Hi guys,

Just relaying some info, that I previously did not know about, until dealing with a DMOZ editor, relating to my listing in DMOZ directory.

"every website can be listed once in Regional and once in the appropriate topical category, eg: Business."

So if you have a regional listing, submit your website to the appropriate topical category. I was content knowing I was listed in DMOZ, but then realised it was only regional.

I attempted to update my listing, and I got a reply from a DMOZ editor the next morning. I was highly impressed! Your regional and topical listings, are dealt with by seperate editors too.

Good luck getting listed,

Jeremy

"every website can be listed once in Regional and once in the appropriate topical category, eg: Business."

So if you have a regional listing, submit your website to the appropriate topical category. I was content knowing I was listed in DMOZ, but then realised it was only regional.


Thats not quite strictly true. You generally have to have a "bricks and mortar" physical location to be located in regional.

"every website can be listed once in Regional and once in the appropriate topical category, eg: Business."

I think this is an overgeneralization.

My understanding is that topical listings are appropriate if you provide a service or information that goes beyond a geographical boundary. Which isn't to say that there aren't exceptions or that you shouldn't try, but I don't believe what you quote are the guidelines.

There was an interesting discussion on this, from just about two years ago, on a WebmasterWorld thread...

Open Directory Main vrs Regional listings
regional site, but main listings used by similar competition
http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum17/1654.htm

In regards to the quote, it was extracted directly from the e-mail I received from the DMOZ editor :)

In regards to the quote, it was extracted directly from the e-mail I received from the DMOZ editor :)

I assumed that. I value DMOZ editors a lot, and really admire the good ones. Unfortunately, there's a lot of difference in how they interpret the guidelines. The WmW thread I pointed you to has some comments from some very experienced editors, and even there you'll see there's not quite a consensus.

Often sites don't have regional relevance. For instance take the one you are using currently - an online resource giving information and guidance relating to search engines - wouldn't be listable in Regional.

A shoe manufacturing business however could be listed in Regional based on where its factory is and Business based on its business type.

Contrast an online only shoe shop with no bricks and mortar store. Such a shop could be listed in Shopping, but couldn't be listed in Regional - as it doesn't really have 'local' relevance.

Even then there are special cases. For instance non US-based online only retailers who only ship within the boundaries of one country are listed in Regional in preference to Shopping.
See the Shopping FAQ: http://dmoz.org/Shopping/faq.html#4

Hope this helps clarify somewhat,

Andy

Robert Charlton posted:
I assumed that. I value DMOZ editors a lot, and really admire the good ones. Unfortunately, there's a lot of difference in how they interpret the guidelines. The WmW thread I pointed you to has some comments from some very experienced editors, and even there you'll see there's not quite a consensus.

It is the case that editors may not interpret the guidelines in the same way, I guess it's kind of inevitable. Whilst senior editors would probably tend to come to the same conclusion when asked about a particular site, it is quite hard to make generalisations and be correct for all cases. What constitutes sufficient "regional relevance" will generally require some degree of judgement in borderline cases.