Trying for a higher-in-the-directory 2nd ODP listing...

...with an interior page

[Robert Charlton]

Can I go after a higher-in-the-directory 2nd ODP listing with an interior page on my site?

To describe this in more detail... suppose my site is currently listed only in the Red Widget Jugglers category in ODP. The category is fairly far down in the ODP directory structure, has low PR, and lots of listings. Not much PR boost.

My site also offers Green Widget juggling and Blue Widget juggling. These areas of Widget juggling have their own separate ODP categories, are also fairly far down in the directory structure, and also have low PR.

There's also a general category for Widget Jugglers, though, which is where I'd like to get our second listing. This category is way up in the directory structure, with high PR, and with not many listings. Some major players in the Widget juggling area are listed here.

These sites are basically the same as my site in terms of what they offer, which is Red, Blue, and Green Widget juggling. The main difference is that they're promoting all this on their home pages.

On our home page, and via our domain, we're branded as the Red Widget Juggler Company... a solid niche identity that we need to keep... but we do mention Green and Blue "and much more" on the home page and have clear global navigation links to Red, Green, and Blue sections.

Our current ODP listing describes us as a full service Widget Juggling company specializing in Red Widget Juggling.

I'm wondering:

a) Can I go after other ODP listings for Green and Blue Widget Jugglers?...

and, most important...

b) can I go after a listing in the general Widget Jugglers category, using an interior page on the site that emphasizes Red, Blue, and Green (rather than just the Red) Widget Jugglers services? We already have a Widget services page that I could enhance for this purpose.

Any thoughts about how ODP would view such an interior page as an intro page for a full service Widget Juggling listing? The Green and Blue Widget Juggling services on our site are the same as what you can get from the sites listed as general Widget Jugglers.

[rfgdxm1]

If I were the editor, if I am understanding this right, I'd say yes to a), and NO! to b). However, it is possible if I were the editor responsible here you could convince me to move your site up to Widget Jugglers, because that is what you really appear to sell now. My suggestion: change the home page with a big "Full service widget jugglers sales" at the top, with a much smaller "Red Widget Juggler Company" below it. Your site has basically changed what it is about, and thus could be argued to qualify for the cat you want to be in. It is just that your company name is now misleading. Your trick is trying to convince the editor you are no longer in the right cat.

Of course, since I am not the editor here, the editor you have to deal with may have a different opinion. ;) This is definitely an editor discretion case. And, do be polite in your request.

[coconutz]

Can I go after other ODP listings for Green and Blue Widget Jugglers?...

Deeplinking is the exception rather than the rule, so I doubt it.

The Green and Blue Widget Juggling services on our site are the same as what you can get from the sites listed as general Widget Jugglers.

I would submit an update URL request and ask that your site be moved to the higher category, "Widget Jugglers" as you offer more than just "Red Widget Juggling" where you are listed now.

I would also submit the site to the regional category that your "Red Widget Juggler Company" is located in if applicable.

[Robert Charlton]

I would submit an update URL request and ask that your site be moved to the higher category, "Widget Jugglers" as you offer more than just "Red Widget Juggling" where you are listed now.

Thanks. This is definitely the listing I'd like. The question remains, though, as to whether I should submit the interior page rather than the default index page. If I decide to go this route, I can tune the interior page to serve as a general page.

My suggestion: change the home page with a big "Full service widget jugglers sales" at the top, with a much smaller "Red Widget Juggler Company" below it.

This isn't in the cards. The "brand" of the site has a following, and the page itself is well optimized for its niche target terms.

[coconutz]

The question remains, though, as to whether I should submit the interior page rather than the default index page.

I would think that you have a better chance with an update URL request for the index page rather than submitting the interior page as the ODP usually lists web sites and not individual web pages.

It might appear to the editor that you are looking to get multiple pages listed in the same category by submitting an interior page. I'm sure the editor will see that the site is already listed and may just delete this submission.

Just my .02

[cornwall]

Long experience of submitting deeplinks to DMOZ tells me there is no real rule, it really depends on the judgement, seniority, fear of superiors, vested interests, etc of the editor that choses to list or not list the deep link.

If an editor accepts a deeplink they can be criticised internally in DMOZ, but a rejection always has an "alibi" for the editor

If I submit separate sites for widgets to each state of the USA, then I can be prety sure that around half will be accepted, and around half rejected.

There is no "real" reason for why one state is accepted and another not. The information on widgets is as good or as bad on each.

All you can really do is try it and see!

[Robert Charlton]

Thanks for all the good input.

[rfgdxm1]

>This isn't in the cards. The "brand" of the site has a following, and the page itself is well optimized for its niche target terms.

Then make "Red Widget Juggler Company" below it just a little smaller. Leave the page title the same. I really doubt this will hurt the SEO for the site that much. Your brand name is still quite prominent. Remember, you also have the problem with those who aren't followers of the site being turned off by the name, and they think you only sell the red kind.

[skibum]

If both listings are essentially offering shopping or some kind of information designed to sell something, 9x of 10x the editor is likely to list only one page from a commercial site in a given section of the directory. That's guidelines by the guidelines, results may differ:)

If the site sold widgets and had another section that offered management consulting (2 totally different businesses) that couldn't be sensibly categorized in one listing, then IMO the chance of a second listing would be nearly 100%

[stever]

And there are also certain industry-specific guidelines, especially in the industries in which this board deals, which might cover an example such as yours. The category description of particular areas can often prove helpful in such cases.

[Dynamoo]

The higher you go in the structure, the less deeplinks you will see. For a high-level listing the editor would probably look at the deeplink, find the main URL, check and then discover that it's already listed appropriately and then delete it from the queue.

However, you can submit whatever you like and be reasonably certain that you won't be blacklisted for trying a few times in different categories. People considered as spammers are those who *really* try to abuse the system by submitting dozens of times.