How do you get listed in DMOZ? This is the million dollar question you’ll often find many aspiring SEOs asking themselves. Notwithstanding the long waiting queues that can last up to six months, most Webmasters submit their sites only to find that they have been declined a place in that most prestigious of directories.

It must be DMOZ corruption, you tell yourself. There’s no way those sneaky editors are going to let me in a competing category. With all those rumours of thousands of dollars changing hands for bribes, you couldn’t be blamed for being more than a little sceptical.

But before you get frustrated and start thinking about building your own DMOZ competitor out of sheer disillusionment, pay some attention to our great DMOZ tips. Let’s face it: links from the world’s most popular directory will affect your website rankings and perception.

While there might be some unscrupulous DMOZ editors out there, the fact remains that the vast majority of DMOZ categories require conformance to a simple criteria to get listed. So there is really no need to despair.

If properly followed, this advice can not only get you listed, it can also save you considerable time!

1. Find the right category

It’s amazing how often people get their category wrong. Although browsing through DMOZ categories can be consfusing at times, it is definitely worth the effort to find the appropriate category. Remember to drill down to the most specific category that exists for your niche. Submitting in the wrong category guarantees a rejection.

2. Submit a Complete Website

Make sure your website is complete. Do not submit an incomplete or under-construction website. If you are oblivious as to what constitutes a complete website, take a look at the way top corporate websites such as Microsoft or Cisco are laid out. This doesn’t mean you have to create loads of extra pages. This just means the content you do have should appear complete, coherent and resourceful. Remember to create a sitemap for that added air of comprehensiveness.

3. Professional Design

Create a professional design for your website. By professional, we mean a design that conveys sober business conviction and a sense that you are committed to your business and are there to stay. Professional designs can range from minimalist designs to rich Web 2.0 interfaces. However, create a unique design that is appropriate for your business, organisation or content. Do not put a corporate site on what looks like a WordPress blog. (Even if it is, disguise it to look corporate). Do not leave stray elements such as comment forms or buttons lying around.

4. Real World Presence

Convey the impression of a real company behind your website, not just a website for the sake of a website. Most DMOZ editors tend to believe that you deserve to be on DMOZ if you have a real world presence. Even if you don’t, at least appear to do so. Perception management can go a long way, and on the Internet, perception is everything.

5. Create a Contact Us Page

This is extremely important as it demonstrates a real and working business or organisation. A website that elicits responses is deemed to be a serious undertaking by the editors at DMOZ. Create a professional looking contact us page with a submission form.

6. Your Address and Telephone number

As trivial as this may sound, your address or telephone number can make a real difference to the way your website is perceived. An address means you actually have an office (real world presence). Remember to display your complete business address with post code and telephone number.

7. Unique content

Remember to create unique content that appears to be valuable to your readers. DMOZ editors will not add a site that contains duplicate or regurgitated content, or websites consisting of nothing but spam, ads and affiliate links. Before submitting, ask yourself if your website provides unique value to your stakeholders.

These are simple but extremely effective, unique tips that tackle the task of DMOZ inclusion from the perspective of DMOZ editors themselves. If properly followed, these are some great gems that could get many of your old and new websites listed in the most desirable directory on the Web. No longer would you need to bite your fingernails in anticipation of a DMOZ decision. Having done your homework, you can submit with confidence! Please feel free to give your comments.

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