Search Engine Optimisation Tips | C2 Web Design

The power of DMOZ

Trust and overwhelming approval is how many search engines, particularly Google, basis its results. Google looks to the most trusted sources on the net (those it gives higher PR ranking) and takes their opinions, recommendations and sites listed within its pages very seriously.

One of the most trusted sources on the net is DMOZ (http://www.dmoz.org). DMOZ is basically a manually entered and maintained website directory. DMOZ is split in to many thousands of sub categories. Its entries are not automated by scripts or programs but each site listed on DMOZ is hand picked and assessed for relevance by the many thousands of 'moderators/editors'.

At the moment there are over 4million sites listed on DMOZ, which have been manually reviewed and added to the DMOZ directory by over 68,000 editors over the past 7 years.

Google looks to DMOZ as a trusted friend and has shown strong trends to favour sites that are listed on DMOZ. Especially as DMOZ has a PR ranking of 8. Plus Google has a trusted interest in DMOZ because if you visit Googles directory, http://www.google.co.uk/dirhp?hl=en&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 , it basically is a download of the DMOZ website, including all website links. You can probably start to see the importance of a DMOZ listing now.

I managed to obtain a DMOZ listing for C2 Web Design which took a 3 month period, plus you would generally have to wait for around a further 3 months for Google to start recognising and improving your search engine position.

The problem is that by not knowing how to submit your site properly can mean that YOU are the cause of not gaining a listing. If you submit your site to a wrong section, then once the Moderator/Editor of that section finally gets to review your site – they realize it is in the wrong section and, as they do not have the power to add your website in to an area moderated by another editor, they pass it along. This then joins the back of the queue for the correct editor and goes through the same time delay again.

Although there is no secret formula to gaining a quicker listing, the best advice here is to ensure that the category you request to be listed in is the most targeted category relating to your business and its location. Also make sure to read the DMOZ submitting guidelines – it has been known the some editors refuse sites for not taking the time of effort to submit correctly. Remember a DMOZ listing is good, but Google is very themed base, the more targeted and related category the better. Also DMOZ do not want a lot of duplicated type listings. If, after finding the area on DMOZ you would like to appear, it appears there are lots of similar sites to your own – you may want to rethink or find a more specific area. Otherwise you may simply never gain a listing.

Once you have added your submission to DMOZ for a listing you can check http://resource-zone.com/ after one month to see how your listing is going (thanks goes to Keir – http://www.juice-pt.co.uk)

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