Has my site been blacklisted for some reason?

Hello,

I would be very grateful if someone could let me know if my site has been blacklisted for some reason. I have read ODP's guidelines quite closely, and submitted my site accordingly several times over the last couple of years. I am quite perplexed, as virtually all of my competitors have a listing, yet my site has not been accepted. If I am doing something wrong, please let me know so that my site will be accepted. I am willing to make any changes that you deem necessary so that my site may qualify.

Thank you in advance,
David
www.essaytown.com

It's unlikely to be listed because of the lack of unique content. There's no point resubmitting it.

jimnoble]It said:

unique[/B'] content. There's no point resubmitting it.

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With all due respect, you could not be more incorrect. My site offers FAR more information and services than ANY other site in our industry. Try actually comparing my site to other sites that are currently listed. Any fair-minded, patient editor can plainly see that our site is far more informative and professionally-written than any other site--period. It is quite apparent that you took absolutely no time to investigate before passing judgement.

Is it your position that simply because I offer similiar product to other companies that I cannot have equal representation? That is ridiculous! If that's the way of your world, I guess only ONE company can sell any particular product in any given industry. So much for freedom of choice, competition, and capitalism.

I respectfully request that a different editor look into this matter, and hopefully take the time to investigate the quality and depth of my site compared to the skimpy, low-quality presentation of virtually every other site in my industry:

http://dmoz.org/Reference/Education/Products_and_Services/Academic_Papers/Fee_Based/

I challenge anyone to look at me with a straight face and claim that every site in the category is "better," more "unique," and has more solid writing/presentation. Please, all I ask is that a DMOZ editor be impartial and fair by investigating my site and then rightfully placing it in the category so that I may have equal represenmtation with my competitors. Again, I truly thank you for your time and dedication.

Perhaps you should apply your outraged dignity to a thorough review of what our submission guidelines have to say about unique content and fratenal mirrors.

You're entirely at liberty to create as many websites you like with whatever content you like (within reason) and market them in whatever way you like.

Equally, we're at liberty to set the standards that we apply to our directory and decide which websites are listed and which are not. Please remember that we're providing a service to surfers, not to site owners, and that no website has an entitlement to a listing here.

I suggest that you find other means of promoting yours.

Again, you have NOT investigated anything. You know absolutely nothing about me, my site, or my industry.

FYI, I am fully aware of the definition of a "fraternal mirror." However, what YOU do not understand is that many different companies in our industry outsource their "custom research" work to a handful of companies. By definition, every "custom" project is one-of-a-kind and unique; therefore, such work is NEVER a "mirror" of any other. I cannot control the fact that other companies may partner with the same company with which I originally partnered. The bottom line is that I offer FOUR (4) completely different services:

1. $26.99, prewritten service;
2. search engine service;
3. editing service;
4. custom research service.

If you want to claim that my site is a mirror for another, why don't you tell me the the URL of this "mirror" site that already exists in the category, and I will immediately provide you with indisputable proof of completely different ownership.

essaytown, you know full well why your site is not listed. As jimnoble says, blowing off false indignation when you must clearly be aware of how you have violated the guidelines does not impress us.

The bottom line, essaytown, is that FIVE (5) different editors, at different times, found that your site cannot be listed in the ODP. (And none of those has posted to this thread, so there are more voices weighing in.)

nea said:

The bottom line, essaytown, is that FIVE (5) different editors, at different times, found that your site cannot be listed in the ODP. (And none of those has posted to this thread, so there are more voices weighing in.)

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Again, I now fully understand that my site has been blacklisted, but can you please explain to me exactly WHY? Despite what you seem to think, I do NOT know why. I guarantee that if you present to me the reasoning of these other editors for discluding my site, I will immediately provide evidence proving them wrong. Is that not a fair request?

No it is not.

We are not going to play that game.

And by continuing to argue you are violating the forum rules.

The site has been chosen not to be listed in the ODP because it does not meet the guidelines for submission into the directory, which every editor uses.

You have already been given more information than that, and the rules of this forum state that we should not go into more detail.

I would suggest you find other ways to promote your site. Thanks.

Alucard said:

The site has been chosen not to be listed in the ODP because it does not meet the guidelines for submission into the directory, which every editor uses.

You have already been given more information than that, and the rules of this forum state that we should not go into more detail.

I would suggest you find other ways to promote your site. Thanks.

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Now, that is a response that I can respect. Thank you.

Just to clarify, I am not arguing. I am simply trying to procure some information that would enable me to be listed amongst my competitors, who currently have an unfair advantage. Are you telling me that my site has been permanently banned, and no edits I make to my site will enable it to be listed in ANY category?

I won't attempt to guess the line of work of any editor on this forum, but if someone were impeding your very livlihood, would you not want an explanation? Would you not want to know WHY? Would you not want to know how to remedy the situation? I have a family to support and a mortgage to pay. You see me as a raving link-seeker. The situation is just a little more grave and significant for me.

If you have based your business model on a listing in the ODP, then I'm afraid you will need to reexamine it. As it states in the ODP charter, no site is garanteed a listing.

In it's current form, the site is completely unlistable. We can not go into the details of why, or what you need to do to make it listable. If this is something you want to follow up further, I would suggest you go to some of the many forums dedicated to web masters and ask there - maybe they will be able to give you more insight, not restricted by the rules of this forum.

And yes, I would want to know why. But I would go elsewhere to find those answers, since they can not be forthcoming here. I have no idea whether you rave, or are just seeking links - the reviews were done not based on any forum posting here and the rules of the forum give us very strict guidelines which we must follow. I hope you understand.

Since your income is affected by this, maybe you should consider other directories which offer a more finite review time, on a pay-per-listing basis.

Let's close this before it really gets acrimonious. Editors have spent far more time on the site than its unique content warranted -- and, frankly, you spent far more time polishing this buffalo pattie than its content deserved. Yes, it has a nice sheen to it now. But when all is said and done, submitting it or any of its mirrors to the ODP will be spamming. Please don't.