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Jeremy Schoemaker, of the popular Shoemoney blog, posted that the owners of Best of the Web Directory are in talks to buy Dmoz from AOL and that a "deal could be reached fairly soon."
It is unknown whether a sale would change Google’s use of Dmoz for its own directory or would prompt Google to reconsider how much weight it gives the sites linked within Dmoz. For those who don’t know, Google is still relatively cozy with Dmoz in that it maintains a Google Directory that is a duplicate copy of the dmoz.org content. Dmoz also is still considered a great place for your site to be listed to gain premium Google link power that helps your PageRank.
Over the last year Google has made it clear they don’t like the selling of links from anywhere, especially directories. Google has also made clear that it considers the selling of inclusion in a directory tantamount to selling links. Many directories have experienced a severe lowering of their PageRank that have effectively made links (and inclusion) less valuable to potential buyers.
Since Dmoz is a free directory with moderators who decide whether a site is included or not, Google still gives their coveted Google juice to sites listed in Dmoz.
A listing in BOTW.org is not free. It charges a hefty $249.99 review fee which is a prerequisite for inclusion. BOTW makes the point in bold font that their review for inclusion is not a guarantee of inclusion in their BOTW Submit Terms of Service. Apparently Google believes there is enough editorial value in these reviews because BOTW.org still has good PageRank within its categories.
However, Google has penalized many other directories that charge for inclusion reviews. Many website owners feel that even the appearance of selling links leads to PageRank reduction. BOTW is an old, established directory with lots of quality listings similar to Yahoo, which also sells inclusion reviews and suffers no repercussions from Google either.
A few questions …
- If BOTW buys Dmoz, will it merge the directories and charge for inclusion reviews?
- Will Google continue to mirror the Dmoz results for its directory?
- Will any of this impact the Google juice your sites get from Dmoz?
One thing is certain, the concept of volunteer editors that Dmoz uses is flawed. BOTW and its paid editors may be exactly what Dmoz needs to turn its quality around.
Shoemoney is always on top of things. That would be crazy if this were to happen. Google juice will probably continue to flow until they know how well the editors of BOTW are going to do and how strick they will be.
There is no truth to this at all. This is Shoemonkey’s once a year, DMOZ link bait farse that everyone is happy to go along with.
I guess will mean that people will get better service submitting to DMOZ!
I’ve met a few of the Botw.org guys at SES a few years back. The thing is they check their websites, when most directories include everyone that pays. That’s why they still have categories ranking. My only concern with this whole deal is the amount of work that goes into DMOZ and if the editors will stay on if BOTW buys them.
This is insane. I wonder how it will all play out.
Airvalues.com has been on the web for over 10 years now. It has been selling cheap international flights longer than Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotwire, yet cannot get listed in DMOZ. I am starting to believe those responsible for approving the travel section in DMOZ might has some bias. How can a site that has been around this long not get listed?
Airfarestore.com has also been around for over 10 years. They sell Student Flights and Cheap International Flights using thier own booking engine. They have also tried year after year to get listed in DMOZ and it never happens. Thier competion is listed and they have only been around for 5 year. I just wonder who they have approving these and what the hitch is.
I hope DMOZ doesn’t sell for more than a buck because thats about what it would be worth if google changes the weight it gives dmoz. Leave it alone go buy joe ant or something …. internet marketing consultant http://www. adwebdesigns.com
I feel that DMOZ is a horrible system! My business has been online since 1994 and in all that time, only once did someone list me. Then a competitor took his spot and removed my company and others from the list to prevent us from doing business with DMOZ for his personal gain! I have tried to get re-listed dozens of time through the years with no luck at all. I have sent E-mails to them as well with no response or help! DMOZ is not a level playing field for many businesses that need and desire to be listed in it.
I have been trying to get into the DMOZ for 4 years. Unfortunately, one of my competitors edits my category and there has not been a website inclusion during this time. The DMOZ is corrupt and the volunteer system is extremely flawed. I really hope that BOTW buys the DMOZ and cleans it up. If Google rates the DMOZ less, at least those that are using it unfairly (by which they gain an unfair competitive edge) won’t be able to do this any longer. If Google continues to give it high ratings, at least I’ll be able to get it to it with a simple $250 fee.
I’ve got 11 sites and only one of them is listed in the DMOZ directory. Of course I submitted them all to the directory, but my sites were never even reviewed.
I even contacted the DMOZ category editor to ask about one of my sites (my largest site and oldest site) and never heard back.
In my opinion they may as well sell it because most of the category editors only update their category about once a year if that.
Also, getting in seems be more luck than anything. There doesn’t seem to be any reason why one site gets in, but another doesn’t. There are many high quality sites that are not listed in the DMOZ despite having been submitted.
Perhaps people will have better luck getting in if someone else takes it over, however, the cost of submission is certainly out of my price range.
Let’s stop trying to be nice. DMOZ just plain sucks. Any value they had in a former life when Al Gore invented the Internet is gone.
Trying to become an editor is just as difficult as trying to get a site included. Some folks have been trying for 5+ years to get their sites listed.
Just like in the Wizard of OZ, there must be one mighty OZ sitting somewhere behind a curtain pulling levers (slowly) to accept listings and editors.
Maybe a buyout will revive this once useful directory.
Sadly I have heard more negative than positive comments about DMOZ in the last few years, I have repeatedly tried to get quality websites listed in DMOZ for years with only two of them being successful. The community would like to hear a bit more about DMOZ’s acceptace policy by voice of DMOZ reps. My view is BOTW should buy DMOZ and execute a working discipline that is fair and transparent for all users.
For a friendly "FREE" directory visit metroplexdirectory.com
We’ve been online for 8 years, we are currently retooling our software and relaunching nationally.
We typically have listings approved within a few days depending on volume of submissions.
Also, we actually want to help folks improve their exposure on the web with a few cool offerings you won’t find anywhere else.
Something definitely needs to happen with DMOZ as the current process, structure, and roles/responsibilities simply do not work. It’s impossible to get important sites listed — perhaps due to obvious conflicts between sites and those operated by category editors.
Whatever the reason, DMOZ has fallen in usefulness and value given the inability to have quality, appropriate sites included. I suspect few actually turn to DMOZ when searching – which as a tragedy given DMOZ is actually reviewed by humans with a quasi-altruistic mission.
Trying to get a dmoz listing had become a futile exercise and a complete waste of time as I have seen sites which were not up to the mark get listed within 6 months or so, and seeing genuinely good sites waiting literally for years without success.
Its high time dmoz also hangs its boots like those other fossils, AOL and netscape have done.
Good news!
Dmoz would be in better hands with no corrupt editors and with a much better service because it seems impossible to get in even with a good site.
According to Dmoz, they are a non-profit; human edited directory. How could they sell that crap. I think all directories should be eliminated in the rank factor or algo factor period. Anything that can be spamed even dmoz and BOTW dir should not count – human or not.
It’s time DMOZ took a hike. Let’s get back to old values. Anyway, Dmoz is dead. Not really a factor in ranks anymore.
Google needs to get thie own dir. Not a hard thing to do. Charge a minimal review fee and donate the money to charity if they don’t need it. Help kids find a better future, that is what I would do with the money. We know Yahoo dir fee is a cash grab, but they need it.
All said and done, get back to old fashioned values in SEO – SEM. Forget directories.
It’s time for change.
Does it really matter since an inclusion with DMOZ really doesn’t buy you much, if anything.
So long as they don’t go with a "paid inclusion" model after the buy, shouldn’t be a problem. However, it remains to be seen.
I agree with most of what is being said here. Flightsfirst.com has really built a great business in selling International flights online, yet for over 1.5 years I cannot get it listed in DMOZ. I really wonder if they have lost control over the editing and adding process and those who are editors have some sort of financial stake at keep competitors out.
Fusing DMOZ in is fine as long it remains free otherwise google might remove the page rankings
I can see where DMOZ once once a vauleable public resource but in todays environment with its suspect management policies, it appears almost useless.
Yes I did attempt to have a sites listed on a couple of occasions and have not the slightest clue why they were not listed but lesser or similar quality sites were.
Tired of DMOZ like everyone else? WhereAmericaClicks.com will have your site listed within three days and is happy to help you promote your business or non-profit.
With the lack of response from DMOZ the Internet community is ready for some up and coming directory sites to fill the gap.
I would love for BOTW to buy DMOZ just to make it go away and for Google to modify their algo.
As many of the other commenters have said, it was relatively easy to submit your own site to DMOZ and get it accepted back in the day, like around 1999-2003. But since then, you cannot get listed in DMOZ and you cannot become an editor.
Even crazier, the reason for denying you an editor position is because you are biased. They say you are biased because your site belongs in the category in which you want to edit. Well duh, why would I want to edit a site in which I have no interest or expertise? So, I suppose we should only edit in categories where we are completely ignorant?
DMOZ is a dinosaur that needs to just go away.
I am a great believer in individual freedom and strongly feel that one of them is to be able to be listed for free on a major directory like dmoz even if the registration can actually take months. I never had to pay my phone directory to list me additionally to my monthly phone bill. Historically it has been a part of individual freedom to be listed as an existing human being. Why should I pay for electronic listing?
Why would capitalism and individual freedom be mutually exclusive? Why would a pay-for-review possibly interefere with your individual freedoms or liberties? Give me a break!
I have known about DMOZ since 2000 and to date I have never been able to figure out how to submit one single site anyway!
Submission process confuses the hell out of me…I just want to easily find the category I wanted to add a site…go to it and add the dang thing..and by the time I try to follow process instructions..I just give up..lol
Who owns can’t say I really care that much
Like many others, I find DMOZ to be of little use. You can’t get listed any more…you are just wasting time. There is no "rejection" there is no one to ask "why am I not listed". It is like sending your link request into a black hole.
If they merge so what? I don’t send any of my customer web sites to DMOZ or to Yahoo any longer. I advise them that they can submit to DMOZ but that it is probably a waste of time. I tell them Yahoo wants almost $300 just to "consider" their site. Money better spend with an SEO company or on a really good dinner.
Yahoo eventually spyders sites anyway so you wind up included without paying a dime. DMOZ does nothing.
My feeling is that any site that charges for inclusion is not as valuable as sites like Google. If anyone with the dollars can buy in, that says nothing about the quality of their content and everything about the content of their wallet.
Site’s should be indexed and listed on their value and merit. Any other method is just a sell out for money and offers no assurance of any value for the searcher. No wonder Google is on top. The accept anyone for consideration without a fee and let the viewer judge for themselves if the content holds value.
They could just turn off DMOZ’s servers and no one would care.
Well hopefully this buy will bring back DMOZ the way it used to be!