What happened to the DMOZ Directory?
DMOZ is the without doubt the major directory on the Internet. It’s unlikely, however, that someone will search it for your website. Why, then, is it so important? It’s important because (1) it is updated by human operators (2) it’s free and (3) it is Google’s directory. If you are in DMOZ, Google considers you important and that helps your ranking. More than that, the DMOZ drives your position not only in Google, but also in AOL Search, InfoSpace, Lycos, Netscape Search, and many others. In other words, a listing in DMOZ is important for good listings in the search engines.
A bit of terminology here. DMOZ is the directory name. It is the product of ODP, the Open Directory Project. The editors that keep it updated are ODP editors, not DMOZ edtors.
If you have followed our directions for getting listed in DMOZ in our book, you will notice these directions haven’t worked lately. The problem is that DMOZ crashed in late October. In addition, there wasn’t adequate backup. The directory was patched back together with clones from various sites (including Google’s clone) and is now operational again. The directions in our book for getting listed are still correct once DMOZ is fully operational.
Unfortunately, if you submitted a site back then and were waiting to see it listed, your request is probably lost. Check the DMOZ, and it you are not there try to submit it again. We’ve noticed in the categories we’ve tried they aren’t quite ready for submissions yet. Just keep watching for your category to get back up. Then submit again. Getting your site listed here is important.