Need assistance with DMOZ listing

Unsucessful attempts to get site listed

[tzar90805]

Greetings to all! I have been having a very long and tiresome experience trying to get our website listed in dmoz. 11 months ago, I started submitting my company's website to be added to the dmoz directory. After the 3rd month's submission, I received this nasty email from a store owner (a competitor or at that time a future competitor) stating that our store had stolen content from their site. I couldn't imagine how that could be, since we used a template that came with Miva Merchant and simply added in a look and feel module. At that time, I wondered how did they even locate the website since we were listed in no search engine at that point. I explained this MIVA template to the irate competitor but it was no use, they still sent a few more emails before they finally stopped. Well, after 9 months of 1 submission every month, I noticed that 2 of my previous coworkers had opened up shops and webstores and were listed within a month into the same category my company should be listed in. I scratched my head over this forever until I started researching the dmoz directory with more dilegence. It seems that the editor of the precise category my company belongs in is the owner of the business that accused my company of copying their site, colors and buttons. I did take the time in March to file a complaint, but have had no response to my emails and no reponse to the claim form. I understand that it is not a conflict of interest for an editor that owns many domains and a webstore to have their website listed in the section that they are editing...but it seems very strange to me that my company sells the same products from the same vendors as the editor's company and my company's site would not be approved. I have saved all correspondence from this competitor, even the nasty ones that it would be a cold day before my company's site was ever listed. Any input would be greatly appreciated, as I have no idea how to get this resolved. If there's any meta editors out there that can give me some guidance or assistance, I would be greatly appreciative.

[creative craig]

Welcome to webmasterworld [webmasterworld.com] :)

Search on Google for resource-zone. Post in the site submission forum and an editor will take a look and see what the problems are with your site submission.

From this forum there maybe editors/metas that post alot (like me) but the best place to direct any questions about the ODP is to that forum.

Craig

[Tor]

Here [resource-zone.com] is the URL of the forum that Craig mentioned. :)

[tzar90805]

Craig and Tor, thanks for the replies! Will give that forum a try.

[cornwall]

>>since we used a template that came with Miva Merchant and simply added in a look and feel module

>>but it seems very strange to me that my company sells the same products from the same vendors as the editor's company and my company's site would not be approved.

It seems to me from the above, without knowing what your site actually does, that it is unlikely to get listed in DMOZ. They are after "unique content" and you are putting up something that is pretty much the same as any of a number of virtually identical sites.

Having said that it would also seem that the editor's site should not be listed in DMOZ either. I suggest you make a separate abuse report about that.

The end result, though, is that neither site will probably be listed.

[rfgdxm1]

From your original post, this is a matter that you should document well, and send that to [e-mail], or to any meta editor.

[creative craig]

The end result, though, is that neither site will probably be listed.

and the editor should be kicked out the ODP for his emails and his attitude! IMO of course ;)

Craig

[rafalk]

and send that to [e-mail]

Please DO NOT send email to [e-mail]. Your abuse claim will be processed much more quickly by sending it to a meta editor!

[rfgdxm1]

>Please DO NOT send email to [e-mail]. Your abuse claim will be processed much more quickly by sending it to a meta editor!

[dmoz.org...]

"How can I report suspected abuse of the directory?
If you suspect that a web site or editor is abusing the ODP, please contact ODP staff with a detailed account of your claim, using the feedback form. To ensure a speedier response, make sure you choose “Abuse Report” for your subject title."

The link there goes to a form that I presume sends it to [e-mail]. Wouldn't surprise me in the least contacting a meta would be quicker; in fact if it were me personally I'd go that route. However, the above is the official recommendation on the website.

[cornwall]

rafalk is a meta editor - I think I would take his word for the best line to follow!

[rafalk]

However, the above is the official recommendation on the website.

Which hasn't been updated since 2001. Just because the advice comes from an official page that is two years out of date, doesn't necessarily make it good.

[rfgdxm1]

>Which hasn't been updated since 2001. Just because the advice comes from an official page that is two years out of date, doesn't necessarily make it good.

In which case it might make sense to try and persuade the Powers That Be at the ODP to change it. If they can change the "this category needs an editor", that can be reworded also.

[SEOLady]

<<Which hasn't been updated since 2001. Just because the advice comes from an official page that is two years out of date, doesn't necessarily make it good. >>

Ironic, eh? By its own standards dmoz wouldn't be listed in itself.