Hello all, I have finally managed to get a site in the ODP after about a year of trying I also noticed that about a day after I got into the ODP that my site appeared in the Google Directory I guess Google must think very highley of the ODP ? I wonder if you get a better PR from google if your in the ODP? Cheers all mrix
Well, most probably yes, you will get some pr from the ODP. And that's the main reason most people want to get listed in there. As for traffic, Yahoo Directory & Business.com are many, many times busier then the ODP.
Basically I noticed my site in the ODP and then checked the google directory and it wasnt there, but just one day later I notced it in the google directory so I guess it updates fast well just one day for me Cheers mrix
The Google Directory is a snapshot in time of the ODP Directory, it's a mirror image. The ODP freely offers it's data to anyone who would like to use it, including search engines and other directories. Google is a separate entity from the ODP Directory, and only Google knows if and when they will download our data, we have no say in the matter and nothing at all to do with Google, they merely use our data like many others do. I suspect that showing up in Google the next day was just a matter luck and timing, not something you did or we did. I do think Google thinks highly of our work, or their Directory wouldn't be an exact copy of it. (when they download it) There really is no Google Directory, just a copy of the ODP Directory with a Google name on it. Google will then use that downloaded copy in whatever way they want to use it, but, it still has nothing to do with what we do in the ODP Directory and isn't a consideration for us. So, the ODP Directory does it's own thing, using it's own criteria, with different goals, and a different purpose, and every now and then, Google downloads all that work, and uses it for it's own purposes and goals. The ODP has no say in what Google does, and Google has no say in what the ODP does, we're separate entities. The problems start when submitters confuse what the ODP does, with what Google does, and try to impose Google rules and goals onto the ODP Directory. Google searches for, finds, rates, and delivers information. The ODP Directory selectively lists and organizes data using its own criteria and for a different purpose, and then freely offers the data for everyones use. Google is the largest of those data users. Where Google may want every site for its search purposes, the ODP Directory does not, we only want sites that meet our standards, and no site has a "right" nor any promise to be listed. At least, that's how I see personally understand the differences, .
I believe that Google does not consider DMOZ as a special directory as it used to. After the last PR update I believe that Google just consider DMOZ as a normal directory eventhough it still use DMOZ database in google's directory.
That's probably true, I think you webmasters would know better than someone like myself, who has no knowledge of PR and how it works, but, either way it has no affect on the Directory or what volunteer editors do in the Directory. Editors who are webmasters or SEO folk would understand, but many of us know nothing at all about PR because it isn't a factor in our editing tasks. Every site suggestion that comes into us is sitting on the same level playing field regardless of its PR or how much traffic it gets, which is probably something you try very hard to increase, and it's what your main focus is on. But, for editors, neither of those things matter in our editing and we're normally unaware of either (with maybe the exception of the traffic on a blog or forum). That may seem unfair to you, but it's the truth. It matters with Google, but it doesn't matter with the ODP Directory, another difference between the two. That is why when we say something isn't a consideration or that it doesn't matter to us, it might sound like we're being a little cold, aloof, or power mad, but there's no other way to say it, it just doesn't matter, .
In fact, the Google Directory isn't an exact mirror of DMOZ, since Google adds PageRank values to the listings and only updates the directory feeds once in a blue moon of late. Google has always had various "beta projects" and at one time they seemed to believe they needed a directory to compete with Yahoo (back when Yahoo was still a threat). Hence, the Google Directory was born. In those days, it was featured prominently on the Google site. But Google seemed to lose interest in that project a couple of years ago, before the IPO. Now, unless you know what to look nfor, you probably won't be able to even find the Google Directory on the site. That, coupled with the fact that they can go months without bothering to update the DMOZ feed, is a pretty strong indication that they do not value it highly any more. As to what a DMOZ listing buys you. Matt Cutts has stated more than once that no special value is given to DMOZ links (or .edu or .gov links). They are treated as any other link. The value is a percentage (.85 is the best guess) of the PR value of the page containing your link divided among ALL of the links on that page, including internal navigation links.
Thanks for the information, I've never paid much attention to Google, other than using it's search engine. I'm totally lost in most of the issues you guys discuss on this forum. Matt Cutts has something to do with Google? Never mind, I did a Wiki search. Way above my paygrade, obviously. It's all Greek to me.