Getting listed with dmoz

Just wondering if anyone can clue me in. I've been trying to get my e-commerce site listed on dmoz.org (under toys-wooden) for the last two years. Being afraid to pester them, I've only submitted maybe 4 times in that period - but still nothing. I'm VERY careful to follow their guidelines during submission. I get lots of compliments on my site - it's attractive, well-functioning with a PR4 and top ten search results for many keyword phrases (making good sales as well). I'm starting to wonder if they have unwritten guidelines for acceptance that they're not telling anyone. Someone mentioned to me once that it usually takes two years to get listed with dmoz - so I wonder, do they reject sites that are less than 2 years old? I'd appreciate advice from anyone who's managed to get listed.

I am in the same boat. I dod not skimp on our site and our business has been great but I have not been able to get listed either. If anyone knows the secret to being listed please let us know. I am starting to think that if you do not get listed after your request the blow you off the rest of the time.

Getting to DMOZ is very difficult. Not because they make it tough, but because they don't have enough editors. Once you submit all you can do about it is forget about it. Submitting more then once is bad and there aren't any other options. It's a big reason why they have a bad reputation.

A few years ago I got my site into the DMOZ by becoming an editor myself. I was lucky enough that the section I was trying to get my site into did not have an editor. By the way, it took over a year for my editor application to be accepted.

TipPro, I am also an ODP editor. You still an active editor?

And to all you others out there that read this ...

NO! I will not help you get listed. :D I can offer advice and try to clarify things if you ask, but I WILL NOT pull any strings for anybody ... ever.

FineWoodenToys and WDA, either of your sites primarily drop shipping?

Stymiee, 99% of the time that "bad reputation" you speak of is the result of webmasters misunderstanding the reason DMOZ/ODP exists and how it functions. It is not there, and never was intended, to serve webmasters.

Hello Old Sarge,

No, not primarily - I stock the vast majority of my inventory myself. I only just recently started to have some larger items drop-shipped by the manufacturers (not by distributors). Those I've used have turned out to be very fast and reliable. It's given me the opportunity to sell large items, like kids furniture, that I simply don't have room to stock.

Just wondering. Because ODP/DMOZ does not list drop shippers. No matter the quality of the site or the what products it carries. If you stock the vast majority of your product, that is not waht is keeping you from being listed. Is there an editor listed for the category you submitted to?

I remember applying to be an editor probably ten years ago or so. I had a few of my sites listed way back when and thought it very interesting. This was way back then.

I never understood the hype around them as much as there is today. The editor process was interestig - at least when I looked at it years ago and actually remember it (or hopefully do so). When applying you needed to have some type of expertise in the zone. Which is good but now I also remember seeing zones dedicated to particular companies, services, products, etc. So if John Doe was an expert in widgets and Doe had his site listed, what prevented him from not allowing his competitor sites listed? (I am sure there is a reason - some type of in-house policing, and since you brought it up Sarge....)

I fully agree with you Sarge, the bad rep is us not getting what we want. We like to complain until we get our way. And then when we don't - we come to the forums to complain (since we can usually get sympathy from others) and since most of us at one point or another has had an issue with them.

Fine Wooden Toys, just give them time. Does your zone have an editor? Maybe try to volunteer for that?

Yes, there's always been an editor listed (shopping - toys and games - wooden).

I don't know anything about hype - only what I've discovered myself. Many of my major competitors are listed, and this seems to greatly increase the number of (Google-recognized) backlinks that they have. It appears that there are a wide variety of directories out there that just draw their listings from DMOZ, and do not take outside submissions. So by having a DMOZ listing, my competitors have been automatically listed in lots of other directories that I can't get my site into.

I am no longer an active editor. I spent a lot of time editing my section but I did not keep up with it over the years.

My section did not have an editor and when I took over the responsibility there was a waiting list of hundreds of Web sites trying to join the section. This section was not a very competitive section so I could just imagine what the waiting list is like for the wooden toy section.

Do not sweat to much about getting your site listed in the DMOZ. Fill out the application and move on. If you are trying to earn back links try some PR or write some articles.

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Originally Posted by The Old Sarge

Stymiee, 99% of the time that "bad reputation" you speak of is the result of webmasters misunderstanding the reason DMOZ/ODP exists and how it functions. It is not there, and never was intended, to serve webmasters.

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I agree about not serving webmasters. But editor abuse, very lengthy review times, and rejection of the majority of editor applications has given Dmoz the reputation it deserves. Most see it as a joke and rightly so. Its glory days are over and only because of its SEO value does anyone care about it anymore.

That's just it, Stymiee. ODP?DMOZ was never intended as any sort of SEO tool or anything else. It's simply a directory built and maintanied for users, not webmasters.

Any use of ODP and/or it's data/listings by search engines, or anyone else, is their choice, not ODP's. Too many people try to make it, or wish it to be, something it is not and never was.

I understand the purpose of Dmoz. Unfortunately it fails at what it is intended to do. People using it for SEO is the only reason it is even relevant. And it is barely relevant at that.

Sorry I am replying so far down the forum. No, we do not drop ship, we have to stock all of our products and order daily. I wish they would drop ship I would save a ton!!!

I found the easiest thing to get listed on Dmoz is a blog. I've had 2 listed within 2 months of them going up.

Maybe they have more blog editors ??

Getting into Dmoz doesn't seem to be a quick or easy thing to do. I have now been waiting 4 years for my sites to get in and none is in yet.

Hi,

Getting listed in DMoz is very tough. I am also waiting for the past one year.......

I'm a DMOZ editor for the list of Washington state CPAs. Here are the two things I'd consider trying in order to get listed:

1. Make sure you meet the criteria. E.g., in the category I edit the bar is pretty low (true for many local business categories, as I understand it). But you still need original and unique content. So if you're a CPA and you use a canned web site from one of the cookie-cutter developers, by definition, you don't make it. Or if you just throw up a bit of general stuff, again, you're hosed.

NOTE: For service businesses, an address and phone number don't count as "unique and valuable"... but if you include resumes or bios of principals/owners/officers, etc, that info usually would be considered "unique and valuable."

2. If you don't see an editor listed but instead see you category editor as "volunteer to edit this category" consider doing just that. The category doesn't have an editor so you'll never get added anyway.

Steve, CPA, author Quicken for Dummies
Publisher, Fast Easy Incorporation Kits

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Originally Posted by SeattleCPA

2. If you don't see an editor listed but instead see you category editor as "volunteer to edit this category" consider doing just that. The category doesn't have an editor so you'll never get added anyway.

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It's true that the category has no editor assigned, and it is true we could use the help, but it is NOT true that "you'll never get added." Any editor with privileges higher than that category can indeed edit in it. There are in fact, hundreds of editors with editing privileges across the entire directory.

Boy, what I would wonder though is whether in fact "adds" to unedited categories are frequent enough to make this a statistically real possibility...

Steve, Seattle CPA, author QuickBooks for Dummies
publisher, Fast Easy Incorporation Kits

That is a valid concern, but I know of some editors pretty high up the chain that regularly "cruise" their branches specifically looking for logjams. So ... not "never" ... but probably a "long time"? :)

And I agree 100% that the best, and fastest, way to clear these backlogs and logjams is to enlist more honest, quality editors.

I agree with you. More editors needed.

Steve, Seattle CPA, author QuickBooks for Dummies
Publisher, Fast Incorporation Kits

I have 2 sites listed and ironically I never submitted them. I imagine it was the content that made it possible.

Yes, quality content is key. Many editors are editing in areas that interest them. We naturally find sites that fit our own area/s of the directory. My own interest is original paintings. The vast majority of sites I've added were not submitted. I found them myself.

And keep in mind, you do not need to submit/suggest your own site. Literally anybody can do it.

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Originally Posted by The Old Sarge

Just wondering. Because ODP/DMOZ does not list drop shippers. No matter the quality of the site or the what products it carries. If you stock the vast majority of your product, that is not waht is keeping you from being listed. Is there an editor listed for the category you submitted to?

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Are you sure about this? One of my competitors is strictly a drop shipper and they have 2 listings in DMOZ and I still can't listed in the main category he is in. I have been trying for over 4 years to get in this main category. I am only listed regionally.

Maybe I should have been more clear. It is DMOZ policy to not list sites that drop ship. Sites that supply the product and do the shipping may be listed if they otherwise qualify. I will acknowledge, however, that some drop ship sites are listed, either by mistake, an editor turning a blind eye, etc.

It's extremely frustrating to see stuff like this when we have been trying for 4 years to get our site listed in the proper category. I don't know how more legit we can get considering we have a full brick and motar store. I can't see any reason why we would not be listed.

I'm surprised that DMoz is still alive and people are considering it important. It was established late 90'ties with the idea that as yahoo have now commercialised we need new democratic and open internet directory service based on volunteers. So I was one of the category editor then. However, as it's mission did not succeeded and with internet growth it was becoming meaningless to have all in one place. I recently tested it and wasn't even able to submit my entry as image verification did not work.
It could be not important for SEO purposes even so why oneone want to be listed there?
Write an article about your service and publish it to some article directories would have much better SEO effect.

I am a drop shipper, but I have original pages and original content as well. Should I submit to dmoz?

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Originally Posted by mobil844

I am a drop shipper, but I have original pages and original content as well. Should I submit to dmoz?

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When you say you are a drop shipper, do you mean you do the actual shipping or that you use a supplier that drop ships what you sell? There's a big difference as far as DMOZ/ODP is concerned.

And remember, everyone ... DMOZ/ODP is a directory ... not a listing service for webmasters. It is not even intended to be an SEO tool. Many have chosen to use it as such (including Google itself), but that was NEVER its intent or purpose. Its stated purpose is to serve web users ... as in "the visitors to your site." I dare say that DMOZ/ODP is still the largest directory in existence. Do you suppose Google would continue to use it if it wasn't? :)

You guys should consider becoming an editor. It is not that hard to do, provides a valuable service, and as long as you are fair and impartial, allows you to list your site (assuming it meets the criteria for listing). Sites are normally not listed because they either do not meet quality guidelines, or because there is no editor specifically assigned to that category (but there are editors who "could" edit that category if they wanted or had the time). Volunteering would allow you to overcome the latter, if that is indeed the case.

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You guys should consider becoming an editor.

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Good point, DMOZ really lacks of good editors (not just such trying to get their own sites listed ;-)

Many (many) years ago I also have been participated at DMOZ as an editor, but due to lack of time I was forced to stop my activities there. As far as I can remember, being an editor is not a hard job (it's like being a super moderator...), but you can help a great community for sure.

So if you have time and are interested in, take the chance.

There does not seem to be a "time frame" from submission to actual inclusion in DMOZ. We have submitted a site that took over a year to be added and another site was added one month after it was submitted. You mentioned, "submitted maybe 4 times in that period" and I remember from the past that if a site was resubmitted, it would get pushed down the query list so-to-speak. So, it may be a good idea to not submit again and to wait. As some have stated, DMOZ submissions are edited by volunteer editors and many may have a long list of sites to edit. In addition, some categories do not have assigned editors, which may cause a backlog. As the DMOZ is a free directory, it may be a good idea for all to be patient, appreciate the fact that submission and review is still free, and hope for the best.

i would try resending as the volunteer editor for your category may have an inbox full of junk and hes just not on top of it?

Honestly speaking DMOZ is itself an obsolete directory and I don’t consider it any more. Previously I had submitted many websites but none of them came up on DMOZ and most of them are more than 2 years old.

If DMOZ is obsolete, why does Google still use it over all other directories ... including its own?

Simple answer: Because DMOZ is the largest, most comprehensive, human-edited directory on the Internet. Period.

Those that hate and/or degrade it do so primarily because they either:

1. Do not understand what it does and how it operates, or

2. They cannot get their site listed because it does not meet DMOZ guidelines for listing... or

3. Because they attempt to twist DMOZ into something it never purported to be, never will be, and refuses to be intimidated into being ... or

4. Some combination of all three of the above.

The value of DMOZ is so completely overblown. There are loads of highly authoritative sites that can't get into DMOZ, not because of their value or relevance, but because editors can't handle all the submissions. How authoritative do you think Google really sees this antiquated relic? Get over it already.

Submit it for inclusion and move on.

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Originally Posted by siotw

How authoritative do you think Google really sees this antiquated relic?

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Enough that Google still uses DMOZ site descriptions in Google serps. :D

And as long as human editors keep updating, it's not yet antiquated. ;)

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Originally Posted by siotw

Submit it for inclusion and move on.

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Excellent advice.

Pulling meta data from DMOZ simply means that Google trusts the Meta Descriptions from DMOZ editors more than they do the site owners. Doesn't mean that getting a link in the directory will provide a huge boost in your rankings. It may help slightly, but not nearly as much as people think it does.

"And as long as human editors keep updating, it's not yet antiquated." Given the rate of the updates by overburdened editors, "yet" is arguable.

IMHO, DMOZ listings are a bit of "wives tale" on the Web. Don't waste your time fretting over how to get in. If you really, really want to get in the Directory, the only logical way to do so without waiting for years is to become an Editor.

Just saying...