DMOZ is the Internet’s largest human edited directory. But the giant is dead long time back. It is quite ridiculous to think why Google still gives so much importance to the DMOZ listing when it is filled with broken, duplicate and promotional links.
The multilingual open content directory owned by Netscape is 
maintained by a large community of volunteering editors. However, there have been huge delays and flaws in approving links. Some webmasters have tried for years in vain to have their genuine websites listed. Visit some DMOZ categories in random and you can find that almost half of the listed links are broken or contain some unprofessional disorganized sites. How can an editor approve these sites but not allow genuine professional sites even if the correct category is chosen? So does this mean:
- The volunteering editors give favoritism
- Some of the editors are also search engine experts who try to have his/her client websites alone listed.
- The editor can also reject a site if he/she finds the site to be their personal site competitor.
The above possibilities cannot be ruled out. Yes, there are a large number of editors who practice the ones above. Any webmaster would accept the claim.Reasons for DMOZ being dead include:
- A large number of broken links. Don’t editors check these old links in the categories they maintain?
- Multiple submissions. Thousands of websites have multiple listings on DMOZ when DMOZ guidelines clearly states one URL per domain. How did the editors approve? Do they not find out if it was already submitted before approving it?
- Large number of promotional sites with promotional words listed. Again, this is against DMOZ guidelines. How come these are approved by editors when we hear stories from webmasters that their genuine websites are not being approved for years?
- Editor selection is weird. Existing editors’ come up with weird reasons to reject your application for becoming an Open Directory editor. Interested volunteers have reported that they have been rejected even after following all the rules and guidelines. The rejection mail states no specific reason for rejection.
With internet technology growing in a fast phase, users demand updates every second. DMOZ is old and outdated and does not fit the new internet trend. DMOZ has been killed by slow and greedy editors. It is high time DMOZ goes for a paid editor strategy or a paid & reviewed listing like Yahoo. It is even funny to see Google still giving all the importance to DMOZ by having DMOZ database as the Google Directory.Rumors are that DMOZ might soon be sold to BOTW.org and made into a paid directory. Let’s wait and watch the things which will unfold.
I’m a volunteer ODP editor, and I thought I’ve give an unofficial reply to some of the points that you raise.
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot we can do about the number of editors available to help build and maintain the directory. All the editors are volunteers, so help out by donating as little or as much of their free time as they feel able.
There are currently just under 6000 active editors, while there are about 600,000 categories and over 5.5 million site listings. You’ll have to guess how many suggestions we get, since that’s not public information. But I’m sure you can do the math, and conclude that there are bound to be some areas that don’t get as much editorial attention as they could do with. While letting more people become editors would seem like an easy solution, we have to avoid the types 2 and 3 you list as much as possible, and also ensure that those we accept won’t be a drain on resources requiring constant supervision and clearing up after their mistakes.
Now on the the four specific issues you raise:
1/ Any broken links that can be automatically detected are already dealt with automatically. Though we prefer to leave them listed for a week or so in case it’s only a temporary problem. Unfortunately many problems can’t be reliable picked up automatically, and so require manual inspection from an editor. This takes precious resources away from other areas. However, if you spot any problem listings, please help us find and deal with them, either by using the “update listing” link on the category page, or by reporting them in the thread at the top of http://www.resource-zone.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=12
2/ The editing system does indeed show when a URL is already listed. But you’re misreading the guidelines here. What is not permitted is for a site owner to suggest their site more than once (not that this stops them). Editors are perfectly allowed to list a suggested site more than once, in accordance with the editing guidelines. For details see http://www.dmoz.org/guidelines/site-specific.html
3/ I’m not sure whether you’re referring to promotional words in the ODP title and/or description, or to the content of the site itself. The latter is not a problem provided the site otherwise meets our site selection criteria at http://www.dmoz.org/guidelines/include.html . However, if you spot any listings that don’t meet these criteria, or whose titles and/or descriptions don’t comply with the editing style guidelines at http://www.dmoz.org/guidelines/describing.html then please let us know by either of the mechanisms mentioned in 1/ above. Editors can make mistakes, and both websites and our guidelines can change over time.
4/ Every rejection message either includes a specific reason or a list of common reasons. If there are no specific comments then one of the common reasons will apply. Being able to follow instructions, work independently, and critically evaluate your own work are all vital skills for an editor to possess. Since re-applications are generally encouraged, you should think of the task of working out and correcting the mistakes from previous applications as part of the application process. If a potential editor can figure it out, then that’s a good demonstration of essential skills. If he/she can’t, well then they probably wouldn’t make a very good editor.
Finally, with regard to the rumours about BOTW, you do know where they originated don’t you? I wouldn’t believe everything that you read on the web…
Robert, glad to have you here. Thanks for the time in responding in detail.
But do you still think that Google should give the juice for a link in DMOZ?
Do you think that a paid review listing with paid editors like Yahoo Dir be the best solution for DMOZ?
I am not able to add my website for more than a year. I have submitted atleast a dozen times. Dmoz is dead and thats what Robert says too
Same problem here . Not any website accepted for more then a year !
Isn’t it strange that any time somebody either blogs about DMOZ or posts a forum thread about DMOZ being dead, one of the DMOZ editors mysteriously appears to offer lengthy reasons as to why DMOZ is still viable? Webmasters only wish they could be so prompt in approving sites.
I didn’t even realize they still existed until I heard DMOZ listings improve a website’s SEO. Frankly, prior to my SEO effort a few months ago, I hadn’t seen a web directory since Yahoo removed their directory from their homepage, i.e. 1997-ish. I have serious trouble believing Google still relies upon DMOZ anymore. DMOZ really needs to let go of the reins and change it so submissions are automatically accepted and deleted after the fact if necessary. I do believe directories could work, but they need to be more comprehensive and the only way that will happen is if they open editing wikipedia-style.
Maybe not dead, but it doesn’t matter much anymore. maybe back 10 years ago DMOZ was “important”. not anymore. Goog wemaster tools at one point even suggested to list on DMOZ, but not the case anymore. infact, google doesnt really recommend sumitting directories anymore.
DMOZ is complete crap. I’ve had people who claim to be editors ask me to pay them for my listing. I’ve heard of some people that have gotten paid for it. Can’t believe Google still has it around as a viable SEO solution. I’ve tried for 5 years to get my software site into it and it’s been rejected each time. I’m not paying to have it put in because it’s wrong and the DMOZ needs to go away. It’s gay just like the editors that play God in it!