I ran into a couple of thread over at digitalpoint (this one) where the thread author claimed that ODP would delist sites that posted their links in the Marketplace (or for sale) section.

I was a little skeptical, but then I found another thread (this one) where a site had actually been dumped from ODP -- presumably because they posted their ODP listed site for sale.

Am I the only one that thinks this is hilariously typical of ODP? -- Oh and pathetic, don't forget pathetic.

What possible basis or grounds could exist for removing a site from the directory simply because it's been posted for sale?

You know, Feedburner just got bought by some other company... yet I see their site is still listed in ODP. So... is it more a matter of where or how you sell your site that makes the difference between being kicked or kept in ODP?

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ODP represents the height of hypocrisy.

First of all it's not open. I have been trying for years for someone over there to list one of my sites and all I get back from them is a long hollow echo. It's interface hasn't changed in years. Having no update in years means that as a directory, it is woefully out of date and provides no real directory service at all.

Add to that the stories about volunteer editors requesting payment to list and the fact that at some point it featured very highly in getting google listed this adds corruption to the "open" directory.

I get the solid impression that there is one kid in a Harry Potter outfit zapping things with his wand ....blessing whom He will bless and cursing those he will curse and giggling in a girlish glee. To expect resonableness, professionlism or even maturity from this kid seems a little beyond the reach of rationality

I'd like to know how much "cred" DMOZ still has with google.

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A GREAT BIG DITTO

I even applied as an editor and was denied for some trivial reason. You'd think if they really need good editors, then they wouldn't be so picky.

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The same grounds they have for keeping perfectly good websites out. I dont even bother with them anymore.

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yeap, dmoz does remove sites that are for sale. it is lame.

If your selling a site listed on DMOZ, don't tell your possible buyers about it public. Privately yes...

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Had you taken the time to look at the competitiors sites and their meta descriptions and site design I think you might be able to see why other sites were included and yours was not.

For example your description tag reads as so

<meta NAME="Description" CONTENT="Web Design For Fresno, the San Joaquin Valley and Beyond">

This is at best lazy and non descriptive you failed to include the state and simply input words

Here is an example from ODP

A Boulder, Colorado based company that provides designing, and hosting services for businesses and individuals.

While many claim editors at ODP sold positions.... few if any... have offered valid proof.

Might want to look at your site from a different set of eyes.

Peace!

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Yeah - it is somewhat 'strange' that Google puts so much weight on DMOZ entries yet there seems to be no consistency/quality in the handling of that directory.

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I said One of my sites......I did not say the site on my signature But thanks for your input. We both could use new eyes

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New eyes and I would like to rotate mine out weekly lol...seriously though I rank websites at # 1 for high comp keyword terms and no DMOZ listing

A Yahoo directory link does appear to be worth $299.00 however if anyone is interested.

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DMOZ is a joke. Its lost all creditibilty. Why nobody has tackled Google over its relevance to search results is boyond my comprehension.
But then again, Google are hypocritical too.
I posted an article a year ago that DMOZ was hacked, something they deny. Remember how it went skewy with no communication for 4 months? And Google still rely on it as an "Authority" site.

SEMadvance: I'm 5 years and waiting to be listed in DMOZ. The catagory that I need to be listed in hasn't had an add or a subtract in years at my last check. I was also invited to be an editor by another editor; but when I applied, I was rebuked by the editorial board. Yes, DMOZ seems to be irrelevent, however, it is still relevent as far as far reaching links by other directories and to big G are concerned. I still feel that having a link in DMOZ is probably a better piece of SEO than most changes on a website, and especially better than the now defunct "Links at all costs campaigns" we all ran a few years back.

As far as Yahoo...I still think $299 is a bit steep to be listed in their directory, especially when a site spends (spent) lots on Overture.

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You clearly misunderstand the meaning of "Open" in the title ODP. The use of the term 'open' has been discussed ad nauseum in forums - I guess it does not suit your rant to acknowledge why the ODP used the term. duh? When you say "trying", what have you been doing? If you have submitted more than once, then that might be why you are not listed! How do you think any directory (DMOZ or other) should treat those who deliberatly flout the guidelines?Please provide ONE piece of evidence about editors accepting or asking for payments. Have you not noticed that in all those stories and forum threads, not one of them is backed up with any evidence? or does it not suit the purposes of your rant to notice that?

As per usual, I guess the facts get in the way of a good rant. Maybe you should get your facts right first. What happened to DMOZ during that time has been well documented and explained.

What weight? I thought the consensus was that Google was not giving any extra weight or very slight weight to a DMOZ listing.

Google aren't stupid. They do a lot of testing. If they give extra juice to any particular link from any particular source, I would assume they have tested it and on the balance of things, a 'global' better search results are served up to the searcher.

Have you ever consider that if Google does give extra weight to a DMOZ listing (and I not convinced that they do), that the very reason that they might do it, is the very reason why so many webmasters complain about it? Think about it.

Back to the original post:

Google has delisted sites for selling things based on PR (remember Search King?).
If people are selling a site and using its DMOZ listing as something to get a better price for the sale, why should they not delist it? (Besides, who is stupid enough to pay more for a site that has a DMOZ listing!)

I also doubt it gets delisted. Most likely what is happening is the site is removed from public view for a further review at a later date to see if any hijack has taken place. If not, it will probably be back on public view at some stage.

Some may see that as lame, I see it as a good quality control means to prevent the selling of domains based on the potential to hijack a domain listing just to get a DMOZ listing (and threads complain about that happening!). Given how many hijacks happen of sites that are listed in DMOZ (and the complaints about that), I would have thought such a pro-active stance by DMOZ would have been applauded!

The paradoxical thing is we have this thread complaining about it. Its just as likely to see a thread bashing DMOZ if a domain was sold and it kept a listing that was hijacked!

No, Google, like many others, used the free database to initially fill up their own search databases, and have continued to use it when their spyders can't get to the site, or chose not to. They arn't related at all.

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Where does it say that "DMOZ is an authority site" ???
They us it for fill, just like many other engines...

"No communications for a month" ???
You mean you got something back from them?
Pray tell how you did that.

DMOZ has a stench about it, but no one with any pull seems to be listening.

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