Emarketing Blog

Directories are good way to help your website linking.

The following are DMOZ guidelines for inclusion into the widely talked about dmoz directory.

http://dmoz.org/guidelines/include.html

Site Selection Criteria

Below are guidelines that directly relate to adding specific types of sites. These guidelines will help ensure that material added to the ODP meets the directory’s goals.

Sites to Include

The ODP’s goal is two-fold: to create the most comprehensive and definitive directory of the Web, and to create a high quality, content rich resource that the general public considers useful and indispensable. In short, editors should select quality sites and lots of them.

Consider the relative value of a resource in comparison to other information resources available on your particular topic. Relative value refers not only to the quality of the site, but also to its ability to contribute important, unique information on a topic.

In general, ODP editors should enter sites that represent the following:

* Original, unique and valuable informational content that contributes something unique to the category’s subject.
* Contrasting points of view on major issues. The ODP attempts to cover the full breadth and depth of human knowledge, representing all topics and points of view on those topics.

Editors should consider the following for each site:

Is the site’s content/information identical to other sites?

A site should not mirror content available on other sites.

Does the ODP include the type of site you want to add?

The site should not be on the list of sites that the ODP does not generally include.

Is the site complete?

The site should have working links and content rich subpages. Links should not bring up 404 pages or subpages with no content. If a web site is still under construction it is not a good candidate for the Open Directory.

Sometimes a site may have broken links, poor design, or other “quality” issues, yet presents information that is difficult or impossible to find elsewhere on the Web. Consider adding the site to the ODP. Even with some flaws, if the content is rare and unique, the site may be considered very useful.

Is the site current?

A site that claims to provide time-sensitive information should be current. If it is not current, determine the site’s archival or research value. In rare instances, a site that used to be current may still contain valuable articles, links and other resources. For example, an antiques newsletter that hasn’t been updated in 2 years may still contain valuable articles and information on antique buying and appraisal. However, a site that claims to provide daily current events news that hasn’t been updated in several months or even years, may no longer have any significant value.

Is the site available and does it load completely?

The site should load in a reasonable time and be consistently available. Design alone is rarely a valid reason to deny a listing for an otherwise content rich site. The only time design may be a factor if it renders the site unreadable.

Is it easy to assess the site’s trustworthiness?

Can you see which person or entity is responsible for it? Does it give enough information about the source for a user to judge its reliability? While we cannot assess the accuracy of every site we list, we can select sites which give verifiable information.

For example, the site of a trustworthy business or organization typically displays its official name and address, or includes industry-appropriate information about itself verifiable through a recognized third party. A trustworthy informational site typically gives its authorship and/or sources, as appropriate, and makes clear any commercial sponsorship. The information necessary to verify a site’s trustworthiness will vary depending upon the topic and the category.

Remember, no site is guaranteed a listing in the Open Directory, and we depend on editors to use their own discretion. In short, we ask that editors maintain editorial integrity, keep the ODP’s broader goals and mission in mind, and always employ good common sense.

It is said that inclusion into the DMOZ directory improves traffic. Its very hard to get into and it also takes time to get into. There are criteria to meet. Match them.