Google Images Solution

This Yahoo store enhancement places coding on your Yahoo store product pictures so your PRODUCT PICTURES can be indexed by Google's (and other) natural search engines.  The natural search includes "Google Images" and Google's "Sites with Images" filter.

Our Google Images solution works on several fronts to maximize your results.

• Allows your images to show in Google Image search
• Allows your images to display in Google's "Sites with Images" search.
• You operate your store 100% the same as you do currently.

We have stores that have gone from virtually 0 images on Google Images, to nearly 100%.  If you want to take advantage of this important Yahoo! store enhancement and finally get your Yahoo store images on Google Image search, then this is for you.  Don't wait to display your product images on Google Image Search.  Order Now!

• $299.95 one-time setup and $39.95 per month for the GOOGLE IMAGES searchable images system.
• Save 25% on the monthly charge if you have our separate Feed Wizards data feed service.  Only $29.95.

IMAGE WATERMARKING is also available for no added charge.  See more information at our watermark-images page.

TESTIMONIAL:
"Previous to the YSW tool, less than 100 images were indexed in Google image search. In less than 2 months we now have 4410 images indexed which is all of our product pictures plus promotional graphics. That’s great. Thanks." - Ian MacDonald

How does the Google Images enhancement work?

• First, we back up your images to our server with our backup and feed service.
• Then we resize and sync those images to your Yahoo! store hosting.
• Then we recode your store to use those new images.


• Image sizes will match the size displayed on your store.
• Image filenames match the html filenames of your items (so "abc.html" has an image filename "abc.jpg").
• Your keyword rich urls get translated into keyword rich image file names.
• Uses text from your NAME property to generate the Alt and Title attributes for the image files.

Image Watermarking is available for no additional charge.  Send us your watermark image and let us know the level of transparency and the placement you want on your pics and we'll add that to your Google Images piece.

Requires Hosting.  Yahoo! Legacy stores require separate hosting which we can provide for an additional charge.

Monthly charges are based on stores with up to 10,000 items.   $5 per additional 5,000 items over 10k.

The Image Sitemap is a device that tells Google where your product image files are located.

The object of Google's image search - as with natural search - is to give the user the best and most relevant results possible.  Employing an Image Sitemap tells Google where your product images are on your page and tells Google those images are important and relevant to the text copy.  This makes indexing your pics easier and faster.

Our Image Sitemap is built to Google's Webmaster guildelines and can increase the likelihood your images will be returned in Google Image Searches.  When coupled with our Google Images service, the Image Sitemap uses Google's "image extensions for sitemaps".  This gives Google even more information about your product pictures which helps Google discover and index images they might not otherwise find.

• Image Sitemap is included with Google Images service.

Q: Is there a delay between when I load an image and when it shows on the sync'd hosting?  What happens if the image isn't up on the hosting?

A: Yes, there is a delay because we can't download your image until after you've published.  We code your store so if the image isn't on hosting yet, the browser automatically displays the Yahoo hosted image url in the meantime.  This is done via javascript so google will always see the hosted image url.  The only case where an image wouldn't show in the page is if a user has javascript disabled AND they view the page between publish and sync time.  So it's going to be a small window for a very small set of users and only on very new items.


Q: Do I need to have hosting of my own for these images or can you provide it?

A: Yahoo already provides Merchant Solutions stores with hosting and this is the recommended method.  We can provide hosting if needed but there is an extra charge.  In many cases you can simply get your own hosting and we can sync to that.


Q: What happens if I change the size of my images in the store?

A: If you change the size of the images in your store, you'll want to let us know before you go live or as soon after as possible.  We will need to recode our system to resize your images to the different dimensions and resync your images.  The other option is to temporarily disable the modification on your first publish, let us sync the new sized images, then reenable in the editor.


Q: Is there any long term commitment and can I cancel if needed?

A: There is no long term commitment and you can cancel at any time.  There is a variable in the store to disable using the hosted images.  Then simply contact us and we can cancel the image sync updates at any time.


Q: How long does it take to see results?

A: There isn't an exact answer for this.  Results can show up in a few weeks but in many cases it took 1-2 months before most images showed.  It may be quick, but don't plan on it.


Q: My images are all a bit different in size in my store - not consistent. Does Yahoo make them consistent?

A: For most stores Yahoo resizes the on-page image to fit certain dimensions and we'll do the same logic when setting up your Google Images service.  The hosted image size will match your on-page image.  The only time this won't work is if you intentionally resize the images differently for a specific page by overriding the variables.  We've never seen a store do this.


Q: I have a 4 image system installed by another developer. Do you pull only the main image?

A: Yes we only do the main image for the Google Images system.


Q: Do I have to change anything about how I upload an image when I am adding a new product to my store?

A: No. Uploading images to your Yahoo store is 100% the same as you do now.


Q: Will visitors to my website have any different experience with the images in terms of performance or operation?

A: Visitors won't notice a usable difference.  I can't say for sure on performance because it is Yahoo's image server versus Yahoo's hosting servers and they are hosted differently.  There could potentially be a slight difference in load time from remote locations but as we optimize images as well, we haven't yet had anyone report noticeable differences.


Q: Why does Google think your version of the image belongs with my page?

A: Google recognizes your images because we make sure to include title and alt tags.  Many stores have some of this image information but not all.  Most importantly, the image locations are STATIC.  Yahoo's image locations aren't static and sometimes change.  Even if google did cache them, the Yahoo image location would soon become obsolete.  Also, creating keyword-rich page ids helps add keywords for Google to grab when mapping images.