Does DMOZ reject third level Domain listings

[Mel]

HI all;

After one year of trying I finally have given up getting into DMOZ despite numerouse applications and even some discrete behind the scenes assistance from some of the forums DMOZ editors.

I have heard that DMOZ discourages the listing of third level domains, and a check through some of the categories seems to confirm this. For those of you who may be considering a DMOZ listing please investigate this area further, so you don't have to make a decision to redo all your entire site structures to get into DMOZ with a consequent sacrifice of all your other rankings, or pretend that DMOZ does not exist.

[Hope]

As an editor I would have to say that i don't discount any site if it is of value. I don't care if it is a free server or a TLD. It is the site that matters. Now I can only speak for myself and not other editors. You might be encountering resistance from one or two editors who feel different that I do. I can't say that it is an over all veiw of dmoz.

[Kal]

Hi Mel - you're not alone! I too have been having trouble getting into ODP. I have submitted 3 times since July, to very targeted SEO categories and non spammy descriptions but to no avail.

I submit all my clients sites successfully to ODP so I'm a bit embarrassed about this :rolleyes: . I'm sure it is more difficult to get into SEO related categories due to spammy submissions ruining it for the rest of us. I am also wondering if editors are looking at our keyword-filled domains and automatically assuming we are spammers?

That would be very disappointing - esp because I only chose a keyword filled domain when the US version of my Aust/NZ company name was already taken. :mad:

[newriver]

Interesting thoughts Kal. As an editor of a very abused category from spam submissions, I bet you are having problems getting listed because of others spamming the category.

The first thing I would do if I were you would be to email the category editor something like this:

Dear "editor handle",

I bet you receive some of the most spam in DMOZ do to the nature of your category. I bet a lot of it comes from people trying to submit duplicate urls, and other innappropriate submissions. I have a feeling my submission may have been deleted while you were reviewing websites for inclusion. I actually live in ?Australia?, and my domain is truly not a spam duplicate url.

I know you are a volunteer, and I bet you get emailed everyday from people asking to be included in the category. If you could find the time to review http://www.url.com for me, I would sincerely appreciate it. I am in the search engine marketing business, and would not do anything to jeopordize my dmoz listing.

Sincerely,
name
business name


If after 2 weeks you hear nothing from that person, PM me and I'll see what I can do.

[Kal]

Thanks again NR, you're the greatest! :ladysman:

[newriver]

Coming from that avatar, I'll take kisses anyday!

[Mel]

Hi Newriver:

I will try once again:

I just sent the following email to the editor of the relevant site:

"Dear Editor Erogirl:

I know that all DMOZ editors are volunteers and judging from your categories you must be one of the busiest, so I hope you will forgive me contacting you, but I really need some help.

I have developed and published a fifty page free search engine optimization guide at http://search-engine-optimization.ecommercehosts.com and have submitted to Computers: Internet: Web Design and Development: Promotion: Search Engine Submitting and Positioning: Help and Tutorials several times. I have endeavored to keep this site up to date and accurate to the best of my knowledge, have been careful not to resort to any spam practices, and have had the site reviewed by both experts and beginners all of whom found it useful to them, but for some reason have been unable to get listed in DMOZ.

Could you please take a look at this site and advise me what I need to do in order to qualify for a DMOZ listing?"

Thanks

Mel Nelson"

I will advise if I get a response.

[Kal]

Nicely worded Mel. My email wasn't so subtle, now I wish it had been! :rolleyes:

[newriver]

Mel, you've got a PM

[Mel]

Hi All:

My email has had some very promising results - I emailed a different editor this time, going under my belief that if you want something done give it to the busiest person you can find.

In this case there were two editors, one with two categories and one with nearly fifty categories, and most of those in very competitive areas.

Just got a response saying resubmit and email me when you do so I can be sure you are included.

Will keep you posted.

[ihelpyou]

Very good Mel! Good thinking of emailing the busiest! :cool:

[Mel]

SUCCESS!!!

As of today I have a very nice ODP listing (just the keywords I wanted) although I have yet to receive an email notification, and the new listing does not show up in ODP searches yet.
I should imagine that it will make it into the Google directory soon, which should result in a useful boost.

I guess the moral of this storey is not to give up, and keep you cool when corresponding with OPD editors.

[ihelpyou]

Contrats Mel! :cheers:

I am thinking your submission just fell thru the cracks for quite awhile.

[newriver]

WTG Mel!!!!

[Blue]

Ditto!

[Sharon & Roy]

Greetings Mel & newriver,

Originally posted by Mel

After one year of trying I finally have given up getting into DMOZ despite numerouse applications and even some discrete behind the scenes assistance from some of the forums DMOZ editors.

Originally posted by newriver

I bet you are having problems getting listed because of others spamming the category.

The first thing I would do if I were you would be to email the category editor something like this:

WOW! Congratulations Mel ... and what GREAT advice you gave us newriver!

What a wonderful story and case study we have here, boys!

This thread is certainly one of the most encouraging and productive threads, on this or any SEO forum that we have ever had the privilege to read.

There are several observations that quickly come to mind here.

1.) Don't give up and don't give in. ... While it is obvious that Mel uttered the those very words for us all to read, it is also equally obvious that Mel's heart was NOT convinced. Mel's heart was ready and willing to keep trying. The truth that says, "You haven't failed until you've given up," has never been more evident than what we have just seen expressed here.

2.) Two heads are better than one. ... Persistence and long-suffering sure seem to have their rewards, regardless of what you may be telling yourself. Sometimes all we need is a new path, brought to our attention by a new person.

3.) The greatest treasures can usually be found along the paths less traveled. ... If all of our commonly known avenues don't pan out and produce the results we seek, don't give up, just venture onto those paths that are not so widely traveled.

We could add, good things come to those who wait, etc., but mainly we wish to express how deeply honored we are to be among those of you who freely give of yourselves and of your vast knowledge, and the way it all comes together here on these forums.

Doug, we stand and salute you, sir, for the wonderful job you have done and are doing in giving us all access to each other through these forums and for being as lenient and open as you are with how we all can post here.


We have a motto for our women in business community that we know would certainly be appropriate here as well. It goes like this ...


----<><><><>----- | Our iWomen Motto | -----<><><><>----

iWomen is dedicated to offering women in all stages of their
businesses the most valuable resources of all ... EACH OTHER!

----<><><><>--- | iWomen Online Network | ---<><><><>----


Now that can easily be reworded to something like this ...


iHelpYouServices is dedicated to offering SEOs in all stages of their
businesses the most valuable resources of all ... EACH OTHER!


While it is true that many of us are ...

In business FOR ourselves

... That does not mean we have to be ...

In business BY ourselves


We sincerely hope that many of you can echo our words when we say, "It is the virtual community, like this one Doug has prepared for us, that make us all want to strive to be better people in our business lives as well as our personal lives. And how honored we feel and what a privilege we have to be in the company of so many talented, wonderful and friendly human beings." Thanks Doug, for all you do and for making this community our #1 SEO destination, day in and day out.

Anyway, such an inspiring situation between Mel and newriver should not be kept quite about. Therefore, with your permission, Mel and newriver, we would LOVE to use your story and quote you, to inspire and encourage as many other folks as possible, starting with our own eMail newsletter and then transcending into the many article directories that are so prevalent around the Net these days, and eventually into our SEO eBook about Google.

Thank you.

[Sharon & Roy]

Oh, by the way, if permisson is granted for us to write about you boys, how's this for a title?

SEO Firm Gets Listed in ODP After Taking the Road Less Traveled

(Any and all suggestions are most welcome.)

[ihelpyou]

"It is the virtual community, like this one Doug has prepared for us, that make us all want to strive to be better people in our business lives as well as our personal lives. And how honored we feel and what a privilege we have to be in the company of so many talented, wonderful and friendly human beings."
I word reword that to say this:

"It is the virtual community, like this one the members here have prepared for us, that make us all want to strive to be better people in our business lives as well as our personal lives. And how honored we feel and what a privilege we have to be in the company of so many talented, wonderful and friendly human beings."

It's Members like you that make any fora exactly the way it is. People like me just pitch in and help a tad. :)

[Mel]

Actually, it was the opinion of the editor who added my listing that the site was being rejected by another editor, stating that had he seen my site it would have been added long ago. This is one of the weaknesses of the volunteer system, it is difficult to impose and monitor consistent standards throughout the directory.

The good news is that with the knowledge and support of the forum members thejob was finally accomplished. Think of those poor souls who have problems and do not know (yet) to come here for assistance and ecouragement.

[glengara]

Mel, welcome to the category; in light of developments, do you reckon the use of a 3rd level domain was at all relevant in your listing problem?

[Mel]

Hi Glengara:

Thats a very good question - in my research I note that there does seem to be a lack of third level domains in DMOZ, I have heard comments from editors that frown on TLDs, and the editor who finally solved my problem felt that I was being blocked, but would not say why.

I personally like TLDs as they allow you to use keyword rich URLs easily, but in some peoples minds there is a certain stigma attached to them, perhpaps because so many free sites are set up that way. I will continue to use them, have never had any problems at looksmart with them, and will have to try a few more to see if there are more widespread prejudices in DMOZ.

[Kal]

Congrats Mel!! That's great news indeed. Have you noticed a Google PR boost in response? I am still having difficulty getting listed in ODP, but at least the editor emailed me saying it was a backlog caused by spammers and that they'd get round to me eventually. :rolleyes:

[Mel]

Thanks Kal - my ODP listining is still in that limbo where its in the category but does not show up in ODP searches yet. Once Gogle spiders it I expect it will give me abit of a boost in Google.