Never got a site listed that way before. I used to edit a lot there but timed out a while ago. The biggest thing that seemed to cause sites to sit in unreviewed for so long was just not enough editors to go through all the submissions.

We have tried to submit our site to DMOZ numerous times over the past year.

This might be part of the problem as each time you submit it goes to the end of the queue.

Rulea of thumb for DMOZ: do your homework, submit once, forget about it.

Exactly, move on. You could have built a ton of links with the time invested checking whether or not your Dmoz listing is a approved or looking for the right category for the next submission. You did your work, next.

I just checked and found that a site I submitted 4 years ago has been added in the past year, so you indeed need to submit and forget.

We have tried to submit our site to DMOZ numerous times over the past year

Maybe they have tagged you as a spammer. Did you not read the guidelines you agreed to about not submitting more than once?

How do you think any directory (not just DMOZ) should treat those who can not follow the guidelines that they agreed to ... and you have the audacity to complain!

Please only submit a URL to the Open Directory once. Again, multiple submissions of the same or related sites may result in the exclusion and/or deletion of those and all affiliated sites.

I'd say go for it, pay the $450, and report back here what happens.

BTW - I'm assuming the $450 is paid after the site appears in DMoz. After all, if all those editors are currupt, they can easily delete the site if you don't pay. I mean, only a fool would pay upfront... right?
P-81

Rule of thumb for DMOZ: do your homework, submit once, forget about it.

Rule of thumb for DMOZ: (do your homework, submit not even once)
forget about it.

just forget about it. ;)

May be... When about 2 months passed after my site was submitted, I've visited the page of DMOZ category, and suddenly found that it has not been edited for more than a year... I wrote to the editor of this category not asking to be enlisted but to be sure he's alive... but seems he isn't - still no reply... (actually he is alive, sure - his personal web site seems OK with news, etc.)

Well, since _I_ don't answer to any feedbacks sent to me by outside users, it does not surprise me you got no answer. Actually, when asked in our forums, the meta editors usually discourage new editors from answering external feedback.

History has tought me that answering feedback from outside the ODP often leads to needless disccussions and a high level of stress. I did change my email account once due to it being signed up for dozens of spam newsletters. A fellow editor was close to calling the police because of real life stalking by someone he answered his feedbacks.

There a number of ways to get listed in DMOZ. The set it and forget it method that a handful of public editors have been repeating for over a decade in public forums does not work, for obvious reasons.

Fact: DMOZ is, unfortunately, still a very economical and easy way to throw your site a large number of free backlinks. It isn't the only way, for sure, however compensating for not being listed to compete with a competitor just means you have to work that much harder.

It is therefore in your best interests to get listed.

DMOZ "may" have corrupt editors. I know they probably did in the past, but now it is primarily a clique. You have a set number of them that frequent 'their support forum', and have for a large number of years, spouting the same gibberish that they do in here: don't ask about your site, we are volunteers so please cry for us, once you submit it that's the best you can do, etc.

All of that is hogwash.

Method one:Guilt an editor

If you are lucky enough to have access to an editor of your category, take the time to check the category in question and edit it for them. Send them a list of sites that are no longer up, mainly, and maybe ones with redirects to different URLs. Do that, and in a calculated manner include at the bottom of your email something diplomatic mentioning your site. Basically, you're guilting them into it.

Success? 20%
Well, times have changed now and you can't reach most editors, and even if you do, they tend to not care or are rude so this method is more risky. Another problem is you may send it, but they won't receive it because they are no longer active or their email no longer works.

Caveat? You have divulged that a domain you have wants to be listed in DMOZ. You can never, ever list it from that point forward if it gets blacklisted, which they do on a whim.

Method two: Fake an editor account

I can't get too much into this, but overall don't listen to anything they say - don't divulge the sites you are associated with, for sure, which is one thing they repeatedly suggest. If you use a proxy service to sign up with a new browser (use firefox or chrome or ie, whichever one you don't regularly use) there is no way for them to track you. Suggest sites in the category, make up a totally new personality, and you'll probably get approved.

Success? 70%
The main advantage of this method is you can do it over and over and eventually you'll succeed, it's just a matter of tenacity. Of course they approve editors at the same pace that they approve sites, meaning at their whim, so you may be waiting a long time before you get approved.

Caveat? None, really. Nothing they can do about it as long as you don't include your domain in the 3 site suggestions they ask for.

Method three: Pay

Now, this is one area I don't have experience with because I've not had the luck of finding an editor that is reasonable enough to let me pay them for their time. However, I have serious issues with it.

Firstly, editors are encouraged to blacklist any sites, owners, even whole IP ranges that attempt to circumvent their clogged system. If you pay someone and they know what domain you want in there, it is very possible they will blacklist not only the domain but every domain on the IP. Once this is done, there is nothing you can do about it.

Secondly, if you pay one of these guys to put it in, it can be removed for any reason, at any time, including a day later, and there is absolutely no accountability. A higher up editor can do this on a whim, a competitor who has access can do it, and you have no recourse. You cannot ask them about specific sites in any avenue UNLESS you are complaining about abuse which helps you notatall.

Success? N/A

Caveat? No guarantee at all, your domain is now noticed, possibility of blacklisting much higher.

-----

Some tidbits about DMOZ.

- Once you become an editor, you can check any domain you want to see if it is in queue, if it has been blacklisted, and any notes attached to it. You can be an editor of any category to do this to any domain.

- You will also have access to their forums, which provides you a glimpse of the way their hierarchy works. Very easily can your editor account be shut down or investigated, just on a whim, so it is advisable to lay low once you do become one.

- Assume they track IPs on just about everything, and can blacklist any of them. This includes the IP you submit your application on, the IP of your domain, and the IP of any other domain hosted on your server. There is no rhyme or reason behind this, so it is in your best interests to keep your domain and personal IP completely hidden until you are an editor or guaranteed a listing.

- Submitting your site and forgetting about it is the weakest thing you can do. Visit 'their support forum' or browse these forums to see the poor saps that listened to the parroting and actually spent 4 years waiting. Get down and dirty to get it done.

----

I read the charter here and nothing I've written is in breach of it since I am not suggesting anything illegal, nor am I (primarily) grieving about DMOZ.

I am also an editor. :-)

Cool I thought i was the only one that wasn't getting listed.
I have always given sites fairly sterile descriptions, in the hopes of getting them listed.

Anyway i have two DMOZ questions
1) Our business has recently moved from one region to another, If i request the listing be updated, how likely is that to happen, or will it just be deleted
2) SWMBO has created a website selling Clothin patterns for kids, I cannot for the life of me figure out where to put this on the DMOZ site.

Any help would be appreciated

edit---------------
Also is there anyway to check what sites are awaiting approval?

1) Our business has recently moved from one region to another, If i request the listing be updated, how likely is that to happen, or will it just be deleted

Assuming that it's still listable, it'll be moved, but this might take a while.

2) SWMBO has created a website selling Clothin patterns for kids, I cannot for the life of me figure out where to put this on the DMOZ site.

Assuming that she has a catalogue and price list and takes orders, somewhere in Shopping. If she also serves local clients, Regional as well.

To be listed in a Shopping category, a website must sell direct to the consumer and include a priced catalog and a means of placing an order remotely. Additionally, websites based outside the US must ship to more than one country. If her site only ships to a single non-US country, it can be listed in that country's Shopping category.

There are long queues in DMOZ. They don't approve crap sites as well. It usually takes 6 months.

Some people say that DMOZ moderators take money from people to include their site on personal level, but who cares!

Decius, that's a great post. Thanks for sharing that. Several years ago I did a pubcon presentation that included much of what you posted, which maybe didn't sit well with one of the DMOZ/NewHoo people who was the moderator of that particular session. Whoops, hehe. :P

The only thing I wish to add, and it's a quibble really, is the submit and wait thing. If the stars align (and how often does that happen?) then the site will get in. But that's a big if because there are a lot of stars. But that's what I do nowadays and if I get in fine and if I don't then whatever.

Thank you Decious. Great post. You can become editor and accelerate whole process or wait once you are applied. If you're constantly submitting website, previous attempts will not be reviewed.

All we need to gather patience for dmoz approval

I also did not get approve from Dmoz directory.

I submitted a site to [dmoz.org...] but it seems abandoned.

I can not see any new site there since several months.

Is it that time of year again, time to dust off the old Dmoz thread?

Absolutely.

So, anyone care to name the "Ghosts of DMOZ Past, Present and Future"?

It's a pity because I am sure that few search engines still use Dmoz.

for example if you have a look at Yandex.com ( the Universal Yandex index) you can sometimes see the "old fashioned" dmoz description ( if the site has a a dmoz listing..).
i don't know how it works because there are few dmoz descriptions....

For example if you search Italian fashion and design

[yandex.com...]

the 10th result ( Polimoda ) has a dmoz description....

hi i also submit my site to dmoz directory but not added in this directory.

Is it that time of year again, time to dust off the old Dmoz thread?

That was said 2 months ago, very creative

does Dmoz even accept listings or they simply troll the world?

They do accept listings. It all depends on the category and the individual editing it. In all other categories, they don't. :)

does Dmoz even accept listings or they simply troll the world?

sounds about right to me - I've lost count the amount of sites over the years I've submitted to them ..not a single one listed - its pointless not unless your a "friend" of a editor, or you just edit a section yourself then you can add as many of your sites as you like

I would give up .....I have

The last two I submitted were in a global category and a regional one respectively. Both were accepted. Since I don't keep track of such submissions, I can't say how long it took, but it was less than two years.

A long time ago, I do believe a dmoz listing was the bees knees, nowadays I get the feeling that they are as loved by the great G as Local directories, price comparison sites, flight and hotel bookings operators,,,,