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If Google is going to weigh the directory with such importance, then maybe they should start hosting the darn thing. I have to try at least 10 times in order to gain entrance to this piece o crap! And that doesn't always work!
Everyone knows getting into the DMOZ directory is essential to having a good Google listing, but if you can't even get onto DMOZ.org submit, is it really that good? Yes, DMOZ is a good idea and compliments Google searches, but at the same time if they are not updating their directory in conjunction with DMOZ.org then what is the use? It is a half a@@ed approach.
Nope. I don't do directories -haven't for years- and google treats me just fine. (and other SEs) IMO, this fixation on must be in dmoz/zeal/looksmart/yahoo is way overblown.
It is most emphatically NOT essential. Nice way to start your link collection, but no big deal if you cannot get it.
I haven't gotten a site into dmoz in ages and I seem to still be able to just fine at Google. I agree with rcjordan the dmoz-->google connection is waaaay overblown.
These same sites do well in Google. The connection is either overblown / or a myth.
Any high quality link will help your site do well. There is no rule that says it needs to be dmoz.
Irregardless, it is weighted pretty high up there, and doesn't even work.(from a server standpoint)
If Google is going to weigh the directory with such importance, then maybe they should start hosting the darn thing.
I agree with this. I basically agree that DMOZ under current volunteer administration is a piece of crap and too dependant on the whims of the individual editors.
However, I don't really pay too much attention to DMOZ anymore. I submit my listings like a good boy in the proper categories, but as someone else said, if they don't pick it up, it's their loss. There are other ways to get good positioning and ranking in Google, and it is an exercise in frustration to spend a lot of time worrying about a DMOZ listing.
To sum up, directory listings are great as long as some editor goes out, finds my site, and lists it for me.
No more no less.
It is however a good place to start trying to get links because of its high overall PR.
Granted, most of them are too low a PR to count, but if you've got a keyword in your link, that can be great if you have a few hundred links to your site all of which use your keyword.
My favourite is not that the ODP does all that much, but having a description and listing on the SERPS means that your result is an extra 2 lines long, which gives the impression that you site is better.
Most Google directory pages have a higher PR than their ODP counterparts, so it's the Google Directory link that brings most benefit in my opinions.
To sum up, directory listings are great as long as some editor goes out, finds my site, and lists it for me.
This is not what I am saying. I don't expect the editors to locate the sites that I represent. I have no problem with submitting sites to DMOZ. Some get listed and some don't. Depends on the commitment of the editor. I'm well aware that there are some categories that have a two year backlog. However, I'm not an editor and don't have access to that data. I only know what I see on the DMOZ resourse forum. I revisit and resubmit from time to time (say every six months), but I don't spend a lot of time obsessing about it.
If you think you need to be in it to sell things, that's missing its point.
for example if there are two sites, both of them with the same title and you have searched for parts of that title, then the one from the directory will be displayed first - no matter what PR.
and it is also essential to have a odp listing if you want to make it into inktomi/fast/altavista without paying for inclusion - although it can take some months.
[edited by: HuhuFruFru at 10:41 pm (utc) on Feb. 26, 2003]
this is new to me
I can never get on the stinking site!
I'm with you on this, it's very annoying. In the 'its a volunteer built site' sense, I feel kinda sorry for them that they can keep the thing running. But having said that isn't it owned by Netscape at the end of the day? It has been crashing out on me every other request for a couple of months now :(
maybe they should start hosting the darn thing
Well they do.. but I guess you mean 'why don't they start hosting the whole thing, including the listing request pages etc..'? I guess they don't feel it's worth the hassle.. Google Directory is a value add thing really.. Do the masses use it much? They'd have to buy it I assume, and then administer it.. and deal with the barrage of monopoly complaints too no doubt..
I'm not sure I agree that there's nothing to be gained by getting into the directory? IMO the time taken to request a review (when the site's working ;) ) is pretty minimal given the number of links you get, and a lot of the clones are smaller regional sites that are not neccasarily similar enough to warrant google ignoring them.
IMHO it's up to Netscrape to sort the servers out.. AFAIK the search indicies haven't been updated in at least 6 months :(
ATB :)
Everyone knows getting into the DMOZ directory is essential to having a good Google listing
Not really. I got rejected by dmoz and some people even suggested dumping domain and starting from scratch... and 3 google updates later I had PR6 without being listed in either dmoz or yahoo.
and it is also essential to have a odp listing if you want to make it into inktomi/fast/altavista without paying for inclusion
Just for fun, I checked one of my sites again this "law".
Launched in November, it is in Google, and still awaiting a DMoz editor to finish their tea break!
The site has not had paid admission anywhere
It is in Fast and features well against its targeted keyords, as it does on Inktomi. It is not in Altavista
Conclusion "law" not true
and if not in odp - how did it make into altavista/ink/fast without paying when your site was launched in november?
Topic for another discussion, I think. :) pretty easy to explain, though...
Its the most important link that you will ever get
Why? I look at my logs, and DMOZ/DMOZ clones are non-existent in my referrals. I've personally never had a problem getting a site into DMOZ once I got around to submitting it -- heck, there are a few DMOZ links I've gotten that I've never asked for -- but I've never seen any magical effects from it one way or another...
