I would like to submit my directory to DMOZ, but first I would like to see what my chances are... Has anyone had experience with this and what helps a directory get approved? Thanks in advance
The directories in your signature would not have a chance of being approved. You have empty categories, you need to get more listings.
I'd first review some of the other directories that are already listed in the categories you're considering submitting to. Get an idea of the amount of content that's needed to be listed there. Consider that there probably were a number of other directories that have already been declined. I'd avoid submitting until you really think that there's enough content to be listed (more than just a few listings in each category, no empty categories). I've a feeling that it'll be harder the second time around if there's already an editor note attached to your url.
Just viewing this category one can see that there are no newer directories on this page. And alot of what is listed is pretty crappy. Anyone notice some big omissions from this category. Why is Site-Sift not listed in DMOZ? Where is Best of the Web? Is Elib.org listed anywhere? WowDirectory? Octopedia? Alive Directory? Who the hell made this list? This is not a good representation of "directories."
That's exactly what I was wondering...LOL. I took a looked and wondered how those got there and why? Maybe the editor favors some over others?
I'd like to submit my directory as well, but being as meticulous as I am about accepting links, it's going to take quite a great while to fill my directory. And even then, I'm pretty sure the long hours of strict editing( i DO visit every site) won't pay off, and I won't make it into dmoz. Just take PP's fine example from above. Rob
I agree PP - but it's possible that they are awaiting review, never submitted or violate the licensing agreement if they use content/structure from ODP.
Well, I'm sure those well-known and well-respected directories aren't doing anything to keep them from being listed. They very well could be awaiting review or never submitted at all. But still, whoever is editing this category should delete most of what is listed and add some "quality" sites to it. I'm not talking about long hard work here, just adding the big names that the editor should know about. And there are many more big directories not listed I didn't post about. This category is in bad shape.
While DMOZ does not have enough resource to update the sites, it has enough resources to compile a big list of imaginary enemies. It is possible that those directories are on that list.
I am glad you asked that question. WowDirectory has long been my most favorite directory on the web. It has millions if not billions of empty categories. People get repetitive strain injury just trying to find content. The best part is the categories. They have (for example) Jamaican space stations, a branch of the house of US house of representatives in Iran, a google search on "Philippine Military site:wowdirectory.com" reveals that the "Philippine Military" is about to take over the world. Rock on WowDirectory.
Ok, so what directory this large doesn't have a few problems. If you want to be really strict, DMOZ shouldn't be listed in DMOZ. But let's not be silly. WowDirectory is certainly better than about 30 or 40 of those sites actually listed. I'm not trying to start any arguments. I was just pointing out that this category should be drastically overhauled.
Once upon a time http://dmoz.org/Computers/Internet/Searching/Directories/ was easy to get into. There weren't many directories around, by comparison with today, and people didn't expect much of them. Remember that Yahoo started out as a page of links! Hard to believe. But there you go. Now expectations of a general directory are so much higher. When the biggest of them have millions of listings, who will bother to use a directory with a handful of listings and a mass of empty categories? So over my time in the ODP, it has got progressively harder to have a site listed in that category. To be listed a directory needs to either 1) be of considerable size and/or 2) offer something unique, which is not already represented in the category or 3) fit into a sub-category such as Non-Commercial and offer something unique to that. Naturally the category has some legacy listings. It gets weeded over now and then if one of us has a spare moment. I wouldn't recommend this category for a novice editor and I don't imagine that metas would accept a new editor there. It is one of the most spam-prone in the whole of the ODP. But if anyone wants to point to dead links or poor-quality sites, feel free. After all the editor of the parent category happens to own this forum. So something might get done.
Well, directories such as site-Sift and BOTW certainly don't have millions of listings, probably nowhere close. But many, many people still find them useful. Ah, yes he does. Maybe something can be done.
Directories should be filled with Quality sites. Anyone these days can fill a directory with crap, but I find directories that may have only 10-15 links per category are much more beneficial if they contain quality sites. Millions isn't always a good thing...
PortProphecy, you should start out by taking on one the the smaller sub categories and help him out. You really should.