BOTW Links Taken Down Except Sponsors

**Mattbar** · 28 June 2021, 1:04 pm

To all of those that bought lifetime best of the web links over the years, they have now launched their new site (https://botw.org.uk/) and they have removed all links except for 'sponsors'. Listings still show but with no links.

I'm going to complain but of course the more of us that do the more seriously they will take it. Hopefully it is a giant f**k up but if not that is a very shady thing to do.

**baldidiot** · 28 June 2021, 1:11 pm

BOTW., now there's a blast from the past... yeah looks like they've marked the old lifetime links as 'free listings' in the back end.

**baldidiot** · 28 June 2021, 1:39 pm

I messaged them and they said it was a bug in the new system...

**PROFRBcom** · 28 June 2021, 2:51 pm

Originally Posted by baldidiot

I messaged them and they said it was a bug in the new system...

I was about to say!

I have seen their email spam RECENTLY still selling directory listings. Would have been a ballsy cash grab if they sold links right up to the end then nuked them all when changing sites!

Would ruin their reputation and ability to sell links to suckers :P

**Andyku** · 29 June 2021, 5:54 am

I remember that a few years ago I paid for a few strong links in BOTW. It was considered a great source for quality links and not just a spammy directory. It's a pity to read this.

**Pokerface** · 29 June 2021, 12:24 pm

Thanks for the heads up and warning. Will now need to check things on our side. Thanks

**wonderpunter** · 29 June 2021, 1:56 pm

also annual subscription has been nuked too

**mrchips** · 29 June 2021, 6:01 pm

I contacted them and they said that they are slowly moving everything over to the new platform, who know knows it might not be as drastic as it initially appeared. I have a few old listings on botw.org.uk and they are still there.

**Mattbar** · 30 June 2021, 3:45 am

Originally Posted by mrchips

slowly moving everything over to the new platform

Doesn't fill you with confidence for buying any future links does it. For a directory of links that has been around since 1994 you would think if they were launching a new site they would check the links, the most important aspect, work before they switch.

**wonderpunter** · 30 June 2021, 4:19 am

i got the same message and now they are up again

**baldidiot** · 30 June 2021, 12:46 pm

Originally Posted by PROFRBcom

I have seen their email spam RECENTLY still selling directory listings. Would have been a ballsy cash grab if they sold links right up to the end then nuked them all when changing sites!

Yeah that did cross my mind as well!

**AussiePunter** · 3 July 2021, 10:55 am

I never paid them a cent, probably because they were a wannabe Yahoo in '98 operating a decade too late. Is wotw.org available?

**pokeraussie** · 25 July 2022, 10:07 am

Is a BOTW directory link still worth it?

**PROFRBcom** · 25 July 2022, 10:47 am

Originally Posted by pokeraussie

Is a BOTW directory link still worth it?

Maybe if you wait until the half off sales which come 2x a year IIRC. Black Friday/Cyber Monday I think is one of them.

Don't pay full price whatever you do.

**chaumi** · 25 July 2022, 11:51 am

...and I'd say there may be some heavy debate whether a BOTW listing/link has any value at all....unless anyone can offer some proof or thoughts that would suggest otherwise.

**universal4** · 25 July 2022, 6:17 pm

IMO, BOTW has not been worth buying for a lot of years.

And is credit given from xxbotw.org.uk or xxbotw.org or both?
They also use xxblogs.botw.org for blogs and xxlocal.botw.org

Is each one an additional cost?

They state

Since 1994 Our Business Directory Has Helped Over 3m+ Businesses Get Found Online

Why only 3 million in 28 years?

As part of an overall advertising budget for a more local business, or for more generalized shopping sites needing link boosts in the early years after a launch instead of paying unrealistic seo wannabe pricing for crap links it looks more logical.

To me it just doesn't seen like it is as effective in the affiliate space, your link will be one of only 3+ million,

Rick
Universal4

**pokeraussie** · 25 July 2022, 11:59 pm

On the topic of web directories is DMOZ still accepting sites? On the poker category page it says the latest update was February 22, 2017.

**chaumi** · 26 July 2022, 1:41 am

To my knowledge, DMOZ died a long time back

**pokeraussie** · 26 July 2022, 1:50 am

Originally Posted by chaumi

To my knowledge, DMOZ died a long time back

I thought the same thing but it seems as though the directory has migrated to dmoz-odp.org

**chaumi** · 26 July 2022, 2:19 am

Originally Posted by pokeraussie

I thought the same thing but it seems as though the directory has migrated to dmoz-odp.org

I think the key phrase there is "Welcome to our archive of dmoz.org"

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