I was an editor for 4 years. In the process I learned a lot about how the thing really works. If you are truly interested in the truth I will tell it to you in this post.

First...the DMOZ is by far the most valuable directory on the entire internet to get your site into. I know many search engine optimizers claim it is not so but that is completely untrue.

You see when your site gets into the DMOZ you gradually will pick up hundreds of decent quality links because so many web sites and directories utilize the data from the DMOZ. This ends up elevating your site in both Google and Inktomi and probably a few other web portals. If you are in a highly competitive environment and your site is not in the DMOZ....you're screwed.

Now...how the DMOZ really works! (My discussion will focus only on sites that are commercial. The DMOZ is a good, fair, and honest directory for non-commercial sites.)

Now the first thing you must realize is that the DMOZ is a "crooked" directory. 95% of the editors have a vested interest in being an editor. They want to get and keep their own sites in the directory.
They also want to try to keep their competition out.
That's why they became an editor in the first place. In spite of this every editor has a line of BS making them sound as if they have the "highest morale character". That is how they relate to one another and how they relate to the public.

That's exactly why hardly anybody gets approved to be an editor. The more editors they have the smaller the slice of the pie. You see the DMOZ has so many rules that can be interpreted in any number of ways. It's quite easy to come up with a reason to accept or reject a site and also a new editor application.

Usually the editor of the category is the one that's crooked. If an editor higher up is interested monetarily in the category he will harass the lower editor, removing his sites, reprimanding him for one thing or another until the lower editor either quits or they remove him for not following the editor guidelines (which I already stated are numerous and can be interpreted any number of ways).

That's fundementally what the problem is. Too much "conflict of interest". Even if you do succeed in getting your site in the DMOZ...NEVER depend on money you're making from that site! Sooner or later an editor will come along that wants your site out because it is hurting their own sales from their site. There are so many guidelines and rules that are subjective that it's easy to find something about your site that can be used as an excuse to delete it.

The solution is for the DMOZ to begin charging a nominal fee for every submission. Say $10. This will eliminate virtually all the spam. Then get rid of all but the very best editors. Then pay the editors half that fee to review each site submitted. The editor can then easily make a very good living and will be scared to death about doing something wrong. The job of being an editor will be worth a lot more than having their own site in the directory. Then you will have a fair and honest DMOZ.

In the mean time you have to become an editor to get and keep your site in the directory in most cases. Start by applying for a non-commercial category. A category that no one in their right mind would apply for who is not passionately interested in the subject. These cats can be gotten. Once you do get in then and only then can you begin to work your way toward the category you are really interested in. Once in the dmoz....don't immediately apply for the cat you really want. Apply for some more non-commercial cats for at least 6 months to a year. Only then should you attempt to apply for the cat you really want to get your own site in.

Be advised. I am not interested in debating the fact of whether the DMOZ is crooked or not. (It is). I am simply someone who has come forward and spoke the truth about a terrible directory that contributes little to nothing to the commercial side of the internet.

The truth is that the DMOZ should have "crashed and burned" a long time ago. Maybe if enough people complain perhaps google will stop elevating the status of sites in the thing.

If that occurs there will be a lot of angry DMOZ editors. A lot of personal bankruptsies too. A smooth editor in the DMOZ can easily make $250,000 a year by getting and keeping a few of their sites in the directory.