Zeal and Becoming a Zealot

[Advisor]

Okay, after seeing how Rank Write could easily make it into the LookSmart Directory as if it were added through LookSmart itself (and yet added through Zeal for free), I decided to take the danged Zeal test and get myself approved to add sites.

The test was somewhat tricky, I must admit. However, if you're familiar with submitting to LookSmart, most of the questions are not too hard. The ones where you have to choose the proper description are a snap. The questions about proper Titles are more tricky and you do need to read through their guidelines briefly to make sure you get them right. I'm proud to say that of the 20 questions, I only got one wrong (and that's only because it was one of the last questions and I got lazy and didn't feel like sifting through their guidelines for the proper answer, so I guessed!).

The whole thing did take some time, maybe 20 minutes. It would take someone not familiar with LookSmart submissions longer, I believe.

I just submitted my Parentsroom site, and will be interested to see what happens. I'll probably document this whole procedure in Rank Write either this week or next as I think it will be useful to many readers.

Jill

[ihelpyou]

Absolutely. Keep us informed. Is your site a non-profit? I wonder if LS picks up business sites thru Zeal. I doubt it. Will be interesting to know how quickly the site goes from Zeal to the LS database as well.

[Advisor]

It's not technically a non-profit (that is registered, etc.). However, it's non-commercial. The exact kind of site that LookSmart purchased Zeal for.

From what I understand, you cannot add any business/commercial sites through Zeal. Only non-commercial.

Jill

[ihelpyou]

hmm, think I will also submit the new site thru Zeal as well to see what happens.

[Advisor]

Just for "fun" I took the other Zeal quiz to become a true Zealot. (The first quiz just allows you to submit sites, but not own a category and approve submissions, etc.)

Now, this quiz was really hard! I just did it for fun and guessed. I'm sure all the answers were somewhere in their guidelines, but it would have taken a LONG time to find all the information. Probably many hours.

I got only 9 out of 20 questions right :(

But this is actually GOOD news for both Zeal and LookSmart. It means they don't just allow any idiot (like me) to become one of their guides (zealots) unless they truly have a handle on how their categorizing system works. It looks like they've set their system up very nicely to ensure high quality editors.

I think eventually I'll take the time to do their quiz the right way, because it would be nice to be a true Zealot. I used to have fun over at Go with their Go Guides thing. The Zeal thing should be similar, only they have higher standards!

I'll keep ya posted!

Jill

[ihelpyou]

Good info Jill! Maybe LS is using Zeal as sort of a training ground for possible LS editors? :cool:

Would be great if you could be an editor of LS and not have to move. Cold day in **** for that to happen.

[newriver]

Zealot quiz :mad:

I've taken this thing about a dozen times now, and have a zealot quick score of 84% now. I did the math, I am going to have to ace it at least 4 more times to get the above 90% rating needed to pass it.

You are correct, it is not easy, even tougher because many of their rules are drastically different from DMOZ rules, and what seems like common sence from experience bites me every time.

[Perfection]

The Zealot quiz also took me about 15-20 mins too. It's pretty much the same questions reworded with a different example each time.

Zeal doesn't accept commercial sites of any kind. It also isn't limited to "non profits." It will add site's that are just non commercial (which includes non profits).

The best part of taking the Zeal quiz happened to me sometime yesterday. I mentioned in another post that I added a site through Zeal and it got added to Looksmart with the exact title and description that I submitted it with. And sometime yesterday, it started showing up on MSN.

How did I know it started to show up in MSN? The over 150 unique visits that came from this MSN listing during the last half of yesterday! So far today it looks like I already got that number beat, and probably will double or even triple it by the end of today!

So if you have any non commercial sites, taking the 20 minute Zealot quiz is worth it for the MSN traffic alone. =]

[Advisor]

Perfection,

Do you know if it's possible to simply register at Zeal and NOT take any of their quizzes and still suggest sites? I thought about that after I had already taken the quiz. It wasn't very clear on their site, I don't think, although I did think you had to pass the quiz to add sites. Now, I'm wondering if I misunderstood that.

Jill

[Perfection]

Jill,

Nope, in order to suggest a site you have to have a certain amount of Zeal points, which you can only get by taking quizzes. Just registering alone doesn't allow you to do anything (at least not that I'm aware of).

[Advisor]

Thanks, Perfection. I want to write about this process in rank write, so that's good to know for sure!

On another note, I just got notified that they added the Parentsroom to the Zeal directory! It will be interesting to see how long before it gets into LookSmart and then the partner sites. How exciting!

Jill

[Perfection]

Your welcome..

Yup, this whole "getting added to a directory for free within the same decade that you submitted it" thing is pretty exciting. I just got another site listed in Zeal today (about 20 minutes ago) that I submitted about 4 days ago. Once my first site got into Looksmart (which happened pretty fast) it took exactly 10 days for it to start showing up on MSN.

Did you get added with the same title and description you submitted it with? Both sites I submitted did, which has to be one of the best parts about this whole Zeal/Looksmart thing.

[Advisor]

Once my first site got into Looksmart (which happened pretty fast)

How long is pretty fast? Hours? Days? I just checked, and my site's not yet in LookSmart, but I assumed that would take at least a day or two.

And yes, it does appear that my Title and description were not altered. I simply used the site's name "Parentsroom" (didn't want to try for keywords in the title on my first submission...not that I think they'd let me.) And my description was certainly within their guidelines. Heck...if you can get a 95% on their test, you have to have a pretty good feel for how to create a Zeal/LookSmart description!

(Mazy take note...LOL!)

Jill

[Perfection]

I got the e-mail from Zeal saying that the site has been added on August 27th, and I got my first hit from Looksmart on the 28th. It might have gotten added sooner and I just didn't get any referrers from it, but it probably just took about a day.

[Cavetoad]

These quizzes are killing me! I'm so close each time. You need to get at least 18 right of 20 to be 'accepted' and I just can't get more than 17! Arrrrgh! I'm just rushing it I suppose, need to relax, get focused, think positive-directory-listing-thoughts and just got it right. I hate tests.
Well, back to them!

[ihelpyou]

Welcome to the forums CaveToad! :hi:

17 is pretty darn good! I might break down sometime and go back to school, I guess. :p

[Advisor]

So how many did you get right (or wrong), Dougie???

I should think you'd do well, since you submit to LookSmart so much.

Jill

[ihelpyou]

I have not taken the time-out yet to take any quizzes..... :(

[Advisor]

Still no sign of my Parentsroom site in LookSmart...wonder how long it will take:?:

:ohmy:

Jill

[Cavetoad]

Another day, another attempt at the dang quizzes. The problem that I'm running into is that you don't need to just get the 18 or higher to pass and move on, the scores are averaged over all attempts that you take on the quizzes. So basically because I had a couple low scores early I'm going to have to take the thing about 20 more times to bring up the score just 6 points ( average ). And if any of my later attempts are low again, forget it, drop that average and keep trying! Sheesh!
My advice, get it right the first time!

[ihelpyou]

LOL. I can see visions of college dancing in the head now. Believe I will study up on things first.....

[Advisor]

the scores are averaged over all attempts that you take on the quizzes.

Ackk! Really? Oh that stinks...if I had known that I wouldn't have taken the ZQ one and just guessed! I only got a 45 I think on it...now I'm gonna be screwed if I ever want to do it the right way. Shoot!

So do you now have to get a perfect score, Cave, in order to be able to pass it? Or will that not even help you?

Jill

[Advisor]

Ohhhhhhhh!!! Yipppeeeee!!! Just checked LookSmart and the Parentsroom is IN!!!! MSN...here I come!

Jill

[Advisor]

Number 1 for "parenting problems" and a bunch of other stuff. Hehehe...look at the sites that are under it too! Good think no one checked to see if the site actually gets updated any more...shhhhhhh

Jill

[ihelpyou]

That is great! What kind of title and description do you have?

[Cavetoad]

Nice work with ParentsRoom there.

To answer your question, it looks like not even a perfect score will save me because of the following message that comes up when I finish:

"Keep plugging away, cavetoad!
Even though you scored 90% or above on this particular Quiz, your MQ is based on all the Quiz questions you have ever taken. Therefore, you are still 5% short of the prestigious MQ certificate..
You scored 18 out of 20 on this Quiz.
Your MQ is now 85% "

and this is only for the first stage of editing, not even the full-on Zealot quiz! ( I think that would take me years to pass at this rate! ).
Pesky RankwriteRoundtable! If I hadn't read it I'd be free of these dang quizzes!

on the plus side, I now know about 2/3 of the answers since they seem to keep using them over and over. A few more days and I should have them all down.

[Advisor]

Parentsroom
Parents post and answer infant, toddler, and teenager parenting problems. Also family friendly recipes, articles, and parenting tips and tricks.

[Advisor]

Wow, that doesn't seem right, Cave. I wonder if emailing Zeal about that would help. If you're getting 95% now, you should be able to submit sites for goodness sakes! Have you tried submitting any? Maybe you can and just don't know it.
Pesky RankwriteRoundtable! If I hadn't read it I'd be free of these dang quizzes! LOL...that's how I feel about these forums. If I never found them, I might actually be able to get some work done and make a few bucks this month!

Jill

[ihelpyou]

That is a good description! Too bad you could not get the title separated also:
Parents Room

Sometimes I have very good luck with that.

[Advisor]

Actually, I never even thought of that. I never call it Parents Room. It really is just Parentsroom. Used to even be #!Parentsroom because it started out as an IRC channel. (Was a good way to get it to the top of the listings too!) I should really look for someone to take over that site and fix it up. It really is not that good any more, but there still is lots of old info that is relevant to new people viewing it, so I guess that is good.

Jill

[Cavetoad]

Sooooo Close!!

"Keep plugging away, cavetoad!
Even though you scored 90% or above on this particular Quiz, your MQ is based on all the Quiz questions you have ever taken. Therefore, you are still 1% short of the prestigious MQ certificate..
You scored 20 out of 20 on this Quiz.
Your MQ is now 89% "

[Advisor]

ROFL...that just makes me laugh. Sorry, CaveToad! I do think I'm gonna be in the same boat if I ever decide to take the ZQ one though. I better plan to ace it the first time.

By the way, if you are still having trouble, I'll be happy to add a site to Zeal for you if you want.

Jill

[Cavetoad]

:D

"Congratulations cavetoad!
You have done it -- you have won the prestigious MQ certificate!
You scored 20 out of 20 on this Quiz.
Your MQ is now 90% "


:smart:

This is the happiest day of my life! <sniff!>

[ihelpyou]

:green:

[Advisor]

WTG, CaveToad!!!

:cheers:

Jill

[Cavetoad]

And just to follow up, now that I'm in, and among the accepted elite I've had my 3 submissions I put in today all added! ( sorry to be getting a little over zealous on this one! )
So once you're in it's smooth sailing I think.

[Advisor]

Now you can make fun of those that flunk the quiz with me. Let's snub our noses at the whole lot of them!

Nyah Nyah!

Jill

[newriver]

Ok now,

I'm at 87% on the ZQ quiz, I have aced the past 3 ZQ quizzes to get it this high.

Me thinks it will be at least four more aces to get the ZQ certificate.

Cavetoad, the ZQ is much more confusing than the MQ quiz. It is more along the lines of simlinks and relevant cat links, cat desciptions, and short descriptions of cats.

Real mind numbing questions that at least two of the answers seem appropriate.

[ihelpyou]

hey CaveToad, nice picture! :thumb:

[Advisor]

Yep, the ZQ one is a real b*tch!

J

[Spider Man]

Oooh..they are quick at putting you in! Thanks for this info, top stuff.

Neither test is too bad. You need to really take your time on the first sitting - look through the guidelines and do as well as you can. Then when it shows you the scoring, write down the questions and answers. Do it again, do the same thing. After 3 or 4 goes virtually all the questions are the same as ones you've done or extremely similar so you just pick the answer off your list. It's just time consuming. ZQ isn't really harder, just less easy to guess the right answer. Having said that I swear i took it 12 times :-)

Of course, anyone that's got the MQ can suggest sites for the directory so if you can't be bothered to take the test then asking a helpful bod to do it for you should work (i need the points to get my own category!!!!)

[Cavetoad]

Now that I'm in, there's no way I'm going further. Forget ZQ for me thanks, I'll stick with MQ! I don't really need a category for myself I think due to the wide variety of sites that I do work for I'm in much better shape being able to suggest to a range of spots rather than to just a single spot. And besides, no more quizzes for me!

[Advisor]

Looks like Parentsroom hit MSN! Seemed to take less than a week from my original Zeal submission. Good stuff to know!

Jill

[glengara]

Took my first look at Zeal having read this thread, can't quite work out the suggestion process though.
Are Zealots meant to act as spiders, or can anyone suggest pages to the featured zealot ?
Seems to be quite Aboutish to me.

[Advisor]

glengara,

It's a little bit complicated. You have to take a quiz to submit site. Please read my article about this at: http://www.rankwrite.com/zeal.htm

That should clear things up for you a bit!

Jill

[rmridgew]

I took the tests about 3 times before I , refreshed my IP and registered again only having to take it once. My site wasnt added though because it was said to be comercial.

I paid for it about a month ago, how long can this take?
Do they send an email if it is rejected?

[Advisor]

If you paid with LookSmart, you'd be notified in 48 hours I think whether it was accepted or not. You should check your original email that you receive when submitting and paying and email them to see what happened.

Jill

[rmridgew]

Even with the basic submit?

[ihelpyou]

No, basic submit takes the full 8 weeks to be reviewed.

[Advisor]

Oops...forgot about basic submit...never used that one.

J

[Perfection]

I used the basic submit once almost 1 year ago to the day (when it only cost $79), and the site got reviewed and listed in 6 days. Lucky me. =]

[newriver]

ZQ, FINALLY!

How's this for a slap...I've been trying to pass this test for what seems like ages. I unfortunately gave myself a hole to start out in because I did not study, finally got the 90% needed to pass, and a nice message to keep pluggin away as I was still short of the necessary ZQ percentage, it has to be above 90% to get the ZQ, so I had to take it one more time.

I think I have it memorized now...LOL.

[Advisor]

WTG, NewRiver!

Jill

[MsSearch]

I also have taken the ZQ test numerous times to the point where all the questions started to get repetitive....Finally got to 90% and it said to keep plugging away (i thought the score needed to pass was 90%...oops)....guess i need to take it one more time....so much for reading the rules/guidelines...

[Advisor]

If you've had some bad grades on it, it becomes difficult to pass it because they keep averaging your scores. Someone somewhere (maybe these forums) mentioned to simply sign up with a different user name and take it again. That way, your 90% will get you right in. Seems like a good idea to me!

Jill

[MsSearch]

I passed this last time today...so I'm IN!! YAY!

I thought about registering under a different name and re-taking the quiz starting fresh but i wasn't sure if they tracked IP's or had some other way of tracking their Zealots...

Not a big deal....take the test a couple times, you've got all the questions and the right answers.... ;)