Wow, I am impressed and stoked.

My pride and joy website finally made it into the DMOZ. Out of frustration, I asked an editor (a big one) to review my site. I expected no response, and instead in just a couple hours I recieved this email:

There are good editors in the DMOZ, their just swamped. My site's category had no editor, nor did the section above it, and above that one, and that one too. I had to go up 4 categories to find an editor. Many many thanks to the editor.

 

Congrats...and was your email a frustrated one or a polite one?

 

hey, how's about that. congratulations. Fancy editing that category? You've experienced first-hand the need for more comrades

 

It was a polite email. On that note, the listing hasn't shown up yet on the DMOZ. I guess maybe the DMOZ doesn't update but every so often... I hope :/

 

Polite is always better than impolite when dealing with ODP editors or anyone else.

The editors have a separate server so it will take a day or two for any listing to show up. And yes, we are always happy to have more volunteers so if you're interested please consider applying. Obviously whoever reviewed your site was impressed with you.

 

Congratulations! It truly feels great when your site is approved. That means someone actually did review it and found it useful.

And yes politeness counts (even in small amounts)..

 

Post the email you sent so users here may learn the proper approach when emailing an editor.

- George

 

Yes that would be great.

 

Just a caveat, here - hate to spoilt the general mood of euphoria....

There is no true way to expedite your review in the ODP. Some editors may react favourably to a polite email, others will ignore it. Emails that are less than polite will often elicit a negative effect. Emails that are polite but pushy may well cause the editor to ignore a review, too.

In general, due to some horrible things that have happened in the past (including threats of legal action, stalking and violence), editors are advised not to enter into communication with submitters. It's not that uncommon - the legal action threat has been used with me on two occasions.

So while I am not saying don't do it, I'm not saying that it will garantee you any real help.

 

Like Alucard, I don't mean to piss on the parade, but he's right - I personally would probably frown on receiving an email like that - there are loads of sites there waiting to be dealt with, why should sending an email prioritise your site over others? If it was to prioritise a site, all that would happen is that it would become commonplace to email the editor when making a submission... and that achieves little over the current system where there's no need for a cover letter!

 

It is important to keep in mind that most editors will not respond to any correspondence related to a site review. In some cases such communication may even be counter productive. Since all editors are volunteers, following certain guidelines, the interpretation of such communiqué can result in a drastically different result than what was expected.

 

I won't post the actual email I sent, but basically it said that I was sorry to bother the editor, but my website's category does not have an editor, nor do the 3 categories above it. And, if they had time, to take a look at it for me.

I did not expect a response, and am very grateful to that editor for taking the time to look. I think if your category has an editor emailing wouldn't help, but I believe I had a genuine case of being in a category that wouldn't get looked at for a very long time.

I didn't write this to encourage people to mass mail editors, only to say that not only are their good editors, those editors actually care about their categories. Not only did the editor visit my site, but actually read through it and suggested improvements. That has changed my outlook towards all DMOZ editors. This person actually cared.

 

I suppose it's not all bad if the editor took the time to process all the other sites pending review at the same time

 

A lot of them are, you got lucky

 

With the obvious exception of the Resource Zone. Being polite there just invites more abuse - it's interpreted as weakness

 

Guess what? My site showed up in the DMOZ today! woot!

 

*pops the champagne*

 

Congratulations on the listing. How long did it take?

-Peter