Statistics

Are there any statistics of how many new sites are being added every month or any similar statistics?
I think that will help hugely with people complaining that they have been waiting for too long for their sites to be included.
Actually, it would be very helpful if there was a link in every category in the directory that would give you access to those statistics. Like how many people are currently waiting, how many people are being added per month. This would also serve as a good indicator for which categories editors are mostly needed so that people can apply for them.
I am sure this can be automated with some clever coding.
I think transparency and equality is what this directory is all about and this will serve as a good indicator for this.
I am not really good with maths or programming, otherwise I would volunteer for this.

Like how many people are currently waiting

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I presume you mean sites, not people. And that kind of statistic is never going to be relevant. Even if you knew x number of sites had been suggested to the directory (or to category y specifically), you would be no closer to knowing how long it will take for any particular site suggestion to be reviewed.

This would also serve as a good indicator for which categories editors are mostly needed so that people can apply for them.

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Any small category for which you can find a number of listable sites that belong in that category that aren't yet listed is a category that could be applied for. You don't need a list of categories that someone else has deemed "in need".

a good indicator for which categories editors are mostly needed so that people can apply for them.

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Volunteers are always welcome to apply for any category of a suitable size, and they are far more likely to spend their time building and improving that category if they have a particular interest in it, rather than being told to edit there.

For example, categories about safety glasses or ash scattering or parliamentary procedure are unlikely to attract many applications, even if they "need" an editor, and asking someone to apply for such a category is unlikely to benefit either the editor or the directory.

However, one day someone will come along who has a real interest in that topic, and consequently they will enjoy working there, to everyone's benefit.

Like how many people are currently waiting

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Well, you can calculate that yourself. Count the number of sites on the web. All of them are waiting for review.

The ones that ARE listed are waiting for a re-review to see if they still contain unique information (or should be removed).

The sites that AREN'T listed are waiting for a review to see if they contain unique information yet and should be listed.

Every volunteer has to start SOMEWHERE. And the place to start is always with the sites that impinge on some interesting subject. (Interesting to whom? Well, to the volunteer who's doing the reviewing, who is the same volunteer who's deciding where to start.)

The great thing about a collection of such different people is how many good starting places they can find.