DMOZ Submission Editing Guidelines

 

Below are the summarized DMOZ submission guidelines taken from DMOZ website.  These editing 
guidelines will help ensure websites submitting to DMOZ meets the directory's goals.


Sites to Include

The DMOZ's goal is two-fold: to create the most comprehensive and definitive directory of the Web, and to create a high quality, content rich resource that the general public considers useful and indispensable. In general, DMOZ editors will enter sites that represent the following:

OriginalUnique and Valuable informational content that Contributes something unique to the category's subject. Other factors to be noted:

  • Is the site's content/information identical to other sites?
  • Does the DMOZ include the type of site you want to add?
  • Is the site complete?
  • Is the site current?
  • Is the site available and does it loads completely?
  • Is it easy to assess the site's trustworthiness?



Sites Generally Not Included

1. Affiliate Marketing Schemes
There are four basic types of affiliate sites: Affiliate Links, Sites Consisting Mostly of Affiliate Links, Affiliate Reseller Sites (aka Fraternal Mirrors), and Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) Independent Representative sites.

2. Identical Mirrors
Identical mirrors are sites with the same content but accessible by two different URLs.

3. Redirects and "Cloaked" URLs
A redirect URL points to a page that will redirect your browser to a completely different URL. Add ONLY the real URL instead.

4. Illegal Sites
Examples of content that is illegal in most jurisdictions include child pornography; material that infringes on intellectual property rights; material that advocates, solicits or abets illegal activity (such as fraud or violence) in specific instances; and material that is libelous.

5. Site Listings Including Search Results
Site listings should take the user to a specific page. Entries should not consist of search results from other web directories, dmoz.org, or generic search engines. Under no circumstances should dmoz.org search results be listed as a site entry.

6. Product Listings
Sites devoted to the sales and distribution of a single product should be avoided if they are affiliate sites or if the site is merely a distributor for a manufacturer already listed in the Directory. However, individual product sites offering substantial information, tips, advice, and usage information for consumers are generally acceptable.

7. Site Listings as Notices
Site listings should not include notes or messages meant for editors or submitters - be they official or personal.

8. Spider Food, Lead Generators and Content Mills
Spider Food

 websites are intended for consumption by search engine software which spiders the web to 
index pages. Their purpose is to increase the perceived importance of another website by their links to it, so promoting that site in search engine rankings.

Lead Generator

 websites aim to gather information from visitors by means of email forms, to feed to a business or businesses represented elsewhere on the Web.

Content Mill

 websites prominently feature advertising for other websites and any content is typically assembled from other sources. These websites are not designed to be an end destination themselves but instead to shuttle visitors to other websites.