| |
|
|
| Webmaster Resources: Search Engine Optimization Information | |
|
|
|
Getting Listed in the ODP, Google Directory
First of all, the Google directory is really just the open directory project (ODP: url here) with a few adjustments. While listings on DMOZ.org are arranged within their category according to simple alphabetic order, listings in the Google Directory are based upon PageRank [link]. Thus, sites with higher PageRanks will show up higher on the list of sites under any given category. You can see the PageRank of a site pictorially by looking at the little green bar off to the left of each listing. The other major difference is that the Google Directory updates its listings only once every few months. Therefore, a website that is accepted into the ODP today may have to wait 3 months or more before it is listed in the Google Directory. If you go to DMOZ.org, you can see all the latest listings because each category page is updated immediately after a new site is added. Now, on to the real topic at hand: getting listed. Obviously, in order to get listed in the Google Directory you must get listed on DMOZ first. As many webmasters can attest, this can be much more difficult than you might think. Simply submitting your site under the appropriate category, however, may indeed do the trick. The ODP editors are technically supposed to consider your site for inclusion into the directory within a few weeks of submission. In reality, however, many ODP editors (now keep in mind, they are all volunteers), don't even log into their accounts that often. And when they do, they may simply not feel like reviewing all the newly submitted sites. If they do review all the new sites, they may very well decide to turn yours down for one reason or another. Assuming you've built a high quality, non-spam website, however, they really don't have much of a reason to turn it down - unless, of course, it was submitted to the wrong category. The main point here is that you can't really depend upon the submission process. It may work for you, and it may not. If you've tried it, and it hasn't resulted in your website being listed, you may want to try an alternative approach. It's no secret that just about anyone can become an ODP editor. Yet, most people who take the time to apply get turned down. Going through the process is worth it, however, since editors get to add whichever sites they wish to the categories they preside over. Simply becoming an editor in order to submit your website is usually highly frowned upon, and if you proceed to neglect your category, it really isn't fair to ODP. However, if you are willing to do the job of editing a category in exchange for adding your website (provided, of course, that you have a website worthy of adding to the ODP), then one can think of it as a business deal: you get your site listed, and they get another free editor to help maintain the directory. Okay, so you want to help out the ODP, and you just happen to have a good website you want to get listed. Good, then you are ready to apply for an editing position. When applying to become an editor for the ODP, we highly recommend that you apply for a very small category - preferably a category with 15 or fewer sites, and no subcategories. Now here's the thing: you do not have to apply for the category you want your website listed in - in fact, you don't even have to apply for a category that is of the same topic as your website. For instance, if you have a website that sells flowers, you could submit an application to some obscure social science category. Then again, you may be able to find an obscure category that is somewhat related to your website topic - in this case, for instance, a small category under botany. The point is it doesn't really matter what your initial category is. Once you've put in a few days time fixing up that category, you can then apply to become editor of a larger category - perhaps even the category you want to your website listed under. Even if another person edits your target category, you can still get your site listed. You can submit your website to one of your own categories, then send the site over to your target category. Sites sent from one category to another by editors are usually looked at sooner than ones submitted by the general public. You can also apply to be Greenbuster of your target category, which is a position below full editor. This allows you to suggest websites to a category and edit websites submitted by others. One important thing you cannot do as Greenbuster is directly add websites to the public DMOZ category. This isn't usually a big obstacle, however, since editors regularly look at - and accept - sites suggested by Greenbusters. Just a few more suggestions and you're ready to go. When applying to become an editor of any category (even if you are already an editor), don't forget to provide three website suggestions instead of just two. Also, be honest about your website affiliations, and your interest in the category. Even if your main goal is to get your website listed, you can still apply for a category that interests you. If you are willing to give some of your time to ODP, the reward can be a healthy increase in PageRank and status for your website. Bradley James is the Chief Editor at Google Advisor. The website provides free information for webmasters relating to the Google search engine, PageRank issues, AdWords and AdSense strategies, and more.
Add to these social bookmarking sites: 
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Breaking the Myth About Page Rank (PR) The most difficult challenge most web designers face is getting traffic to your site. There are plenty of companies who promise to send traffic your way. The Unethical SEO Myth "The use of black hat SEO techniques are completely unethical." Really? I completely disagree. Search Engine Optimization Tip: Dont Buy Anything Before You Learn More! Thinking about purchasing that premium SEO software that will hyper-optimize a website in under 2 minutes and 2 seconds?Ask the following question first: What do I know about SEO?If the answer is "nothing", then don't buy it.Marketers are banking on the lack of knowledge among consumers. Advertise Locally Using Search Engines While search engine advertising has been a great advertising medium for businesses capable of or interested in marketing their products and services to a national or international audience, the effectiveness of this type of advertising was limited for businesses interested in advertising to a local market until very recently.For example, a realtor with a web site in Minneapolis is likely interested in advertising on search terms such as "homes for sale" and "sell my home. 3.5 Tips To Help You Avoid Becoming The Next Search Engine Outlaw Want to avoid being blacklisted by the search engines and banished to the sin bin never to receive a single search engine visitor ever again? Thought so. Here's some tips to help you. The Importance of Search Engine Optimization Search Engine Optimization is a key to any successful internet marketing strategy. There are numerous definitions and interpretations as to exactly what Search Engine Optimization means. Straight Talk on Search Engine Optimization To get your website listed well in the major search engines, you have to perform search engine optimization (SEO). . Expert Help From Google Answers Web users turn to search engines for answers to their questions. This is usually done through various levels of searching the engine's database. Every Search Engine Robot Needs Validation Your website is ready. Your content is in place, you have optimized your pages. Content Is King Over the past few years, there have been many debates about different search engine optimisation strategies, though it is highly important that a range of strategies are pulled together as one to form the best optimisation program possible. There is one particular factor that is becoming ever more important when it comes to reaching number one in the search engine results pages. Local Customers Know Where to Find Local Businesses... the Internet Through search engines and directories, the Internet provides a quick and easy place to choose a local merchant or business.Just because the Internet is worldwide doesn't mean local businesses can't benefit from having a website and a presence in the search engines. The Search Engine Secret That Is No Secret At All It's common knowledge - we all know that it is important to rank well in search engines. Doing so can bring qualified, interested visitors to the web site you create. Release from Google Sandbox Only to Search the Playground The Google Sandbox Effect has been discussed at length in our case study of a new website first crawled in May by Googlebot. We can now further the case study with indexing comparisons and discuss interesting Googlebot crawler behavior after release, at the 75 day mark, of the study website from that very confining Sandbox. Should You Be Linking for Traffic or Rankings? Just for a change, rather than a technical article, I would like to tell you a story. To begin, imagine your website is a little country bar, now let's go back to when the internet began, and reciprocal linking was being done properly. Achieving Better Search Engine Optimization The search engine giants are locked in an all out power struggle to get your attention and patronage.Over the past 6 months there have been many changes. How to Verify and Monitor Your Search Engine Listing on Google? Being listed in search engines and ranked high on searches is the overall goal a webmaster is trying to achieve when dealing with search engines. Search engine optimization is probably one of the most commonly used words among webmasters. The Benefits of Organic SEO (Search Engine Optimization) If you're going to sell any type of product or service online, you're eventually going to have to optimize your Web site for the Search Engines, in order to boost traffic and sales.Many years ago, it was quite easy to draw effective traffic, as a good content-driven site, with good products, was enough to get a Web site ranked highly in the Search Engines. How to Build Massive Keyword Lists As keyword marketing becomes more and more expensive and competitive, it has become essential when building your lists to focus on the maximum number of phrases and their variations that a surfer might enter into the search engines.Why?Because according to Amit Singhal, principal scientist at Google, a guy who really should know what he's talking about, over 50% of the 200 million searches performed a day have never been searched before. Getting Specific With Local Search Engine Optimization Localized search engine optimization is often overlooked as an excellent tool to bring in local traffic to your website. By including local information in your tags and web pages, you help prospective customers find specific information on the area and business they are searching for. Search Engine Optimization: Creative Ways To Acquire Natural Back Links Search engines use algorithms calculate the order in which the search results are displayed. Although no one outside the search engine companies know the actual algorithms, search engine optimization (SEO) experts agree that back links are heavily weighed.
|
| Home | Site Map |
|
| © 2008 | |
