Dmoz.org
Open Directory Project is still Internet biggest directory. Its importance is somewhat overstated by the fact that Google directory is copy of ODP, but Google hasn't updated its directory for over a year now and there is a doubt it will ever do. Another use of ODP is by Amazon's Alexa.
Submitting your website
After server crash in October 2006, submissions are once again accepted and since most unreviewed submissions before the crash have been lost your free to resubmit.
Submission to DMOZ/ODP can be quick and easy but you more commonly you might never see your website listed. Biggest problem is lack of editors which results in numerous categories being neglected for years. Best demonstration of this is DMOZ Top Listed Domains which shows CNN as number one with 230,016 links compared to pathetic 7,463 for Wikipedia since Wiki had massive growth in past few years while DMOZ was in decline.
Don't bother too much about getting listed because other then little PageRank boost you won't get anything else, traffic sent by DMOZ is ridiculous, 1-2 visitors a day and this is for portal which has 11 deeplinks listed in DMOZ!
When submitting, read instructions since it will increase your chances. Non-english pages are submitted to proper language subcategory in World while for regional websites in English language you should find proper category in Regional. Finding most relevant category is vital to speeding up listing your website. Also DMOZ will list your website only if it has unique content so if you have pure affiliate website don't even bother submitting since it will never be listed. Writing non-spammy or in simple English plain boring description also speeds up the process.
Personally (Profile - ivanbajlo) I use to maintain several categories which predictably haven't been updated since my removal:
- Games: Video Games: Strategy: Real-Time: Europa Universalis Series
- Games: Video Games: Strategy: Turn-Based: Total War Games
- Society: History: By Time Period: Twentieth Century: Wars and Conflicts: Yugoslav Wars
- World: Hrvatski: Slobodno vrijeme: Igre
How to become editor
On the bottom of each page there is link to apply unless that category already has an editor. Besides very good knowledge of language of the category you are applying for you also need to submit three quality websites which are missing in that DMOZ category. Don't expect for quick reply to your application.
Since DMOZ is run by paranoia that anyone applying to become editor is doing it so he/she could list his own website and remove competitors it is wise to avoid commercial categories since they are hard to get in and apply to smaller non-commercial type category like culture.
How to remain editor
Condition of DMOZ community is heartbreaking to say the least, number of editor is constantly dropping and project itself is completely unknown to most internet users unlike Wikipedia. Relations amongst editor aren't any better although there many hard working editors, project is being run into the ground by arrogance and indifference of the administrators and meta editors who take weeks and months to approve or reject applications of new editors, new categories for existing editors, not to mention more complicated matters, unlike removals which takes them a day or two.
Way around this bureaucracy is called your test category where you can create categories which are missing from DMOZ and later ask to move them to proper location and you will remain there editor, you can also create existing category and add numerous links so when you apply for that category you have much more then just three... although even 200 didn't help me!
From DMOZ rules you need to know is that unlike Wikipedia all information (like logs, notes, internal forum) are treated as most classified secrets which must be kept away from wrong hands, never mind how silly it sounds revealing these information can get you into trouble and end up with removal and when it comes to removal quality of your editing work is completely irrelevant you could have spent years at DMOZ and have over 100,000 edits when you are found guilty you're gone!
Removal of editors is done completely without there knowledge, discussion is done in internal meta forum to which only meta editors have access, evidence gathering against editor accused is done in such manner it would make both Kafka and Stalin jealous. NO DEFENSE FROM ACCUSED EDITOR IS POSSIBLE! Reason for removal is never told to the editor and all he/she gets is list of general removal reasons when attempts to login.
External links