I was trying to get a site listed in dmoz. One of the editors told me there was not enough content.

I found this odd as my site has 50 pages of informational content. Most sites in my category only have 5 pages with no info.

Any ideas on this one?

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Mortgage calculators and mortgage refinance counseling. We also offer dating advice and the zip code finder.

A URL would be helpful to give you an idea as it is hard to comment on an invisible entity.

Just to let you know that content means a lot of things but the master key is 'unique content'. Does your site have enough content to offer the DMOZ users something? Does it have something to offer that other sites already within the directory don't offer? (and not necessarily in the same category). Is the content your own? Is it helpful? Is it UNIQUE???

I cannot see that any of the URL's in your signature has yet been reviewed. But if they are the ones you refer to then here goes:

Your first one, although it may be helpful to visitors, does not provide any information that is not already available from within the directory - therefore it would probably not be listed (I don't edit there so this is just my opinion). It is not meant to reflect on the quality of sites but more on the fact does it 'add' to DMOZ? It is also a sub site to the second one and thus not listable. Why? If you choose to spread your services all over various domains... your choice.... it does not mean that you can get multiple listings. Put it this way, if you was a green grocer, and put your apples on one site and pears on another, we would not list them both. The green grocer should have ONE main site detailing all of its services... it also makes good business sense to have a basket with all your eggs in it for those who pass by. You never know the person who came to buy the pears my also fancy an apple whilst there!

As for the second one.... I am not going to even go there. Not because the site is bad or anything... but simply because real estate is something that within the ODP is a sore subject and one that has been abused many times. It is for that reason the rules for real estate are so much different and to be honest I have never looked at them. I do know that there is some rule about being listed ONCE in the physical locality of the 'walk in' offices (or something like that). I cant find the link to the exta rules.... if I do I will post it here for you.

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Volunteer DMOZ Editor
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Any comments I make are my own and DO NOT form an official statement of the ODP - Just so that you understand!!

Here you go: http://dmoz.org/realestateguidelines.html

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Volunteer DMOZ Editor
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Any comments I make are my own and DO NOT form an official statement of the ODP - Just so that you understand!!

The statement was made "although it may be helpful to visitors, does not provide any information that is not already available from within the directory - therefore it would probably not be listed"

This makes it sound like that if you are not the first to be listed for a given topic that your chances of being listed are zero. In alot of fields the information is basically the same (homes for sale) in this case. How does that make this site less relavent than any other, and less worthy of being listed in DMOZ. Does first mean only??? This sounds very anti-competitive. How can a small website with limited budget compete with deep pocket corporations.

Quote "Does it have something to offer that other sites already within the directory don't offer?"

If I run a small retail computer shop and I was listed in DMOZ first, then IBM and DELL can forget it. That just doesn't make sense.

Content may be King, but there is alot to be said for a competitive marketplace too. DMOZ might be headed for some legal problems.

IMO

Zero no.... reduced yes. Please don't generalise the comment to be a black and white fact because that is not what it is nor is it the way it should be interpereted. Your computer example... well that is just dramatisation. Every computer store sells different products and provides different services and for different types of consumer - thus they have a unique quality. But if your store only sells standard Dell products over the net and there is another one selling exactly the same products which is already listed then it is not unique. Is it really that hard to understand?



Well unless they are all selling exactly the same homes then they will have a unique aspect about them and may be considered for a listing. Can't see a problem there.



Incase you did not realise it DMOZ is not a classified billboard and it pays zero, nill, none, no interest in business practice and does not care whatsoever above the finanial effects of listing a site (or not). DMOZ is there for the user and not for anyone else. DMOZ is not a crowbar in the world of business competition - that is for the business men and women, DMOZ is a directory; nothing more nothing less.

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Volunteer DMOZ Editor
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Any comments I make are my own and DO NOT form an official statement of the ODP - Just so that you understand!!

what does dmoz define as content?

quite simply, if it's something a lot of people will find useful, that's generally considered "content" to dmoz.

no need to get more specific than that.

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I think from what I have seen there seems to be many websites with similar content but offering variations in prices and quality, and this does seem to be adequately reflected in dmoz and all of the directories.

It is in the "customer interests" to have variation of the same type of products, this way they get variation in value for money.

If DMOZ gets 5 sites selling "widgets" at different prices they may list all five. If they get 50 selling "widgets" selling for different prices applying after the first five, the editor will likely decide enough is enough and deny the other listings. Fair? Likely not, but that is the reality.

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Hi SEOAM,

That makes sense to me. Also it would explain why they explain they are not interested in "affiliate sites".

An example of this would be a person selling "widgets" made at the same factory, they may allow 5, but then if there are another 25 persons who are small businesses each carefully making their own uniquely crafted widget all with different inputs and slight variations then they may be included.

After all if they didn't control what went in, then it would become less relevant. Obvious they have got the balance right as they seem to be widely used and widely respected.

Zeno... you got it. Such is life when there is competition. Usually the ones that get there first get the business. It is very difficult to dislodge incumbents. That goes for politics too!

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