How do I get on DMOZ?

ZachH · 09-10-2005, 09:51 AM

Hi

I launched my site in March and here is where I am by now:
Alexa Rank 86,518
Google Backlinks 11
Yahoo Backlinks 1490
More than a thousand visitors every day
PageRank 4

I think I’ve done ok and this is what I don’t understand, why can’t I get listed on DMOZ?

Here is what I’ve done so far:
April – Submitted the site
July – Sent e-mail to editor
September – Sent e-mail to editor with CC to staff

I’m just in the blind, haven’t heard anything from Dmoz at all.

So please anyone what should I do to get listed? I’m willing to go pretty far. All ideas are very welcome.

Thanks.

jim_noble · 09-10-2005, 12:46 PM

Quote:

why can’t I get listed on DMOZ?

Who says you can't? It's far more likely that there's a mismatch between your timescale expectation and reality.

You've already suggested your website to the one most appropriate category.
What you should do now is nothing at all. We'll get around to evaluating it in time and nothing that you can do will expedite the process. If you're tempted to make further listing suggestions to other categories, be aware that this is seen as spam and can have a negative effect.

Instead, I suggest that you concentrate on improving the website and pursuing other promotional means. You should reap the benefits of both.

If an ODP listing is going to happen, it'll happen when it happens.

realestate · 09-13-2005, 06:42 PM

Who can I ask about our submissions?
I once submitted a site. It waited for 5 months. After I asked about its status, I was told, this category doesn't accept new submissions. (and it needs an editor according to dmoz) I submitted to another matching category. I don't know what will happen. Maybe that category doesn't accept new sites either. Who can we ask about status of our submission?

Birdie · 09-13-2005, 09:15 PM

>I was told, this category doesn't accept new submissions.

Thats just not true. The only cats that do not accept suggestions have the 'suggest url' removed. If you could submit it, then it accepts suggestions (dosen't mean the suggestion will be used)

> and it needs an editor according to dmoz

Again not true. Every category has an editor.

>Who can we ask about status of our submission?

You can't

realestate · 09-13-2005, 10:14 PM

OK, I guess I misremember; that one was editor application.

quote:
I am unable to accept your application to edit in Business/Real_Estate/Marketing_and_Advertising at this time. The directory does not approve new editors for categories as large as this one.
/quote

And there is a volunteer to edit link, and there was a "this category needs editor" link.

No reply to site submission. Can someone check my application status?

Ferre · 09-14-2005, 06:35 AM

Quote:

How do I get on DMOZ?

I guess by treating DMOZ and its editors as if they are G-O-D and do nothing that could get their attention on your attemps of getting listed in their directory.

If you submit you site again after months it will be trashed in their spam can. However, somehow there are sites that manage to get different pages into many different catagories, all depending on some sort of corruption that sneaked into DMOZ and an arrogance that is not in balance with the actual quality of the directory at all.

BTW, it is a sign of the overall image of DMOZ that I doubted first if I should write this down as I had the feeling that the sites that I have listed can be removed from the directory only because of my posting something that is not cheering them to heaven on a public board. Doen't that mean something?

DMOZ is getting an "elitair" and "totalitair" image, it's sad.

Web Gazelle · 09-14-2005, 10:32 AM

DMOZ is a big guessing game. You submit and wait. While waiting you wonder if it was accepted or if there was something they didn't like. You keep waiting and wondering. If your lucky, you get listed within a few months. If not, your listed after waiting over a year.

realestate · 09-14-2005, 10:38 PM

So you are saying you either wait for 2 months, or more than 1 year; but in any case you are listed.
It is not much a guessing thing. If you have a quality site and if you are not accepted (and of course you don't get rejection either) most likely reason is that editors are your competitors.
Choosing a poor description is the reason for rejection? I don't think so.

Birdie · 11-11-2005, 08:50 PM

>most likely reason is that editors are your competitors.

Another one of those myths. If you have evidence and it did really occur, then that editor will be removed.

>Choosing a poor description is the reason for rejection? I don't think so.

Choosng a poor description has never been a reason for a rejection, BUT submitting a non-guideline compliant, keyword stuffed, marketing hyped description is a really good way to motivate an editor to put off wanting to look at the site.

Bidera · 11-17-2005, 07:47 AM

It is kind of a zen thing, it will happen eventually if the site is good enough. You can't let it worry though as you really have no impact at DMOZ, you just have to keep improving your site.

John Scott · 11-17-2005, 08:15 AM

Submit and forget about it. Not worth the time it takes to worry about it.

Birdie · 11-17-2005, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Not worth the time it takes to worry about it.

Agreed. But, why does it give so many people "nightmares" ....?

John Scott · 11-17-2005, 02:30 PM

I think it's the principle of the matter. DMOZ tends to present itself as a noble, democratic endeavor, and when webmasters submit their sites they expect to be listed, but often don't, and worse yet, sometime get treated less than respectfully by the editors.

http://www.webmaster-forum.net/showthread.php?t=569

That was my run-in with a editor over there, and many people have similar stories.

The fact is, editors are people, too. Some are nice; some aren't. Some make good editors; some don't.