DMOZ is probably the top link directory on the internet. Why don't they start making a little money off their website by having sponsored listings like BOTW and the Yahoo Directory. Of course your website would have to meet the standards they go by. There are so many good websites out there that aren't listed on Dmoz simply because the category editor is some joker who became an editor simply so they could submit their own website.
If you paid money for the service then they may feel obliged to offer something in line with the fee you pay. In my experience, the current level of service reflects what you currently pay. Whether introducing a fee would raise that level of service is questionable. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, then I would urge you to look at other options.
All editors, except staff, are volunteers, the directly has hundreds of them. Many would leave if it became a paid directory. Why do you want another paid directory you have named two, isn't that enough? Do you really believe that it would have become the directory it now is if it had been paid, would it command such respect on the net and if you don't respect it why on earth are you bothered that it is not paid, so obviously you can't get in simply when you have enough dosh to buy a listing. Even a discussion about paid advertising raises many hackles.
It's lost a LOT of respect over the last several years, and that is likely one the main reasons that soooo many sites have stopped using it as a resource (even though the documentation still claims it's used by them). AOL, the owners of the ODP don't even use it any more. That should say a lot...
If it will be paid, I will never go to purchase the listing. Even I stopped submission in yahoo directory. There are lots of options available to get free links. This is the reason why yahoo directory is not too popular as compare to dmoz. Even google trust on odp data.
I would not even mind paying $1 for a submission, if Dmoz charged everyone $1 they would cut down on number of submissions I think. People will stop submiting there website twice for example. Many people are tight and dont use paid services. For $1 you wont expect much of a service but it would hopefully cut down on waiting time.
The problem with DMOZ is the inefficiency in getting links added or fixed. This could be a benefit if you're already listed and your competitors are having troubles getting in the door though.
Don't forget we are all volunteers giving of our free time, receiving nothing, except the occassional comment that we are inefficient (sometime lazy and corrupt). But the best way to make us more efficient is to become an editor, spend your free time, maybe 20 -30 hours a week helping us build an even larger directory. Your reward is a an excellent hobby with a few downturns when one is called inefficient or perhaps lazy or corrupt.
Why? You all decline editor applications all the time and frankly I think i'm actually suspended for some reason that I never bothered to follow up on (eg. i'm not going to beg to volunteer).
A bit of an over statement but yes, many applications are declined. Sadly, not everyone submits applications based upon honesty and some others that dont read the guidelines when applying, also cant be accepted. You fail to mention the many others that are accepted, the many editors that end up volunteering to review thousands of sites. The very same ones that get critisized when they dont spend enough time on "their hobbie". You "think" you are suspended and never followed it up and dont intend to "beg to volunteer". Obviously you couldnt be that concerned No one begs anyone to do anything....thats the beauty, if you do 1 review a month or 1000 a month, no one ever complains, you are free to volunteer as much or as little time as you wish. Whatever you chose to do, it all helps Each to his own....
If you browse the many paid directories, ever notice that the key resources/sites on each topic are not listed (except perhaps Yahoo and BOTW)? If a directory wants to be useful to the www (instead of being useful to the webmaster for getting links), then those key sites and resources need to be listed. Any directory that relies on paid submissions (or just unpaid submissions) is never really going to be a useful resource for the www.
I was suspended on the premise that I own a company in the category I edited and a friend who is a DMOZ editor said he looked at my account and it's still suspended.
Quite a few misconceptions there, so I hope this will straighten them out. 1. New editor applications are reviewed by only the most experienced volunteers - meta-editors and catmods. Editors without these wide permissions cannot see editor applications at all. 2. Many applications are accepted every day, but unfortunately many are also declined, usually because the applicant was not honest or careful enough in the application. 3. Unsuccessful applicants receive feedback with the reasons, and except in rare instances they are always welcome to re-apply after considering the points raised. 4. If people are unwilling to apply again, they probably were not very interested in becoming an editor in the first place, because many current editors were accepted only after several attempts. 5. Site ownership is absolutely not a barrier to becoming an editor, as stated very clearly in the public guidelines: "Everyone is welcome to apply to join the ODP, including those who own, maintain and promote websites. ...". Many editors join because they have a personal or commercial interest in the category they apply for, but provided they are honest and impartial, there is no problem at all. 6. Unless your "friend" is a meta-editor or catmod, he cannot see any DMOZ information about you, and as you say you were not accepted, you do not have an "account" anyway. On the other hand, if your friend is a meta-editor or catmod, he would already know you did not have an account, or he would know if you were an editor and were removed for abuse. Either way you are not telling the truth.