Anilrgowda

The application

The first thing to do is read the Editor Guidelines.

DMOZ don't let new editors loose in large areas where they can do a lot of damage, so apply for a tiny category that has around 25 sites or less in it. Editors can edit all the way down the sub-directory tree, so include the number of sites in all the sub-categories of the category you are applying for. Once you become an editor and shown your merit with your category, it is very easy to aquire more categories - often within days of becoming an editor.

The application form asks you to find and review 2 or 3 new sites for the category. If at all possible, find 3. Some reviewers reject people who only found 2. Search engines and programs like Copernic are very useful in finding sites.

Make sure that the sites are not already listed somewhere else in the directory. You can do this by searching for the domain name in the DMOZ search box. If the site is already listed somewhere else, then it's almost certainly listed in the right place and isn't suitable for the category that you are applying for. An exception to this is that many sites can have 2 listings; one topical and one regional. A site may be listed in its correct topical category, but isn't listed at all in its regional category. However, to be on the safe side, try to find sites that aren't listed at all.

Make sure that the sites belong in the category that you are applying for, and not some related category. You can do this easily by searching the directory. E.g if it's a second hand car site, search for "second hand cars" and look at the categories where such sites are listed.

Make sure that the sites are not heavy with affiliate stuff. Affiliate sites won't get listed, and sites that have too much in the way of affiliate stuff on them won't get listed either. A few affiliate links on a site are acceptable, but not too many.

Descriptions: Make sure that your spelling, grammer and punctuation are correct. Descriptions are for describing websites, and not for advertising them. Look at the descriptions of listed sites and get a feel for what is required. Avoid keywords in descriptions and avoid repeating words that are in the category path.

Titles: Make sure that they are the titles of the sites. Keywords and the repetition of words in the category path are ok as long as they are part of the site's Title.

If you want to make a comment about any of the sites you are suggesting, do it in the Description box and surround the comment with square brackets.


Some reasons for rejection

Unfortuantely, when applications are rejected, they reviewer doesn't usually tell the person why, even though there is a space in the form for him/her to do so, and it would only take a minute or so to write. There are valid reasons why it is better not to tell the person why s/he was rejected. E.g. if the person's spelling is poor, it is better not to say so, otherwise s/he will apply again having made a great effort to get the spelling right, and DMOZ would have an editor who can't spell too good. That's not what they want.

• The category, including its sub-directories was too big.
• The editor higher up the tree is doing fine, and doesn't need anyone to take on any of the sub-categories.
• Spelling, grammer and/or punctuation.
• Something wrong with the sites - wrong category, affiliates, etc.
• Titles and/or Descriptions not up to par.