good as an
addition to the catalogs and advertisements - BUT keep in mind that not everyone always knows exactly what they are looking for. It's one thing when it's something simple like CA glues which any number of us carry, however it's different when it is "that speckled, marblelike blue blank I saw a few weeks back (and now can't find the post again.)
While my program doesn't allow me to just export my data here and I do have to complete the catalog entirely by hand - as any of us would a post of any other kind but with the photos and links etc - I feel that it has a definite value. I will have to be a bit more diligent in trying to watch out for the Mr. doing things like changing a photo online when something new comes along (oops sorry folks!) I will have to make more frequent changes when things are coming in, new, closed out etc ... but I think in the long run what it offers to those trying to figure out what they are looking for - or just looking for the fun of it and seeing the "stuff" that abounds, it is well worth my efforts! Once it is all done (yup - still working) I don't think it will be that difficult to maintain.
Thanks for the opportunity Jeff, this was a good experience for all of us!
IPD - MRS
Linda