How to get listed in DMOZ for bloggers
Or get into DMOZ for a blog.
So you want to get your blog URL listed in the DMOZ directory.
DMOZ is practically the web’s most trusted directory. It is a giant database of links accompanied by descriptions and organized into categories. To get a site listed in DMOZ is your passage into the realm of serious blogging.
There are general rules of thumb when submitting a website to DMOZ. Consistent page structure, consistent topics within the content, an acurate description, and submitting to the proper category.
These are the most important things for any site. But when it comes to blogs the guidelines aren’t quite as clear. There are certain DMOZ categories for listing Weblogs, but now you are getting narrowed down into more obscure topics. So the idea is to get your blog up to speed enough to be able to submit to higher, broader category ranges.
Your blog should have:
- A consistent navigation - This is important because DMOZ is human edited and humans are the very best at figuring out if your site is easy to navigate.
- At least 40 pillar posts (or just good articles that are spot on topic) Not all blogs need so called “pillar posts”, but you do need a steady injection of relevant articles. You also shouldn’t have a huge pile of off topic posts. Blogs tend to be more relaxed in terms of what constitutes grounds for a new post.
It is okay not post every day. Sometimes no post is better than a loosely related tidbit. As far as listing in the higher categories of DMOZ, the blogs that have a consistently informative array of posts that are packed with content prevail.
- A clean, lag-free layout – I’m no DMOZ editor, but I know if I was I would probably pass over many blogs that are loaded with widgets, ads and quizzes and sparkling doodads. Put that stuff on your Myspace if you must.
- A sitemap (Google sitemap and XHTML, visitor friendly format) – Theres a great WordPress plugin that generates a Google friendly sitemap. You should also look into coding a visitor friendly sitemap, like the one that comes with the Cutline theme (I have pulled many ideas for my theme from Cutline).
- A reasonable amount of comments and/or trackbacks. (Between 20-40 mixed) – It may not seem like it matters but it does at least show that your site is read. The more useful your site appears to the editor for the category you want to land in, the better your chances are of landing there.
- An identifiable topic or theme throughout – This is a little bit SEO and a little bit DMOZO (whuh?) You need things to be generally related to do well with either. Identify some possible keywords for your site as a whole. Work them into your description and your titles. Use the AllInOne SEO pack for WordPress to optimize your post titles and things like that. All of these things help to make your site easier for visitors as well. You don’t have to have information that nobody else has or some amazing new product to impress a DMOZ editor. They are just looking for a site that isn’t going nowhere.
- Your site should be valid XHTML - Theres a billion reasons for this. I’m not the person to get into them with you. Just read The Definitive Guide to Semantic Web Markup for Blogs and think of me while you do.
If this is the easy stuff for you, try out to Get Multiple DMOZ links( and use WordPress to do it!)
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Good to know. Thanks for putting this together.
… or just do what i did and ask an honest editor for help choosing a category and you get in pretty quick!
lol That would work too. But you may already have a category in mind and the editor probably isn’t going to help you “pull the wool over” their own eyes.
Even if there is one available to help you out, your site is still going to have to meet certain standards. Thats basically what this outline is about.
Thanks for the information. Now, another question – I use wordpress as the platform of my website, as my “theme” or USP for my clients is the use of Web 2.0 and Social Networking etc., to increase the perceived value of their web presence.
While the blog posts aren’t my front page, they do exist – but mainly as a way for me to post articles which may or may not get commented.
Would the Dmoz editor consider my site a blog, or just another website?
Thanks – Ken
I think dmoz is overrated, also it is not all that important
Ken: I think your site would be considered a blog. A lot of blogs show only 1 blog post or a list of recent posts on the front page but I don’t think there is anything wrong with an intro page.
Andy: When you are first starting out and don’t have any links you need all the help you can get. Listing yourself in directories may be the only linkage you can get your hands on. Higher level DMOZ categories produce a pretty decent backlink for free.