ODP - Needs Editor

[olwen]

I've been trying to list a site in the ODP, and get anxious about the note at the bottom that says "This category needs an editor". If as is the case I have to go up about 4 levels to find one editor, isn't this going to make review of the site unlikely?

[Brett_Tabke]

No, not necc. (and welcome to the board).

It could be a case of the upper editor actually suggested the cat in the first place. It just depends on the editor and how busy the upper cats are.

[hasbeen]

I recently had the same problem. An EXTREMELY nice note to the upper level (3 levels up, actually) editor got my site listed in 24 hours!

Just make sure you've followed the submission guidelines to the letter before sending any messages!!

Can't guarantee it will work, but wanted to let you know it IS possible to get listed in a category without an editor.

[Craig_F]

I've done it too. Not easy, but doable. And yes, it will help to follow the rules and be extra nice.

[diddlydazz]

One thing to look out for is the date at the bottom of the Category (last edited).

It will give you an idea of how active the editor is, most editors try and edit a t least once a week (myself and the ones I know), so as suggested just be polite and approach the editor in the higher category, but it may help to point out the category that you are actually submitting to.

Hope this helps

Dazz

[olwen]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've tried a nice notE to the editor up a couple of levels in one category I've submitted to (there are three categories I'd like to be in for different areas of the site). I'll see what happens. I may have messed this up by earlier badly done submissions :-(

(edited by: olwen at 12:29 am (utc) on Mar. 21, 2002)

[caine]

olwen,

not being funny but if you email an editor a relatively quick email (as in days, should get back to you), but give two weeks, as they are voluteers, and they do go on holidays. Otherwise, if you don't find satisfaction, then go up higher. But with all things in the webmaster game, patience is your biggest asset.

[olwen]

I'm trying to be patient. It's just a trifle frustrating that the first editor I find up the tree for "Regional: Oceania: Travel and Tourism: Lodging: Bed and Breakfast" is "Regional: Oceania:" which is a very broad category, and for "Regional: Oceania: Australia: Travel and Tourism: Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast" it's "Regional: Oceania: Australia:"

In the New Zealand section at least there's an editor for Travel and Tourism. My site by the way lists B&B accommodation in Australia and New Zealand, so the ideal would be to have my Country pages as the listings. Even better would be to list the regions. But that's being greedy, although I notice that some directories have that.

[victor]

As Brett suggests, DMOZ etiquette is for an editor who edits both a category and the ones below it not to plaster their name all the way down the tree.

So, in many cases, read "This cat needs an editor" as "look upwards for the name".

This is confusing as the cat may genuinely be seeking a new editor

They are fairly relaxed about listing a site twice -- once say as a product and once as a region-specific business. But guidelines are guidelines and editors are editors. And not every editor applies them in the same way.

As already suggested, if you make friendly contact with a human being, doors may open.

[olwen]

Just checked, and I'm a far happier webmaster. My Oceania listing for the top level of my site is sitting there all by itself as the only listing for Bed & Breakfast in Oceania.

Not ideal (people look for Australia or New Zealand), but getting there! No reply as yet to the note I sent to an editor (in the New Zealand tree)

[olwen]

I heard back from the NZ editor I wrote to (who may not have been the one who did my listing in the Oceania category). I have pointed out some differences in cross-linking categories to him, and while he does not have the power to alter them is passing them onto others to look at for me. So it's all worked out well for me.