Why Does It Take So Long To Get Listed On DMOZ?

Because your whining.

Just kidding, but seriously. At the time I am writing this, the back end of DMOZ, The Open Directory Project, has approximately 59,000 human editors. That is, volunteers just like you and me who dictate which web sites are added and which are not. They also determine which web sites can be blacklisted.

Like most volunteers, these people drop off like flies when they realize this is a very time consuming and unprofitable (volunteer duh!) experience for them. The majority of them are not even active or reviewing your web site for the category you are trying to submit your web site to. There is relatively a gigantic number or web sites in DMOZ’s backlog waiting review and approval. The editor volunteers can only volunteer in their own categories so that is one problem when other volunteers drop off.

Huge waiting list and lack of active volunteer editors is not the only problem you will have to sit watching your watch to get listed on DMOZ.

For instance, many ‘idiots’ over excited about the popularity and promise DMOZ can offer that they submit their web site to multiple categories as the same listing or trying to misguide the volunteer editor by modifying their submission for each category. This causes alot of backlog described earlier and longer waiting times for your web site to get listed.

So when you submit a web site, always take the extra effort of determing an appropriate category for your listing. Also review other listings in that category including the listings title and description to determine how to submit your web site properly for that particular category and editor’s tastes.

Matthew Peschong
Minnesota Website Design