| Interview With Gimpsy Founder - Mordechai | | | | it will be entered there under the same |
| Chachamu | | | | categorization. Even if you have amassed a large |
| Gimpsy is a different kind of directory, listing only | | | | collection (and some users have accumulated |
| sites that provide online activity or help you | | | | hundreds of sites), it is always easy to find them |
| accomplish a specific task. Gimpsy founder, | | | | again. |
| Mordechai Chachamu explains why. | | | | DW: What else can a user do to fine-tune the |
| DW: It only takes a cursory glance at your home | | | | search results? |
| page to appreciate that it is quite different from | | | | MC: In addition to the usual 'Preferences', many |
| all other directories out there. Perhaps we can | | | | categories have additional 'attributes'. It would be |
| start with some background about you and | | | | easier to explain by example. In the category Buy |
| Gimpsy. When, why and how did it all begin? | | | | > home & garden > window covering there are |
| MC: The inspiration to Gimpsy came way back in | | | | now 49 sites (assuming Location is set to USA). |
| 1999. As is the case with many other inventions - | | | | On the right hand side, there is a drop-down list |
| it came out of frustration with existing technology. | | | | titled 'Covering Style'. Clicking on it brings up |
| I was trying to buy something on the net and | | | | various types of windows covering, such as blinds, |
| used the search engines to get to the right site. I | | | | curtains etc. If you select 'shutters' the list of |
| spent many hours and visited many sites without | | | | sites will shorten dramatically and you will see just |
| success. I started to think "WHY can't I get the | | | | 9 sites. Thus, if you were looking to buy shutters |
| results that I want?" and it occurred to me that | | | | for your windows online - you now have a |
| the reason is that the search engines don't | | | | perfect list! |
| UNDERSTAND what I want! "But is there a way | | | | DW: Is Gimpsy more "spider friendly" than other |
| to MAKE them understand?" It was then that the | | | | directories? If so, how? |
| idea of Gimpsy was born. Gimpy is built so that | | | | MC: That would depend on your definition of |
| once you have made your INTENTION clear - it | | | | 'spider friendly'. Do you mean the extent of |
| provides you with a list of sites where you can | | | | indexing of the directory pages by Search |
| accomplish them. | | | | Engines? |
| DW: How was Gimpsy funded? | | | | DW: Yes. |
| MC: After the flash of inspiration, I naturally | | | | MC: Well, in that case, you can get an objective |
| thought that people would just fall over | | | | indication for it at the directory section of |
| themselves trying to secure a slice of the golden | | | | Strongest Links. From about 80 directories, |
| pie. As an MBA graduate, I knew what I was | | | | Gimpsy is ranked 7th in the world (at the |
| supposed to do, business plan and all. The time | | | | moment) in total 'Saturation'. But that's not the full |
| was the height of the dot com boom and the | | | | picture. If you check the 'info' page of the leading |
| world was awash with entrepreneurs like me | | | | directories, you will see that Gimpsy is much |
| trying to secure funding. I nearly made it - but the | | | | more 'balanced' than many other directories and is |
| promised funds never materialized. Then came | | | | indexed well in all the Search Engines. The |
| the big crush, and with it the realization that | | | | advantage for site owners is that a site listed in |
| Gimpsy will become a reality only if I will make it | | | | Gimpsy is likely to be spidered and indexed by |
| so. Using my (very modest) savings and help | | | | many Search Engines - not just Google. As you |
| from my family, we managed to get where we | | | | know, getting indexed by some Search Engines is |
| are now. We would welcome interest from | | | | a notoriously long process, unless you are willing |
| investors, but Gimpsy's survival is now assured. | | | | to pay for inclusion. |
| DW: What is it that makes Gimpsy so unique? | | | | DW: Does Gimpsy contribute to the PageRank of |
| MC: The most fundamental difference is the | | | | sites listed in it? |
| categorization model. Every directory follows the | | | | MC: Indeed it does. First, unlike many other |
| footprints of the first major directory - Yahoo. | | | | directories, Gimpsy allows sites to be listed in |
| The home pages of all the directories look virtually | | | | several categories, which means that a site may |
| identical - they all have 'Arts', 'Business', | | | | have several links to it. In addition, each site has |
| 'Computers', 'Health', 'Science', etc. A Yahoo style | | | | its own detailed information page, which links only |
| Editor that reviews a site tries to answer the | | | | to it. Many sites can see their back link from |
| question: What is this site ABOUT? | | | | Gimpsy at Google, even though the home page |
| A Gimpsy Editor, on the other hand, has a | | | | has, at the moment, a PageRank of just 6. |
| different question in mind. He or she asks "What | | | | DW: Is submission to Gimpsy free? |
| can the user DO on this site?" Thus, the home | | | | MC: Gimpsy provides a free submission option. |
| page of Gimpsy simply lists VERBS, like 'buy', | | | | There are no strings attached - totally |
| 'design', 'play', 'subscribe', 'trade', etc. | | | | unconditional. However, as the queue for review is |
| DW: The slogan "Active Sites for Active People" | | | | now very long (by the way, we operate on a |
| is related to Gimpsy containing sites that provide | | | | strict 'first come first serve' basis), a free |
| an interactive online service. Can you expound on | | | | submission is likely to be reviewed after 4 months |
| this further, explaining what kind of sites are | | | | or more. As we are becoming more and more |
| actually included in Gimpsy? | | | | popular - the queue is likely to lengthen much |
| MC: Gimpsy is highly selective when it comes to | | | | more. |
| site acceptance. It will only accept sites for which | | | | DW: You must get tons of spam submissions. |
| the question "what can I DO here" is relevant. If | | | | How do you effectively deal with this? |
| the answer is 'reading', the site is not accepted, | | | | MC: First of all, we ensure that it would be nearly |
| irrespective if the information if of the highest | | | | impossible to use a script to submit sites to |
| quality and the content is the most authoritative | | | | Gimpsy. Only hand-submit works. Then, we make |
| in the field. Some Site Owners find it very hard to | | | | it very clear that we are very stringent in our |
| accept. | | | | Editorial process and we will NOT tolerate spam. |
| DW: OK, but how does this help the searcher? | | | | So far, I can't say that it has been a major |
| MC: By insisting on accepting only sites that | | | | problem. |
| provide online activity, the user gets a unique | | | | DW: You do offer a paid option as well. What are |
| search experience at Gimpsy - 100% relevant | | | | the advantages of using the paid option as |
| results! Just browse any category at Gimpsy and | | | | opposed to the free option. |
| it will become obvious. For example, Buy > clothes | | | | MC: Our approach to the paid option is to provide |
| > uniforms > sports or Learn > how to > use the | | | | maximum value for money. Thus, we do not just |
| Internet or Order > personalized > songs & | | | | promise (with a full money back guarantee) that a |
| videos, they all present the user with a list of | | | | decision will be taken within 72 hours, but we also |
| sites where the desired goal can be achieved - | | | | offer additional benefits too. For example, every |
| online, no 'ifs', 'ands' or 'buts'. A great insight into | | | | site accepted through the paid option is promoted |
| the variety of areas included in Gimpsy can be | | | | to a prime position for 90 days. Interestingly, |
| seen at the Category of the week page, that | | | | every one knows how important it is to rank high |
| holds all the categories that were nominated in | | | | in the Search Engine result page, but they don't |
| the past. | | | | think that the same applies to directories! Our |
| DW: In your publications you keep emphasizing | | | | internal statistics show that nearly 70% of all the |
| the 'Natural Language' search method. Why do | | | | referrals went to sites listed in the first 10 places. |
| you think that Gimpsy will succeed where giants | | | | Thus, a paying site will not only be included faster, |
| like Ask Jeeves have failed? | | | | indexed by Search Engines sooner and enjoy a |
| MC: Gimpsy is the only general purpose directory | | | | higher PageRank, but is likely to get many |
| where you can enter a 'normal' English phrase and | | | | referrals too. |
| get relevant results. For instance, try entering 'buy | | | | In addition, we also provide 90 days free use at |
| sport uniform', 'learn how to use the Internet' or | | | | the Strongest Links site, which in itself is worth |
| 'order personalized song'. As I said, you just tell | | | | nearly as much as the current submission rate of |
| Gimpsy what you want to DO online - and it will | | | | $40. |
| show you which sites provide that service. For | | | | DW: Besides the paid submission option, are there |
| more examples, see where the last 15 Natural | | | | any advertising opportunities on Gimpsy and if so, |
| Language queries are kept. | | | | how do they work? |
| DW: It's easy to see that every site in the | | | | MC: Here, too, we have chosen a unique model, |
| category 'Learn > how to > use the Internet' | | | | which we believe is the best for users, Site |
| would be relevant to any user interested in that | | | | Owners and Gimpsy. It works as follows: |
| activity, but surely not all sites in 'Order > fast | | | | Every category has a limited number of prime |
| food' would be. After all, a New York based | | | | positions, to be auctioned on a monthly basis. |
| pizzeria will not deliver their freshly baked pizza to | | | | Site owners can submit a sealed bid for one of |
| Chicago. How do you overcome the geographical | | | | the available places. |
| restriction? | | | | On the 1st of the month, all the bids are opened |
| MC: We just take it into account. Any user, even | | | | and ranked according to the bidding sums. |
| if not registered with Gimpsy, can set his/her | | | | The 1st place goes to the highest bidder, second |
| 'Preferences', which include the selection of their | | | | place to the next one and so forth, until all the |
| 'Location'. Once the location is chosen, Gimpsy will | | | | available places have been taken. |
| show only sites that are relevant to that location! | | | | All other sites are randomly reshuffled. |
| No other global Search Engine or directory is able | | | | That's it. The winning sites will enjoy a significant |
| to deliver localized search results anywhere near | | | | boost in visitors - without any additional payment. |
| the accuracy of Gimpsy. | | | | DW: Is Gimpsy's mission to be different in every |
| DW: But how can you tell? | | | | aspect? Why not use Pay Per Click (PPC) like |
| MC: As part of the editorial review of every site, | | | | everyone else? |
| the Editor is asked to determine the site's | | | | MC: I see you want to extract some venom |
| 'Coverage'. In other words, to answer the | | | | from me... OK, then :). We do not believe in the |
| question: Which areas in the world are being | | | | PPC model - it is a recipe for dishonesty. Every |
| serviced by the site? It is a common experience | | | | day thousands of Site Owners are losing vast |
| among the non-USA Internet users to find a | | | | amounts of money to PPC engine owners, paying |
| great site that has just the right merchandise and | | | | for non-existing 'users'. I am not saying that all the |
| the right price. Only after placing the order and | | | | PPC owners are blatantly cheating, although some |
| entering the Credit Card details they discover the | | | | certainly do, and I have experienced it myself. |
| 'so sorry - we only ship within the USA' notice. | | | | The problem is that the PPC system makes it so |
| You will never have such an experience at sites | | | | easy for competitors to harm each other, by |
| found at Gimpsy. | | | | using either automated scripts or employing an |
| DW: That must be very time consuming! | | | | army of 'clickers' from India, as was recently |
| MC: Indeed it is. I have nothing but admiration to | | | | revealed. They get paid, the PPC owner gets paid |
| the amazing work that our Editors do. Being a | | | | and only the Site Owner is left with a hole in his |
| Gimpsy Editor is far from easy and requires a lot | | | | pocket. I believe that the Gimpsy model is |
| of training and dedication. That is one of the | | | | superior and hope it will become a blueprint for |
| reasons that we do not use volunteers. | | | | others too. |
| DW: Can you explain how the "My Gimpsy" | | | | DW: What are your future plans for Gimpsy? In |
| feature works? | | | | other words, where do you see Gimpsy in a year |
| MC: This section is for users that wish to make | | | | from now? |
| the most out of the directory. Following a simple | | | | MC: Gimpsy's Mission Statement states: Gimpsy |
| registration process (in fact - VERY simple), they | | | | will be the definitive guide to the World Wide Web |
| gain access to an online form that allows them to | | | | virtual city. This encapsulates our desire to be the |
| communicate directly to the Gimpsy Team. Most | | | | first choice for every user that wants to do |
| importantly, perhaps, is the access to the | | | | something online - and doesn't know which sites |
| 'Favorites' facility. As the name suggests, you can | | | | provide it. Thousands of people are bookmarking |
| add sites to your 'Favorites' collection, similar to | | | | us every month, and the trend upwards is |
| your browser's Favorites. Unlike the browser, | | | | unmistakable. I expect that trend to continue - |
| when you select a site from Gimpsy to be added | | | | and to gain momentum. We may not fulfill the |
| to your Gimpsy favorites, it retains its | | | | mission statement in a year - but we intend to |
| classification in your private collection! For | | | | enjoy every moment of the journey! |
| example, say you found a great site in the | | | | DW: Many thanks for your detailed response. |
| category 'Buy > home & garden > pool & spa > | | | | MC: The pleasure is all mine! |
| sauna'. If you decided to keep it in your favorites, | | | | |