Delaware County Almanacs

I have tried several times to post my Delaware County Almanacs, but so far very little activity has
occurred in any of the Delaware state pages. And my e-mails to staff and state editors have gone
unanswered.

Your Page
http://dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/United_States/Delaware/Counties/Kent/

My Submitted Page
http://www.angelfire.com/nj/WBZCFMsndymrnngklzmr/delaware/counties/kent.html

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Your Page
http://dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/United_States/Delaware/Counties/New_Castle/

My Submitted Page
http://www.angelfire.com/nj/WBZCFMsndymrnngklzmr/delaware/counties/newcastle.html

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Your Page
http://dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/United_States/Delaware/Counties/Sussex/

My Submitted Page
http://www.angelfire.com/nj/WBZCFMsndymrnngklzmr/delaware/counties/sussex.html

You already asked this exact same question (and received the response that your pages do not meet our guidelines for listing due to lack of worthwhile content) in this thread which you started two days ago.

Please continue this conversation over there (although I cannot see the position changing - several editors, including myself, have looked at the pages and they aren't worth listing).

(Admins: Can we have a thread closed here and some popcorn please? <img src="/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" /> )

1) "Please continue this conversation over there", I was told to move my comments over here, by one of your co-editors.

2) Quote, from your critera; not mine.

The ODP's goal is two-fold: to create the most comprehensive and definitive directory of the Web, and to create a high quality, content rich resource that the general public considers useful and indispensable. In short, editors should select quality sites and lots of them.

... Contrasting points of view on major issues. The ODP attempts to cover the full breadth and depth of human knowledge, representing all topics and points of view on those topics.

So far, from a county stand point, you are ???

3) Please continue this conversation over there (although I cannot see the position changing - several
editors, including myself, have looked at the pages and they aren't worth listing)

Considering the fact that my pages contain several times more sites related to the Delaware Counties, than
your pages, I would think a certain of amount respect for the time spent, in locating and cataloging these sites should be shown. I don't see a lot of anything happening on your site; except lots of pretty empty space. Evolution based web page design allows for the development of content, before considering ascetic value.

I was the one that said the discussion should be in this forum, and I was expecting one of the moderators to move the thread over, but it seems they didn't realise that's what I meant, so we'll carry on here.

As you say "The ODP attempts to cover the full breadth and depth of human knowledge, representing all topics and points of view on those topics", however your sites do not add to the sum of human knowledge. I've just looked at one again and apart from a few phone numbers, I can find absolutely nothing on your site except for links to other sites. Why would we list your site, when we could easily just list the sites you link to?

&gt;&gt; Evolution based web page design allows for the development of content, before considering ascetic value. &lt;&lt;

I have no idea what this is supposed to mean, but if it is suggesting that there will be some content on your pages at some point, great. Please come back when the content is in place and we will gladly re-consider your sites.

&gt;Evolution based web page design allows for the development of content, before considering ascetic value.

I think it's saying, "It doesn't matter whether the artist is starving or not, so long as he produces enough art."

Jacob,

I appreciate the time and effort you have put into building your directory of sites. I can't say for sure whether the suggestion I'm about to make will work, but I would try it if I were you, for your visitors. Please understand that this is not coming as advice from DMOZ, but from me personally.

If I were you, I would add descriptions and detailed contact information to each organization in your directory, including phone, fax, email, and a contact name if you can track it down. In that way, your pages would be more of a useful destination, rather than a stopping point on the way to the useful destination. Describe what services are available at each of the organizations listed. Then go to the next level and provide the same kind of information about organizations that aren't on the web yet. There are plenty of helpful organizations out there that haven't built sites yet - if you directory were more than just a directory of sites, it would be much more likely to qualify for listing and would be more useful to your visitors. In addition, the task presents a terrific opportunity to make contact with many organizations and let them know about your project.

After doing that, I would resubmit a couple of them to areas in DMOZ that would best benefit from the sites.

Good luck, and keep up the good work.

What you have is a directory site, and the usual rule is "list, once, in the most specific category" (duh, just like in the guidelines) and "do NOT deeplink in every (or indeed any) applicable subcategory" -- which is another way of saying that for directory sites, the guideline "deeplinks are the exception" applies in spades.

At this point, if you remove the non-county-specific listings (which the ODP would list in a more geographically-compatible category) and the deeplinks into some OTHER site, there is, um, even less than the ODP category has. I wouldn't list the directory at all anywhere.

Adding content might make the site worth one listing, but -- one in every county? We've been there before with some other sites, whose names need not be mentioned here, and -- trust me on this one -- we ain't NEVER going there again!

Jacob -

The ODP policy on directory sites appears to be evolving; the general concensus being that directory sites have little value. The irony that ODP is a directory site itself is not lost on me.

Adding reviews or a basic overview of content for each link appears to be insufficient as well. The only thing that can turn the tide is real content, hosted on your own pages.

My suggestion:
Take some of that publicly available information on the web sites you link to (government information is generally, but not always, free of copyright) and consolidate it into something that visitors can use immediately upon opening your page. Across the top, down the left side, somewhere, list the current congressional districts and their representatives. List the major cities in each county and their populations. List the major industries, the average monthly rainfall, the famous people who were born there.

Basically, make it a page ABOUT the county (or State, as getting the counties listed individually isn't likely to happen) - that just happens to have links to other sites for people who want additional information. Yes, it means more work, and even means coming back to review it after every election or so, but it's the kind of value that ODP is looking for.

T "let's not go there again" C