Don't Touch the Stove
One of the press releases I get includes the following instructions:
You can read the latest press release on our web site and have access to background information, images, and a .pdf version. Please do not give this link to your readers. Offer them a link to our home page where there is a link to a news item.
This reminds me of what happens when you tell a young child to not touch to hot stove; he touches it. Reading those instructions above makes me want to link to the press-only Web page.
Why would the software company give such instructions? I think to avoid deep-linking (where the reader gets directly to the information offered). Instead, this software company wants readers to start at their home page, and then wynd their way through -- so that they come into contact with broader info about the company. Whatever the reason, ther the prohibition strikes me as ludicrous.
Of course site owners wish to expose viewers' eyes to advertising, when it exists, as well, which is perfectly understandable.
Posted by: pseudolus | Sep 18, 2006 at 05:17
It's also about SEO (homepage rank is the only one that matters).
Uncle Jakob has always complained about it:
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20020303.html (deep linked)
Posted by: Closov | Sep 15, 2006 at 06:32