The Google Directory

Is it stuck? Will it ever update?

[Monkscuba]

Does anyone have a clue as to when the Google directory will update? Our main site was added to a new category in DMOZ several months ago, and in the Google SERPS I can see the site listed with a link to the correct category in the Google directory, so they have new data from DMOZ, and this has already been there for a looong time, but looking at the category there is no change yet, not for aaaaages.

Is it likely to update soon? Does the Google directory have any effect on rankings? Does it matter?

[skipfactor]

I can see the site listed with a link to the correct category in the Google directory

One site's in the same boat. However, I noticed a huge boost when the cat link appeared even though it doesn't actually appear in the Google directory.

Does the Google directory have any effect on rankings?

In this case, with the cat link displayed, obviously not (in my situation at least).

Does it matter?

Maybe a few lost referrals from the directory.

[onfire]

I too have seen an increase in traffic but not sure if its due the Google category listing or not.

However in our backlinks the ODP is now showing which gave our PR a big boost, and now we are waiting for the link from the Google directory to show up which should give a boost to the PR again I think, as its a good backlink to have right.

I did hear someone say that the Directory has not been updated for many many months now 6 months +

[synergy]

The ODP had a bug in the massive file that is used by Google for it's directory. While the bug was being worked out, the directory had no updates.

The problem seems to be fixed as a category that I edit was updated (within ODP) recently.

I expect Google's directory to follow suit soon with it's updates.

[edit] Read: [webmasterworld.com...]

[edited by: synergy at 5:52 pm (utc) on Sep. 9, 2003]

[Powdork]

As far as I can tell the rankings boost that comes from being in the Google directory occurs when the link to the category shows up in the serps, rather than when the site actually makes it to the category. Could be way wrong though.

[Fearless]

Right now, we've been listed for a few months in DMOZ/ODP and Google returns the right category, (in our listing) but if you click on it (and enter Google's rendition of that category) we're not listed!

[steveb]

"While the bug was being worked out, the directory had no updates."

Well, no, not unless you are in atime warp back to February. The non-update of the Google Directory has nothing to do with dmoz data. There RDF has been done many times since February.

The Google Directory has now been updated twice in a year, most recently six months ago. Whenever they feel the google-provided pagerank that goes with the dmoz-provided data is of the quality that they can release to the public, they will. Right now we only know they are using new dmoz dumps internally, but are choosing not to show that to the public.

[Mohamed_E]

Right now we only know they are using new dmoz dumps internally, but are choosing not to show that to the public.

Many thanks, steveb! That is the clearest answer I have seen to he paradox of new sites having directory information on the SERPs that is unfinfable in the directory.

[Chndru]

Right now we only know they are using new dmoz dumps internally, but are choosing not to show that to the public.

Just wondering why would G want this?