DMOZ listing changed

[hamster77]

I noticed just recently that our main site hadn't had any hits from DMOZ for a couple of weeks. When I checked if we were still listed I discovered our site has been moved from its old business category to an out of the way place in the listings for the very small town where we are based. The description's also been changed from the very good one we had before to a new description which doesn't even say what our company does! And no one is going to know since we're not in a business category anymore. Can anyone suggest why we got moved and what's the best way to contact someone at DMOZ to get moved back, or at least get a better description for the site?

I'm worried that if Google picks this listing up for its directory we're going to lose the Google Directory hits as well....

[Brett_Tabke]

You could try to resubmit, but on specifics like that, it is hard to determine why a listing was changed. Use it as an opportunity to rule the new category you are in.

[fathom]

Bearing in mind there was likely a reason for these changes - but you can go to the current category page, select update URL, type in the URL, and submit your proposed changes.

I doubt the you will get this listing changed back to the other category - as you "are" relevant to the regional listing, but there is nothing stopping you from submitting another listing (with the exception of "not so relevant content".

Note: you may also have liked the previous description and anchor text - but unless the new one is truly less relevant to the category your in - it will be difficult to convince otherwise.

<added>Pardon my manners hamster77 - welcome to WebmasterWorld. ;)</added>

[hamster77]

Thanks for the advice and I'll give it a try.

We were listed in:
Regional: Europe: United Kingdom: Wales: Business and Economy: Internet: Web Design and Development
where there were 21 sites. There are now only 2 sites listed in that category.

Our new listing doesn't mention web design anywhere - not in our business name or in our description which seems pretty weird. There is also no editor for our new category and I've never managed to get any other site listed there, so I'm not hopeful of getting any changes made in a big hurry.

Wah...

[fathom]

I took a quick look - and to be honest your site reflects the description.

Although the site provides lots of past designs & core competencies it doesn't really reflect that you "still" do web design & site development.

Take a another look - objectively.

I can provide "feedback" to the site (on what you have done) but I really don't have any idea where or how I can get one like it.

Food for thought.

Rod

[hamster77]

I'm deeply confused.... I don't know what you mean at all there.... Were you looking at our site or something else, it doesn't sound like it from what you said.

Anyway, I went to see if I could get the listing changed and found that since my original post the site has moved again and is now in the alphabetical website design listings - with its original description! I guess the editors must have been playing around with the categories while I was looking at it.

Thanks for all the advice anyway.

[motsa]

Fathom was saying that there doesn't seem to be any indication on your site that you actually still do web design or that sending feedback to you will give the user information about how they can get their site designed by you. Considering, I still can't figure out which site is yours, I can't comment on that personally (you might want to put your URL in your profile).

[hamster77]

Sorry - yes, I understood what Fathom was saying, but it doesn't apply to our site. We definitely say all over the place that we do web design - that's what the site is about, after all...
We don't have a feedback form, but we do have a contact page detailing how users can ask us to design a site for them.
What confused me was what site Fathom was actually looking at, since I hadn't posted a url and the comments didn't seem to apply to our site.
Anyway, it doesn't really matter as I was after some general advice, which is what I got - and thanks to everyone who gave it, much appreciated.

[fathom]

Sorry hamster77 -- I read between the lines and followed back "what I believed was your site". I could have actually been looking at someone elses.

Therefore if you wish - please sticky me your url, and I will revise my conclusions.

Detective work isn't perfect you know! ;)

[shangri_la]

If a site reads:
Big Bananas - Wholesale of bunches of unripened bananas for the hospitality industry. Includes products, services, and contact information.

What does it matter if it is listed in Business/Bananas or Regional/USA/State/Locality/Business and Economy/Industries?

Just make sure the description for your site, says exactly what you offer - minus unnessessary hype.

[rogerd]

Shangri_la, the category makes a huge difference in the example you cite. People actually do use the directory categories (at DMOZ, Google, etc.) to find products or services. If you aren't in the appropriate business category, you will miss out on this traffic. (Personally, I like to use the Google version - the PR sort isn't perfect, but it does separate some of the chaff. I'll agree that some big categories are not too useful. Probably not a lot of people go looking for a web design firm starting with "w". ;) )

In addition to category drill-down searches, keyword searches may yield better results if a site is listed in the appropriate business category.

And even though DMOZ isn't there to bestow PR, it's my experience that some of the regional cats have low, even zero, PR by the time you drill down to the cats inside the locality. Then there's the issue of theme linking to be considered...

[hutcheson]

Detective work isn't perfect you know!

No, no, it's defective work that isn't perfect.