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The Open Directory Project

(ODP / Dmoz.org)

Open Directory Project (ODP) Results:

• Directory listings are provided to AOL, Google, Lycos, Netscape and many other web sites, directories & portals.

Preparing For ODP:

• Do not include illegal content.

• Large, information sites are preferred.

• Your site should have recently been updated, if it hasn't been, now is the time to do it.

• Content should be informational, appealing and easy to read.

• Site must be professional and organized well.

• The link navigation should be easy to follow.

• All images should be optimized and of professional quality.

• Don't include excessive flash or animation.

• Don't include sound.

• Load time must be quick.

• No broken links.

• Include contact information.

• Include a copyright notice.

• Do not use excessive animations or flash features.

• Do not use redirects.

• Do not submit replicate sites with different URL's.

• Sites promoting solely an affiliate service(s) may not get indexed and may be considered spam.

• Consider optimizing your meta tags for Lycos or AOL to possibly get a boost in your position in those engines.

Choosing A Category To Submit To:

• Research the categories that are available.

• If you choose the wrong category, it is likely that your site will not get indexed.

• Submit regionally specific sites to that particular regional category.   

• To get a good idea of the category that your site belongs to, search your keywords at Google, Netscape and Lycos to see what categories sites appear in.

• Do not submit to main categories.

• Find the lowest level of subcategories to submit to.

• If you have another page in your site that is comparable to your index page and offers quality information, you can submit to a different sub-category.

• You may choose up to one additional sub-category but no more than two.

• Adult sites should be submitted to adult categories.

• Sites in any language other than English should be submitted in the "world" categories.

Submitting To The ODP:

• After you have chosen the proper category, click on the "Add URL" link towards the top of the page.

• Only submit your main page.

• Be sure to completely answer every section.

• Do not leave anything blank and fill in the appropriate information in the appropriate fields.

• Your titles and descriptions should be brief and to the point indicating a precise representation of your site written with proper grammar and spelling.

• The titles and descriptions should be captivating causing the reader to want to know more about what is available within your site, but do not include any marketing hype in your titles or descriptions.

• Include your keywords.

• Include the date it was last updated.

ODP Indexing Time:

• Pages typically get indexed in three to four weeks.

• Indexing can take as long as 16 weeks.

If You Don't Get Indexed:

• Become very critical of your site.

• Look over the guidelines for preparing your site for the ODP.

• Look over the guidelines for designer spider & editor friendly web sites.

• Consider making changes and re-submitting.
  
      Contacting An Editor:
   

• If another few months pass and you are still not indexed and you truly believe that your site should be indexed, consider contacting the editor of the category that you submitted to.

• The editors name will be included as a link at the bottom of the category page.

• Always remain professional and courteous when contacting an editor.

• Quickly come to the point and include your URL, title, description and the category path that you would like to have your site listed in.

• Usually if there is a particular reason that an editor is not indexing your site, they will contact you and let you know.

• If after being very nice in your e-mails and you are still not listed and the editor seems to be ignoring you, contact the editor in the next category up in the same manner.

Modifying Your Listings:

• If you need to remove a page or make changes, such as your domain name, write to the editor of the category and notify them that you need your page removed or of whatever needs to be modified in your listing.

Becoming An ODP Editor:

• You will be expected to work as a team with other editors.

• Find a category that you would like to apply for and find the link "Become an Editor".

• If you do not see a link for "Become an Editor" on the category page, try going down further in the sub categories. 

• Study the guidelines to become an editor at http://dmoz.org/guidelines.html.

• Find more information at http://dmoz.org/help/become.html.
  Choose a small category that you have experience with and apply for that category to become an editor.

• Take care in filling out the application.  Spelling and grammar should be excellent, filling out each field completely.

• If you have affiliations with the category you are applying for, be honest and let them know that on the application.

• You will have to submit 3 sample URL's of sites that you would recommend for this category. 

• Be sure the sites are completely relevant to the category.

• Be sure to include all three URL's and the sites must be of excellent quality including well written titles and descriptions.

• If you have trouble being accepted as an editor, try following the guidelines at
  http://dmoz.org/help/helpmain.html.

• It may also be helpful to visit Zeal http://www.zeal.com/users/become_a_zealot.jhtml and take a test to qualify as an editor with them to gain some experience.  Once you have some experience, try going back to the ODP and make them aware of the experience that you have gained.

ODP Links Of Interest:

Open Directory Project Public Forum
Sponsored by members of the ODP Community.

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