Dmoz inclusion

[Shilpa Mehta]

Yeah, Its true, DMOZ takes a lot of time for approoval longing from months to years.

[Birdie]

Originally Posted by Shilpa Mehta

Yeah, Its true, DMOZ takes a lot of time for approoval longing from months to years.

Given that more than half that sites that get added to DMOZ were never submitted in the first place, how did you work that out?

[enabolix]

it really takes a lot of months for your site to be listed in Dmoz

[alter-ego]

Originally Posted by enabolix

it really takes a lot of months for your site to be listed in Dmoz

I'm sorry but this is a generalization and in my experience at least, it's simply not true.

[anonymously]

It can take from a few days to a few years or never.

But let me underline what Birdie said earlier that we accept sites as suggestions and editors look at the suggestions as and when they want to and select sites from where they want to. There is no guarantee of a listing or even of a review, if you want to offer a site for possible review, then we are glad to accept it, but to start saying we have not reviewed it in a reasonable time or we should say if a site is accepted or rejected is just not the way we work, sorry. If you want a free directory to work differently then start your own. If you want to be part of DMOZ| and help build categories and put sites into categories then there is a "volunteer to edit this category" button on most categories. But choose one with under 100 sites, including any subcategories.

Also you can see the heat generated here when we do not reply about what happened to an individual site and how people feel if they think we have rejected their site, can you imagine the heat that would be generated in forums if we sent a rejection note. "Why?", "My site was fantastic" "The editors are corrupt when they refuse my site and list my competitors"
AND most of all why don't DMOZ tell us why they rejected our site, if they don't tell us it's because they are corrupt.

I know a saying it goes heads you will tails I lose.

[alter-ego]

Originally Posted by anonymously

It can take from a few days to a few years or never.

But let me underline what Birdie said earlier that we accept sites as suggestions and editors look at the suggestions as and when they want to and select sites from where they want to. There is no guarantee of a listing or even of a review, if you want to offer a site for possible review, then we are glad to accept it, but to start saying we have not reviewed it in a reasonable time or we should say if a site is accepted or rejected is just not the way we work, sorry. If you want a free directory to work differently then start your own. If you want to be part of DMOZ| and help build categories and put sites into categories then there is a "volunteer to edit this category" button on most categories. But choose one with under 100 sites, including any subcategories.

Also you can see the heat generated here when we do not reply about what happened to an individual site and how people feel if they think we have rejected their site, can you imagine the heat that would be generated in forums if we sent a rejection note. "Why?", "My site was fantastic" "The editors are corrupt when they refuse my site and list my competitors"
AND most of all why don't DMOZ tell us why they rejected our site, if they don't tell us it's because they are corrupt.

I know a saying it goes heads you will tails I lose.

Well said.

The one thing I will say though is I found it rather frustrating to apply as an editor for Dmoz. If I remember correctly, the application process took me some time to complete which I fully understand as you want to have the right people on board. Unfortunately however, the category I applied for was too broad apparently so I was asked to reapply but given no direction on a category alternate.

My fear is that I'll take the time to reapply and then receive the same somewhat vague response from Dmoz and be out that time with no idea of what direction to pursue.

[irenefletcher]

I don't understand why people are so eager to submit their site to Dmoz. Why you give such importance to it when there are lots of directories which has good PR and accepts your site in just 24 hrs. Even if you re-apply i don't think your site will get approve soon. I can understand that Dmoz provides search results to many major search engines like google. But Dmoz is not everything....

[anonymously]

Originally Posted by irenefletcher

I don't understand why people are so eager to submit their site to Dmoz. Why you give such importance to it when there are lots of directories which has good PR and accepts your site in just 24 hrs. Even if you re-apply i don't think your site will get approve soon. I can understand that Dmoz provides search results to many major search engines like google. But Dmoz is not everything....

In many ways we are victims of our own success, I sometimes wish we did not have such a high profile, it would be better if we could just get on with building the directory, a lot less pressure. But we are the largest, we are used widely and we do attract webmasters who want to be listed. But I guess I like being part of something that is a fantastic hobby, provides a great service and is high profile.

Please don't confuse what was being said

My fear is that I'll take the time to reapply and then receive the same somewhat vague response from Dmoz and be out that time with no idea of what direction to pursue.

this was not a comment about submitting a site but was about an editor application.

alter-ego, I can understand what you are saying, but you have been given some direction (must just add here that I have absolutely nothing to do with nor see new applications) but if you were told to apply for a particular category that may not be what you want to be involved with and also believe that we need editors to take quite a lot of initiative and the application process is something of a test so leading you too much by the hand would not help us make up our minds about your suitability. But also seems to me that you have applied for a category that is too big for a novice, you may know a good deal about the subject of the category, but you certainly will know little about the editor's task and you must learn that before you can be given large categories to play with.

Select a category lower down the tree, one with about 75-100 listed sites, including all subcategories, is ideal (though sometimes new editors are refused even for small categories if they are subject to a great deal of spam etc). Show you have a real interest in the subject and if you are offering one of your own sites among the 3 required suggestions make sure you can show that your application is not just to get it listed and show that you can be impartial. Also be honest about any affiliations you have, you will not be turned down because of them, unless all three sites are your own, but you will be turned down if you have not declared affiliations, in other words be honest.

Do please try again, the Meta editor was obviously basically happy with you because they do tell some applicants not to bother trying again and that was certainly not said to you. Good luck, do tell us how you got on if you do re-apply.

[alter-ego]

Originally Posted by anonymously

In many ways we are victims of our own success, I sometimes wish we did not have such a high profile, it would be better if we could just get on with building the directory, a lot less pressure. But we are the largest, we are used widely and we do attract webmasters who want to be listed. But I guess I like being part of something that is a fantastic hobby, provides a great service and is high profile.

This is why I applied in the first place actually. My personal experience with dmoz was pretty good but since I've read so much mixed reviews over the years I thought I'd get involved and see it from both sides of the fence.

@ anonymously

I actually saved my dmoz application as I put a lot of work into it. The only reason I even mentioned it is because I happened to trip over this very document a few days ago lol.

I'll pick a new category that interests me with as few listed sites as possible and resubmit my application shortly. I do understand a tough screening process guarantees quality Editors so I'll stop my whining and just give it a go one more time.

Thanks for the feedback.

[anonymously]

Good news.

But don't quite pick the smallest category sort of 60-100 sites is best, if it is too small they think there is little room for you to show what you are made of. Another tip, it is often easier to ensure that your three sites really belong in the category you are offering them to if you try for a Regional category, like the place where you live! You are an expert in that and you want to help build up your local category don't you?

Keep us informed.

[foodpyramidguru]

Thank for a information.

[alter-ego]

Originally Posted by anonymously

Good news.

But don't quite pick the smallest category sort of 60-100 sites is best, if it is too small they think there is little room for you to show what you are made of. Another tip, it is often easier to ensure that your three sites really belong in the category you are offering them to if you try for a Regional category, like the place where you live! You are an expert in that and you want to help build up your local category don't you?

Keep us informed.

This is what I did the first time around so unless it sees a lot of spam or something, I really couldn't figure out why my application was rejected. Prior to submitting I made a point of reading all (yes ALL) of the linked "How To's" and did my best to follow dmoz guidelines for becoming an editor.

My main issue however is I'm not interested in Regional Categories because my knowledge there is surprisingly weak. Since I run a family friendly website my interest is in family education and improving communication within the family unit (of course I made sure to apply outside of my sites listing category).

This is where most of my knowledge and interest is so in all honesty, somewhere in this area is where I'll likely choose to apply to.

[ranter]

Originally Posted by anonymously

Also be honest about any affiliations you have, you will not be turned down because of them, unless all three sites are your own, but you will be turned down if you have not declared affiliations, in other words be honest.

Here we go again
Another “unique” concept garbage but this time used to discredit applicants who willing to volunteer their time to joint an army of “have nothing better to do with my time” geeks.

Be honest and report all your affiliations. What kind of bull *hit is that?
And who the hell is the judge in this Banana Republic court to tell me if I had or have any affiliation with any given site? What if I don’t have any affiliation for the last 3 years and my affiliation was limited to email exchange at that time?

“Tell us the truth or you’re dead meat” is another piece of garbage DMOZ uses to reject otherwise good honest people because they may forgot some stupid site they came across years ago.

You wanna talk about corrupted conniving attitude?
Be my guest. I even will let you to have Birdie and Jim Noble on your site to keep you company

[alter-ego]

Wow someone needs a hug, now I know why you chose the name ranter

...sorry just a little joke in poor taste.

I understand what your talking about ranter but personally I think it's good for them to include this type of nomenclature in their terms. There's already been enough conspiracy theory stuff out there about dmoz being corrupt and biased, what if it was also run by a bunch of editors who only listed their affiliates (or is that one of the ongoing theories, I've lost count?).

I think it's more a matter of just keeping people somewhat honest which is a challenge online to say the least.

[Good Morning]

I understand what you're saying alter-ego as I have submitted one before about 2 years ago and they denied me very quickly. However by reviewing carefully of the needs per category I found the solution is to pick your interest and scan the categories to ensure they are not small or TOO BIG as they will close you out fast.

Also submitting to categories that get a lot of submissions daily (like over 1,000) they will likely close your application as well for this treatment. Be sure when you re-submit that you check the links you want to provide and suggest that they are not already in there ;-) Lots of people make this mistake and don't understand why they get denied.

P.S want to run and review your own sites? Grab a directory script and advertise the crap outta it (preferably well niched sites) and give yourself a first class seat to reviewing quality listings.

Secondly, Jim Noble is a great guy even if he acts like a *hmm hmm hmm hmm* ;-) but he does give valuable statements when he denies applications. Birdie as well is strict but a lot of Meta's do give darn about the applications, they just don't like repeaters :-p

The editors that you state are submitting their sites in affiliate links aren't really getting approved and if they are getting them listed, it's always a boot for them as it's not in policy of DMOZ to post affiliated websites in the Project. They can submit sites of their own or others they recommend and approve them (IF it's in their categories listed and given to them for access).

Hope this helps, I did submit on editor application today but who knows, it may get denied but that is ok it's always for a good reason or just an irritated Meta that had a bad day :-)

[anonymously]

Ranter I wish I coulkd understand that post. But I will try and deal with the bits that I think I can.

I basically don't understand your problem, if we want to ask people to jump over the moon to join, then some people will want to try. You perhaps are not interested or perhaps you have tried and failed and now feel a little miffed, to say the least, with ODP. Either way, they are the directories rules. as I understand it if you post certain things on here, break the rules, you will be in trouble. Who makes those rules, you? Can you just say I don't think that anyone should say this and it is done, or is the owner and the moderators? I suspect the second, because if you pay for the site and the staff work for you then you get to make the rules. Well that is how it is a DMOZ, the staff, admins, metas, editalls and editors get to make the rules, and this is one of them. You declare any affiliated sites, if you don't declare affiliations and you are found out you are refused your application and if you you have been accepted then you are booted. Simple. So as I said, be honest, because if they find out you have not been you won't be an editor.

alter-ego
I suggested regional because it is far easier to be sure the sites are in the correct category and there is always a good reason to want to edit in ones home town. The idea is not that you stop there, but after grasping some of the basics, doing a bit of cleaning up, adding a few sites, then you can apply for other categories and obviuosly then you can branch out into the areas of the topical directory that you are interested in. You still have to go through a similar procedure, but you have to keep doing that if you want to edit in a wider field. Eventually, it took me 20,000 edits, you may be invited to become an editall.

Techsup
Just trying to work out if you are an editor already, you seem to know the metas and their style. But if your application is for a new category or to become an editor, good luck.
I know Jim Noble, we have met several times and he is a good guy, but most editors are. I have met several in person and they are dedicated, hard working and want to grow and develop the directory. I am proud to work with my fellow editors.

[MJPWebs]

I have submitted my site many times and it takes forever for them to review it. This is very common considering they are the top web directory on the web and receive millions of submissions every month. Hence, I have given up on DMOZ, though they are a great place for quality links if you can get listed.

[Birdie]

Originally Posted by MJPWebs

I have submitted my site many times .

How do you think any directory (not just DMOZ) should treat those who can not follow the guidelines they agree to when they suggest a site? Why did you submit more than once? How do you think DMOZ should treat you?

If you talking about the site in your signature, its not even listable!

[Cricket]

Ranter? Play nice! You know dang well I have no problem with our members disagreeing with each other, but I do expect y'all to do so respectfully. Okay?

[Blackpool]

Being added to dmoz takes time and patience, why not try and become an dmoz editor for your chosen category?