Updating DMOZ Listing to Reflect New Domain Name

[subgenius]

I have a client that already has a listing in DMOZ, but they've changed their primary domain to another domain name. Their old domain name (and therefore the DMOZ listing) is now an alternate domain name for their web site. Their site is completely legit, and doesn't use any shady techniques to boost their rankings. So...

Questions:

1. Should I submit a request on DMOZ to update the link, or just be happy with the one I have?

2. How long does it usually take for the editors to update the domain name?

3. What are the chances an editor will decide to remove the listing if I ask them to update the domain?

[jimnoble]

1. Make an update request please. Be sure that there's a redirect (manual or auto) from the old to the new.

2. Update requests are prominent and most editors give them priority. In the nation where I mainly work, most are handled within 24 hours.

3. The website will be re-evaluated. Assuming that it's still listable, there's no reason to delete it. If it's scope has changed, it might be moved to a more appropriate category though.

[subgenius]

The old domain is redirected in the sense that it points to the same files and is stored on the same server as the new domain. But it doesn't use a 301 redirect (not sure how those work).

If you went to olddomain.com, you would see the same web site as if you went to newdomain.com because they are both hosted under the same account and on the same server. Do I still need to redirect olddomain.com to newdomain.com, or is the current setup adequate?

[cbpayne]

DMOZ are unlikely to update unless there is a 301 redirect in place. If the content is available at the old domain, there is no need for DMOZ to change it.

HOWEVER, the way you have it set it up will run the risk of a duplicate content filter by Google --- ie as the content is available on both domains, Google does not want to index two copies of the same site.

Suggest you do a 301 redirect from the old domain to the new -- DMOZ will then change the url and google won't penalize you.

[jimnoble]

We strongly prefer to see a redirect in place (which can be as simple as a prominent notice on the home page) for another reason too. It's for your protection as well as ours.

Without that policy, any miscreant could put up a mirror of your site, hijack your ODP listing and replace the content with his own later.

Yes it has been attempted.

[Robert Charlton]

But it doesn't use a 301 redirect (not sure how those work).

If you went to olddomain.com, you would see the same web site as if you went to newdomain.com because they are both hosted under the same account and on the same server.

subgenius - Quite apart from DMOZ, this is not a good situation. Depending on what type of server you have (Apache or Microsoft), you should check out the appropriate forum on WebmasterWorld and do some reading. You don't want to have the same content on two different domains. It's treated as duplicate content by the search engines, and can lead to some difficult indexing problems.

[Webwork]

If you haven't visited this forum in awhile please read the Directory Forum Charter [webmasterworld.com] before posting. As stated in the Charter, we will remove off-topic posts in DMOZ threads, especially posts that are little more than public airing of grievances against DMOZ. (I have just removed such a post from this thread.)

Thank-you.

Webwork / Directory Forum Co-Moderator

[edited by: Webwork at 12:31 pm (utc) on June 15, 2008]