Comments on: DMOZ is Dead

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:53:49 +0000

I submitted 5 websites during 18 months. No reaction and none got listed.

My competitors are listed long time already so they get high google-results. This is unequal !

By: Mel

Mel — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:07:00 +0000

This comment is just to confirm that nothing has changed in DMOZ, Webmaster is still sitting with the same problem in 2011…

I do not know about paying for a listing in DMOZ however I believe that maybe their communication needs to be looked at. No effort, accept for a guideline is in place to help web masters to get listed.

Google says rich content will ensure high ranking however with the whole DMOZ and page rank scenario you could have the best site on the block, the unattractive and out dated site from 10 years back with a page rank and a DMOZ Link will have the edge.

The question is, if Google moved their interest away from DMOZ would there still be a DMOZ. I have also submitted sites with zero success more than 6 months ago to be honest I think it is a huge waste of time.

I also believe that the downfall of DMOZ lies with the capacity of the editors and agree that when there is any talk of DMOZ being a directory of the past, suddenly a editor mysteriously reply’s.

By: Name withheld

Name withheld — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:18:18 +0000

DMOZ is most certainly corrupt; however, it is not clear whether it is truly dead because Google still seems to place a degree of value on websites that are listed in the directory.

My experience with DMOZ.

I am the author of a website that is the highest ranked in its niche. The website has tens of thousands of words of quality, unique content. It enjoys hundreds of visitors a day from most of the english speaking countries around the world. To put it into perspective, it often outranks the corresponding Wikipedia article (they continually jockey between search results 1 and 2 for all relevant keywords).

I submitted my website to the corresponding DMOZ category over two years ago and the website has still not been included in the DMOZ category. I have two theories to explain this: 1) the category is not being looked after by an editor, 2) the editor has ulterior motives.

Given the fact that an increasing number of online stores that are somewhat related to the category have been added, whereas my free resource (that does not monetize its content) has not been added, I am inclined to believe that the latter is at play here.

My story is not unique; it is also endemic of the problems that plague DMOZ.

The problem I have illustrated is emblematic of the corruption at the heart of DMOZ. Giving editors the power to add or remove websites at will is inherently problematic because it plays a huge degree of control in the hands of an (often) unqualified minority. It also violates many of the principles of an open internet because it puts the power of DMOZ in the hands of an oligarchical editorship.

The real problem, however, is not DMOZ. DMOZ is systemically corrupt because it is a closed-source enterprise that governs a wide-range of content. The real problem is that Google still places some measure of value on DMOZ. Google ought to both devalue DMOZ listings in its ranking algorithm and disincentivize webmasters from using the service.

By: Katie @ Women Magazie

Katie @ Women Magazie — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 07:07:34 +0000

I have tried adding my site more than 3 times in last 2 years but it was not included in the directory, something is fishy for sure.

By: Candy

Candy — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 09:05:57 +0000

I think they don’t accept site with adsense in it. You’d better make your site without adsense before submitting to DMOZ. After they approve, you can add it back!

By: David

David — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:18:47 +0000

In June I submitted five different sites, all valid and good and above-the-board proper sites in various different fields, to DMOZ. As of today, only one has been accepted. DMOZ is dead, dead, dead, for all practical intents and purposes. One or two of my submissions not being accepted could be explained if editors have vested interests, which would be bad, though two are so neutral that there is no valid explanation other than to say editing is non-existent.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:10:53 +0000

the strange thing is that google still put some weight to DMOZ. I have submitted 2 site 2 years ago and no one is listed, although they have a great value. i truly believe that DMOZ editors are paid to list the websites.

By: dmoz is a fraud

dmoz is a fraud — Thu, 06 May 2010 22:48:48 +0000

dmoz is a complete fraud. Shame on all of you “editors”.

By: David

David — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:57:16 +0000

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!

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:49:00 +0000

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.