ODP Open Directory Project
DMOZ Submission and Category Placement

DMOZ, ODP and the Open Directory Project

The ODP, short for the "Open Directory Project" (also known as DMOZ) uses all volunteer editors to catalog the web. Formerly known as NewHoo, DMOZ was launched in June 1998, and acquired by Netscape in November 1998. The company pledged at that time to allow access to the directory through an open license arrangement with Netscape itself being the first licensee.

DMOZ, Netscape and AOL

Since then, AOL has acquired Netscape and now owns DMOZ. Many search engines have devoted their directory results to DMOZ's listings. Included in those who use the DMOZ directory for their search results are TerraLycos, AOL, AltaVista, Google, MSN, and Netscape.

DMOZ is almost impossible to get listed in because of the issues with using volunteer editors. Becoming a volunteer editor is now next to impossible, and unfortunately that's left DMOZ very out dated. There are not enough editors to service all the URLs submitted for consideration and there is a great deal of favoritism amoungst those who are editors ... even rumors of bribary and corruption amoungst some of the editors. DMOZ needs help in our opinion.

Although the influence of the Open Directory Project is dwindling, it's considered essential to be listed and the ODP is still an important component in any search engine marketing strategy. ODP data is used by hundreds of portals and sites, but only a handful are considered to be major players. Among them, only AOL and Google use ODP prominently any more. Others such as Lycos, and even ODP's parent, Netscape, offer ODP data on their sites, but do not use them as default.

The Bigger Picture... Objectives of The Open Directory Project.

DMOZ Submission and the Human Editor

All sites submitted to DMOZ, are reviewed by human editors. These editors have no control over individual category rankings, they simply let you in or turn down your submission. No one knows how they rank your website, but they have a forum where you can go to ask questions of them. Be sure an be polite, as they can be a bit crusty.

DMOZ, like Yahoo, uses human editors, but there are a much greater number of them, and they are all volunteers. Editing and inclusion can take anywhere from 8 weeks to a year ... to never, then once you're actually there, it takes even more time for your listing to be used by other sites partnered with the ODP.

DMOZ Submission Rejection

If you find yourself rejected by the category editor without explanation, it could be because you’re not offering unique enough content, or you have not submitted to the appropriate category. DMOZ likes to have quality web sites listed in their directory, so they will not list sites that are affiliate sites or web sites that are loaded with spammy optimization techniques.

Other times, there is simply a lack of editors for a category and your web site is never reviewed at all even if it meets all the DMOZ criteria.

DMOZ Catagory Listings

Getting listed in DMOZ isn’t always easy. Before you can try and submit your web site, you need to find which category your site fits into. Now, don’t go rushing through the categories available and pick anyone that sounds somewhat relevant. If you pick a category that is not completely relevant, you risk not being listed at all.

Often, DMOZ editors will just decline the site. The easiest way to find the right category for you is to find your competitors in the DMOZ directory. If you find a category that looks quite relevant, and some of your competitors are also listed in this category, it’s a good bet that it is a good category for your web site as well.

If the category to which you want to submit has a description, FAQ or guidelines section available, you should take the time to read them.

Make every effort to submit to the right category or sub-category, and don’t hesitate to submit it to more than once if appropriate, it won’t be considered spam. Give about 3-4 weeks time between re-sunmissions.

If you provide more than one service (i.e. design, promotion, hosting, and graphics), the URL submitted to the design category should be directed to the design services page of your site. If your web site is all-inclusive, or provides free design with a web hosting package, you might submit to the web presence provider sub-category.

DMOZ Open Directory Project Category Tips

Adult ... Submit adult oriented sites to the Adult Category. It’s buried, but people who are looking for such web sites will find them.

Kids and Teens ... Sites specifically for kids should have a PICS tags and be submitted to the Kids and Teens category. This category is not for web sites about kids, but rather for kids. If your kids web site contains chat rooms, forums or other interactive features, you want to be sure that they be moderated. There are no shopping sites allowed in Kids and Teens, and you’ll want to display COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act 1998) compliance on your web site (available at the COPPA site).

Other Languages ... Sites in languages other than English should be submitted to the World Category in the appropriate language subcategory. If you have a web site that is written in, Swedish, French and German, then you can submit the appropriate URLs to each of those categories.

Local Businesses ... If you want local business exposure, submit to the appropriate Regional category. The most appropriate category would be the deepest in the directory that is applicable.

A real estate agent gets one listing only, and that listing is to be in the locality in which the office of that agent exists. Your description should include the names of the towns or states you service.

Multi-Level Marketing ... If your site is part of a multi-level marketing plan, such as Hand Technology, Metabolife, or Mary Kay, you will want to submit to the MLM Category.

Now, if you have a site about how to apply makeup, what is and is not good for the skin, and how to determine if you have a “summer” or “winter” complexion, and that web site has a link to your Mary Kay site, that would possibly be eligible for a listing in Health and Beauty. If you have a web site that has reviews on various cosmetics and has a link to your Mary Kay web site, perhaps you are eligible for a listing in Consumers Information: Health and Beauty.

Always remember, to be listed in DMOZ you must have lots of quality content on your site. Make your web site useful to the user and not just for the search engines and don’t spam your web site.

DMOZ and Deep Linking ... There are many websites out there that should be submitted to multiple categories so long as each category submitted to is appropriate. For instance, if your main page and most of the site are about antique cars, then you would naturally submit the site to Recreation: Autos: Antique.

If you have one page on the site that is about restaurants and cafes in Albuquerque where antique auto fans and dealers are known to hang out, you would also submit that page to Regional: North America: United States: New Mexico: Localities: A: Albuquerque: Business and Economy: Restaurants and Bars.

Each of the more than 35,000 volunteer editors has their own way of looking at the guidelines. Some may be more restrictive than others when it comes to “deep linking” a web site. So take a good hard look at the category you want to submit to so you get a feel for what is acceptable to the editor of that category. We've had editors deny our listing because it's already listed somewhere else within the DMOZ directory ... so, you just never know. It's one of the pitfalls of volunteer editors.

Learn if it is appropriate for you To Deep Link or Not To Deep Link.

Submitter’s Information ... Always leave an email address. Some editors notify you when your web site has been approved, if you have problems with web site functionality, or if you've been declined. Some even give useful feedback as to why. Others don't.

Always provide a name that accurately represents your web site, and don’t use characters in an attempt to push your listing to the top of the page, it simply won’t work. Most commercial categories require that you use the name of your company as a title. When in doubt, check out the other listings in a category and follow suit.

Use the actual Title of the web site, not an advertisement.

Type the URL correctly and in the proper location.

Don't try to get listed twice by submitting the base URL: http://www.nameofsite.com and the URL for the index page http://www.nameofsite.com. You will eventually be caught and may lose both listings.

Do not use redirects or aliases that lead to the same web site. The ODP editors communicate extensively and you’ll get busted.

DMOZ and the Description Meta Tag ... Use the description meta tag on your site so the editors don't have to dig trying to figure out what you are trying to convey.

While you are not guaranteed to have the description used, clearly those who spend time crafting descriptions that are relevant and follow the guidelines for ODP, are more likely to be added. If a DMOZ editor does like your site, but not the description you have written for it, it is quite likely that they will re-write your description for you.

This is why it is so important to make sure you take time to make a relevant description, because if an editor re-writes your description, it could turn out to be a description that's not what you wanted. Write your description briefly and to-the-point.

When writing your DMOZ description, keep these things in mind:

• Do not submit a list of keywords, but include a 1-2 sentence description that is both clear and conveys what the site is about.
• Don't repeat the site title in the description and never use superlatives.
• Phrases like 'Come on in and see our web site' have no value in a description, and editors will delete them. 'Welcome to' and 'Kumquat's Home Page' are similarly deleted as titles.
• Most editors will not leave your pricing in the description. That is the function of the web site, not the directory.
• Don’t use all caps or exclamation points, and always use grammatically correct, spell-checked descriptions.
• Limit your descriptions to a reasonable length. Remember that ODP editors edit for brevity as well as clarity.
• Write descriptions in the third person.
• Identify clearly who and what you do. “Record store specializing in vinyl LPs' is preferable to 'Your one-stop music site.”
• If your website is very specialized, describe how the subject fits into a category.
• Web sites should have web site descriptions in the same language used on the web site.

Before you press the submit button:

• Don’t waste your time submitting a web site that is simply an affiliate banner farm.
• You have to have unique content with helpful information or don’t bother.
• Don’t submit a web site without a working URL or one that is under construction.
• If confidential information is being requested, make certain it is a secure site. Most editors will not approve any web site asking for confidential information without it being encrypted.
• Using tricks that will get your web site listed first in search engines will not work here and may keep you from being listed at all.

About the Open Directory Project ... the definitive catalogue of the web. 

The official ODP Add URL link gives only limited information as to how to submit. Click on any Description links from the category you think you should be listed in. These links tell you what does and does not belong in the category as well as what the specific category guidelines are.