Getting into DMOZ

What are my chances?

[Nick_W]

Hi everyone,

The affiliate site I'm working on has about 80 pages of product write ups in various categories.

Each product page naturally links to where you can buy it.

I have about 4-5 pages of 'just links'

My question is

What are my chances of getting my affiliate site listed in DMOZ?

Cheers

Nick

[bird]

What are my chances of getting my affiliate site listed in DMOZ?

If the editor who reviews your submission follows the relevant editing guidelines [dmoz.org]: zero.

Submitting a site that primarily exists for the purpose of affiliate sales to the ODP is a waste of time, both your time and the time of the editor who has to delete your submission.

[Nick_W]

I don't mind wasting 2mins of my time and 30 seconds of somebody elses. People waste my time everyday.

Nick

[Nick_W]

Well, in the guidelines you posted I found this:

General rule of thumb: Look at the content
on the site, mentally blocking out all affiliate links. If the remaining information
is original and valuable informational content that contributes something
unique to the category's subject, the site may be a good candidate for the ODP. If the remaining content is poor, minimal, or copied from some other
site, then the site is not a good candidate for the ODP.

So it's not quite as simple as a 'waste of time' is it?

Nick

[Mike_Mackin]

bird:
what is the name of that site where Nick_W might pose this question?

"The CONTENT site I'm working on has about 80 pages of product write ups in various categories.

[bird]

So it's not quite as simple as a 'waste of time' is it?

The way you describe your site in your original post, I'd guess it really is that simple. But then, you may just not have mentioned those parts that would turn it into a useful resource for the users of the directory. Without seeing the site, I couldn't really tell for certain.

[stever]

So it's not quite as simple as a 'waste of time' is it?

Noooo....

...but judging from the editor forums there seems to be something of a gap between what most affiliate sites consider "original and valuable informational content" and what the editors do.

Speaking as a (at the moment) detached observer, it seems that the guidelines imply that the site could stand on its own and be of value were the affiliate links and marketing to be taken away? In other words is it an informational site with affiliate links, or an affiliate site with some information?

[Mike_Mackin]

>he'll have to offer significantly more than that.

I've seen discussion forums used as "unique content"

[bird]

If such a forum has any real discussions going on, then that might indeed count as unique content. A forum that just sits there mostly empty probably doesn't help much.

[Marcia]

>If such a forum has any real discussions going on, then that might indeed count as unique content.

It takes a lot of time and effort to build a forum, and it takes a long time for enough content to be added within a forum venue to have substantial value. It also takes a lot of time to administer and maintain a forum, so Nick might not want to go that route or wait that long.

Being practical, if there's a chance of getting in with enough unique content, Nick would probably be best off writing it himself. He's most likely got enough background and interest in his subject matter to be able to come up with plenty, since he's already an accomplished writer.

[korkus2000]

Reviews and faqs about the products can add a lot of unique and quality content. You can also set up a user rating or review section like amazon or epinions. That could really add quality to the site without as much hard work as a forum.

[Drastic]

I think a lot of it is hit and miss. I have seen stuff in odp for years that should have never been there. I have also seen stuff that I thought deserved a listing (and others, non-affiliate top SEOs, agreed) be denied vehemently.

Build a site with content, good content that could stand alone, and hope for the best. If you don't get in, remember, ODP ain't everything.