38 replies to this topic

[fastlane]

Can anyone give me tips on submitting to the ODP?

I have tried getting my site into it for the past year and still have been unsuccessful at every attempt

Thanks in advanced!

[mcanerin]

Do a search on your topic in the directory. When you find a list of the sites, choose the one that is the most specific - I know it's really hard to resist wanting to be in "Computers - General" (for example) when perhaps you should be in the computer section of your local city.

But if you've tried the big section that I'd take that as a hint they think you should be in a smaller one. Remember that there is less incentive for them to add a site to an area that already has a gazzilion sites in it than there is for them to add a site to a specific, lower volume one.

Once you are there, take a close look at the competition in the area. That's who was successful. You want to be successful too. Look closely at their description text. You'll see that it's so non-promotional it's boring. Be boring too..

Of course, all this is assuming that your site is up to snuff. Is it an affiliate site? Hard (probably impossible) to get those in. Is it heavily under construction? Is the code up to snuff? Check it against a validator.
Is there enough content to justify inclusion? If 10 other sites in the directory have the same or similar content, there isn't much incentve to add it.

Finally <whew> every time you apply you go to the back of the list. If you apply to often, too fast, you'll end up in the "annoying" bin.

Hope that's helpful.

Ian

[SearchRank]

If you have already submitted your site to The ODP, you can check the status of your submission at the Open Directory Public Forum. Submit a post to the "Site Submission Status" topic and one of the editors will tell you if it is still there or if it has been deleted along with any other info. as Ian said though, it doesn't help to resubmit. Most often you just have to wait, and wait, and wait, and then wait some more.

[OldWelshGuy]

I have decided it is absolute luck, in the past it has taken forever and a day, last week I submitted our new company site, 2 days ago i noticed the dmoz editor had visited, I checked today and we are in, 6 days I will not have a word said against dmoz lmao..

What luck is that then eh? that said i would have rathered 6 numbers on the lottery

[OldWelshGuy]

Can anyone give me tips on submitting to the ODP?

On a more serious note, I have been told how hard it is to be an ODP editor, it is a lot of crap for nothing, no thats wrong, it is a lot of crap fora lot more crap from people who mail you chasing up a submission, when they have not read, or chosen not to follow the guidelines (not suggesting you have done this ).

the BULK of submissions are spam, or duplicate or affiliate or deep linked pages etc, trouble is they all have to be checked out, so it takes time.

Put simply, to get into the directory follow the rules, do not make hard work for an unpaid overworked editor or he will just tag it and put it to one side to do later.
another thing is that the site is working, if an editor hits a broken link then it will be rejected, if an element does not load, it will be rejected, if the title tag is spammy, it will be rejected.

The MAIN reasons for rejection are wrong category, and that your title tag on the site is different to the title you have typed into the submission form, Imagine how much of a pss off it is when you are faced with someone who has not even read the first rule of submission, chances are it will be clicked from green to red (or whatever) and sit there until there are no more greens to process. and no one ever says thank you, not like here

[wayne h]

Hey OWG (an abbreviation resulting from me being lazy)

You provide some great advice on submissions to the DMOZ Directory.

It's interesting to hear from the other side of the DMOZ Divide. We on the outside keep hearing that there is a lot of volunteer editor turnover in DMOZ (whether true or an urban legend, it's out there). Should the problems you mention of being hounded by submitters and spammers is a widespread one, I can understand the volunteers' alleged frustration.

I always recommend to people that they follow the [url=http://www.highrankings.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=930]DMOZ submission[/url] rules exactly. They are not just a guideline. They are an absolute requirement.

I also recommend everyone to make sure all their links work and that they have no web pages "under construction". DMOZ will reject any sites not ready for prime time.

I also suggest writing a good objective site description, free of blatant keyword stuffing and marketing hype. It's far less likely to be rewritten by an editor.

Wayne Hurlbert

[BobetteKyle]

This may have been total coincidence, but here's what finally got me into ODP...

I submitted my site homepage several times - two or three months apart - with no luck.

I decided to submit my articles page instead. That did the trick.

Funny thing is, I was so sure I wouldn't get in I didn't even check...took me a while to figure out why I suddenly was getting traffic to a page I didn't have in my navigation!

[Debra]

I've been an ODP editor for a couple years now and I've found the main reason sites are held up is because they submit to the wrong categories.

6 out of 10 submissions I see are not supposed to be in my cats. So I research where they should go and send them on.

First and foremost, find the right category!

[wayne h]

This may have been total coincidence, but here's what finally got me into ODP...

I submitted my site homepage several times - two or three months apart - with no luck.

I decided to submit my articles page instead. That did the trick.

Funny thing is, I was so sure I wouldn't get in I didn't even check...took me a while to figure out why I suddenly was getting traffic to a page I didn't have in my navigation!

I think your articles page may have provided the "unique content" factor that DMOZ editors are seeking.

By the way, Bobette, did you submit your articles page to an entirely different category?

Wayne Hurlbert

[wayne h]

How to get your website in the DMOZ Directory

Everyone talks about getting their site listed in the Open Directory Project, better known as DMOZ, but not everyone knows what to do about it.

Here's some help.

The Open Directory Project is probably the single most important internet directory. Its listings are used by Google, and by many other search engines and directories, all over the internet.

Open Directory Project (DMOZ)

DMOZ is an entirely volunteer edited directory, where every site is examined by an editor for suitability. To get a listing in DMOZ, is to have several legs up, in the race to the top of the search results.

The first step to a listing, is to check the various directory categories, and find the appropriate one for your site. Be very thorough here, as submitting your site to the wrong category can result in very long waits, and possibly even rejection.

When you have narrowed your target to the most appropriate category, go to it, and click on "add URL". Be absolutely certain to read the instructions very carefully. They are not merely a suggestion. They are an absolute requirement. Be sure to submit just your home page to only one category. Multiple page or category submissions will likely be treated as spam, and your site rejected.

You will be asked to write a brief description of your website. This is not the place to be flowery and biased. Be as objective as possible. If the editors think your description is too promotional, they will certainly change it on you. Your site may even be rejected entirely.

Your site has finally been submitted. Now what?

Since the website submissions are accepted on a first come, first served basis, you wait. The waiting period can last anywhere from one week to six long agonizing months. Whatever you do, don't decide to resubmit your site. At best, your submission will be moved to the back of the line again. At worst, your site may be rejected.

In the meantime, you won't hear from DMOZ one way or the other. Keep checking their site each week for results. Keep updating and adding content to your website. The editors will like your site a lot better, and your chances of approval go way up.

Be sure you have no pages "under construction", as the editors will reject any sites that aren't ready for prime time.

If you have an "affiliate sales" site, be absolutely certain your site contains several pages of useful articles for your visitors. A site simply consisting of links and banners will almost always be rejected. Good relevant content is a must.

If you can't stand the wait, you can contact the category editor about your site's status, directly through their Feedback link. A better route, however, is to ask a polite question on the DMOZ public forum.

DMOZ Public Forum

You don't have to be registered to read the forum, but you must register (free) to post a question. As always, be sure to read and follow the posting guidelines.

Happy submitting.

It's well worth the effort!

Wayne Hurlbert

Edited by wayne h, 03 December 2003 - 05:13 AM.

[wayne h]

Hi.

If posting my DMOZ article was against [url=http://www.highrankings.com/forum/index.php?act=boardrules]Forum Rules[/url], please let me know.

I simply wanted to provide a "one post to maybe help everyone" type message as the posted column answers a lot of recurring DMOZ questions.

Since so many people have DMOZ questions, I want to help them as much as possible.

If it is against the forum regulations, I fully understand if you choose to remove it. The intention was to help and not to spam or self promote.

Thanks.

Wayne Hurlbert

[Jill]

Wayne, is it your original writing? If so, it's fine. If you copied it from elsewhere, we would need to remove it and link to the original source. I'm assuming it's your own work.

Jill

[wayne h]

Hi Jill.

The DMOZ article I posted is a guest column I wrote for Search Engine Journal. It has also appeared on the Blog Search Engine blog.

It's my own writing.

Thanks.

Wayne Hurlbert

[darciusrex]

Wayne-
I know that dmoz asks/tells us not to submit to more than one category, but if the site fits more than one cat, is it possible to submit to more than one cat? Could I submit the individual page that fits the specific, different cat than the one the homepage is listed under?

Thanks!
dh

[Debra]

I've always understood that after submitting to the category, if you're a brick and mortar, you can submit geographically as well.

For example, if I sell shoes, then I can submit under shoes and under shoe stores in Williamsburg, Virginia where I have my business.