by Chris
Sunday, July 19 2009
Dear DMOZ (ODP) haters,
As a DMOZ editor, I have come to notice an innumerable amount of blog and forum posts by people disparaging the Open Directory Project (ODP). I would like to take a few moments and offer a response.
Firstly, It is my observation that 100% of the hate posts have been made by people who feel that DMOZ has done them wrong. Usually, this means that either their site has not been accepted for inclusion to the directory (sometimes after several months to years, and multiple resubmissions), or their application to become an editor was declined.
While I understand their frustrations, I must make the following points.
- DMOZ is operated on a volunteer basis. This means that the editors add sites and make modifications in their spare time, and because of the sheer volume of entries that DMOZ receives (even on a daily basis), it can take a long time for sites to get listed.
- DMOZ is exclusive, not all-inclusive. Even though many website owners or developers may feel that their sites offer unique content, and therefore deserve to be listed in DMOZ, the editors may feel otherwise.
- Posting hate messages in the DMOZ forum will not help the chances for getting a site listed. Nor will submitting the same site over and over. In fact, it will probably hurt.
- If you don't like how long it's taking to get a site listed, volunteer to edit that category. Instead of flaming DMOZ and destroying the chance of getting listed, take the constructive approach and offer to help out. It's a win-win scenario...provided that your application for editorship is accepted.
Some may make the comment that DMOZ is a relic of the internet and serves no true purpose in today's age of the internet search engine. But this is a false assumption. Google uses DMOZ's search database dump as the basis for their own database.
Also, it must be stated that there is a fundamental difference between a search engine and DMOZ.
- A search engine's goal is to index the entire internet, and return relevant results based on a user's search query.
- DMOZ's goal is to provide an easily indexable database of sites that provide unique content, while adhering to their strict guidelines. Ultimately, however, the end product is the database dump. Which is downloaded, parsed, and used in directories throughout the internet. This is why it is so sought after by web developers and others attempting to increase their off-page SEO.
- Simply put, search engines are all-inclusive (for the most part), DMOZ is exclusive...and rightfully so.
DMOZ site: http://www.dmoz.org
DMOZ forum: http://www.resource-zone.com/forum
DMOZ blog: http://blog.dmoz.org
Google Directory: http://directory.google.com
DISCLAIMER: This is purely an opinion post, and it does not necessarily reflect the thoughts and/or views of any single member of, nor the collective, DMOZ (ODP). Including, but not limited to any of their affiliates, agents, officers, employees, or parent-companies. Basically, I am speaking solely on my own behalf.
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