Google using DMOZ site descriptions

mindwhirl · #1 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 05:59 PM

I just checked my ranking for one of my sites. The keyword is "bonsai". I wondered where the text for the site description came from as it's not on my page. It looked like a DMOZ description. I checked and it is. Word for word.

It's not just my site. Most every description for that keyword is DMOZ created. I checked a couple other keywords and they mostly are all DMOZ descriptions as well.

So Google did their dance, I lost placement ranking and they are using DMOZ descriptions.

I dislike Google...very much! Seems they would rather pump out BETA's than have a good, focused search engine with useable unbiased content.

Also, as an aside, my ranking on DMOZ for the "bonsai" keyword is very high. I won't say which for fear of Google retribution. Funny dontcha think? Top 5 on the site that created the description. Yet not top 10 on the search engine that stole the descriptions?

webcruiser8 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mindwhirl

I just checked my ranking for one of my sites. The keyword is "bonsai". I wondered where the text for the site description came from as it's not on my page. It looked like a DMOZ description. I checked and it is. Word for word.

Did you check your description Meta tag? It will not
show on the visiable page but search engine
looks at it.

You are lucky got listed in DMOZ.

cbp · #3 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 11:01 PM

Google has been pulling the DMOZ description for 6-8 months now for a number of sites in a number of keyword searchs. MSN started doing it in November.

There is no reason to assume that the use of the DMOZ description has anything to do with the ranking of the site.

Google have been doing this for a long time now, they do a lot of testing and must have reached the conclusion that using the DMOZ description rather than a description that is SEO manipulated provides a better presentation of the search results to the user, on the balance of other factors --- MSN have appeared to have reached the same conclusion.

There is no such thing as "ranking" in DMOZ - its random.

CBP