9 replies to this topic

[daniel]

A client's site has been listed in DMOZ for a long while now - in the correct categories.

However, we've recently noticed that on the Google SERPS, the wrong category and description is being listed.

Further investigation has led us to find that the site has now been added to another category - the wrong one, and this is the one showing up in the Google SERPs.

I don't know if a DMOZ editor has added the site to this category, but it could be damaging to the client.

What do we do about removing the site from this category, or getting the entry edited so it points to the correct site (a company which shares the same name, but is in a different market with different products and services). The fact the wrong description and category are showing up on Google could actually be damaging to the client.

Cheers,

Daniel

[Farhan]

There’s an "Update URL" link at the top navigation at dmoz. I am not sure if is used for requesting category changes but you can give it try. Also, you can contact the editor of the category where the site is currently listed to look into the matter. (If there's no editor there, move up in the categories and contact the editor above that category).

You can also post your query at http://www.resource-zone.com/

Hope this helps.

[daniel]

Hi Farhan, and thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately, I have tried the Update URL option, but it kept on giving me an error when I tried to submit the changes.

I have posted on resource-zone.com, so hopefully I will get a positive response from an editor there.

There isn't an editor for the category in question, but I will follow your advice and move up the cagegories until I find someone I can contact.

Thanks for the advice, I'll report back and tell you how I get on.

Cheers,

Daniel

[dragonlady7]

Good luck... I've had only good experiences with DMOZ but I hear of so many people who have so much trouble.
What I wonder is-- how did it get added to the wrong category if it was already in the right one? You said there was another company with a similar name? Did they simply make a mistake while entering that other company?

[daniel]

I have just received a response over on Doug's forum.

A very helpful DMOZ editor is already looking into it.

Ah, the old URL (for the site) expired and when it was flagged as an error by our auto link checker, the editor correcting it found (our client's site) as a probable replacement back in April.

Ordinarily, you would be instructed to submit an Update URL request but since that isn't working properly right now and since I was in looking at it anyway, I went ahead and corrected it. It may take a while to propagate to the public servers and even longer to propagate to Google.

I've only had good experiences with DMOZ (except for the wait - but patience is a virtue :learn:), and the editors certainly do their best!

Cheers,

Daniel

[dragonlady7]

DMOZ editors tend to be the nicest people if you can find one on these forums. It's just such an overloaded service, I think... Or whatever you want to say about it. I'm glad to hear you got a good result, though.

[daniel]

I agree, all the DMOZ editors who post on these forums are very responsive and very helpful.

The only unfortunate thing is that the mistake made by an editor has produced a knock-on effect for our client on Google.

For some reason, the incorrect category and description are being displayed instead of the correct category and description where the site has been listed for quite a while now. This was the only reason I realised that there was a problem.

How does Google determine which description and category to display if a site is listed in two or more categories?

The funny thing is that although the site can be seen in the wrong category in DMOZ, it's not yet listed in that category in the Google directory..... but Google is showing that particular description and category in its SERPs

[kctipton]

As long as you're in the right AND wrong category, why complain?

[Scottie]

Welcome KCTipton!

Good point!

[daniel]

As long as you're in the right AND wrong category, why complain?

Normally, I agree this wouldn't be a problem.

However, in this case the wrong category and description are being displayed in Google - and it's promoting a different company with the same name.

If potential customers read the desctiption and category they might decide that the listing isn't for the site they were looking for, and instead go elsewhere.


Like I said, the site is listed in more than one catgegory already (in the correct categories), but for some reason this new (and incorrect) listing is the one being displayed by Google.