DMOZ

DMOZ is a directory of companies edited by human beings and not computer programmes. The idea behind DMOZ is that voluntary 'online citizens' take small portions of the internet, and sort the authentic, working sites from the badly constructed, 'spammy' efforts which slow everyone's experience of the internet.

Google, and other business directory sites, use data from DMOZ - as it's run by human beings it's 'more trusted'- so obviously being registered here is very valuable indeed, as that one entry could lead to your site being listed in more than that directory.

 

The Submission Process


To submit your site to DMOZ, firstly ensure that your site:

  • Is not a mirror site- ie, it has identical content to another, but they both have the same URLs;
  • That the site you're submitting does not have the same or similar content to one you may already have listed in DMOZ;
  • Is not a site that just redirects to another site;
  • Does not include 'illegal content, such as libel, child pornography, material that infringes any individual property right, or material that specifically advocates, solicits or abets illegal activity (such as fraud or violence)';
  • Is not 'Under Construction', i.e. displaying a banner alone the front page and promising that the site will be ready 'soon';
  • Is not a site that consists of mostly links to affiliate sites without offering much information.
  • And do not disguise your submission and submit the same site more than once.

Then go to the DMOZ site and run a search to find the category that you would like your site listed under, and search for your site name to ensure that it hasn't already been listed. If the catergory page you've landed on doesn't have your site name already listed and has a 'Suggest URL' link on the top of the page, then you're in luck. If it doesn't have this link, then that category is no longer accepting submissions.

Click the 'Submit URL' link on the page and fill in the required form. Ensure that there's no spelling, punctuation or grammatical mistakes, and do not fill the form with a promotional sales pitch, as DMOZ administrators don't like this.

Sit Back and Relax


After you've filled out your form, the next step is to be patient and wait. It could be weeks or even months for your site to be reviewed and listed on DMOZ, so go and do some other things to promote your site instead. Certainly do not wait a few weeks and try submitting it again, as DMOZ may refuse to list your site at all.

If all goes well and your site is listed, other search engines and online directories will use the information from DMOZ and list your site too! This includes AOL, Google, Netscape, Yahoo, and literally hundreds of other sites. And, if you don't like how your site has been listed, such as how it has been titled or described, then there is a second form 'Update URL' which allows you to change your details accordingly.

All of the details and rules about adding your site to DMOZ can be found here and bear in mind that, like submitting an article to a magazine, that The Editor's decision is final. If your site does not conform to the rules, it will not be listed, so ensure you understand the rules before you begin, and then everyone's happy.