The perfect write up

Hi there guys and gals.

Got a little problem that I'm hoping someone can help me with. After failed attempts to get listed on dmoz I'm starting to think that my submission write-up isnt up to scratch. So I was wondering if any of the editors supplied a paid for submission service. You guys see thousands of entries and know exactly what you're looking for, I just can't seem to write anything that gets your attention

If you think you can help give us a nudge

W.>

No, we do not. Please do not offer to bribe editors, for any purpose.

You have the very same information about writing a title and description that we have, located here:
http://dmoz.org/guidelines/describing.html

A submission is nothing more than a suggestion to help us build categories (a collection of sites) for the benefit of the web surfer who is looking for certain information, we are not a listing service for site owners. Our main focus is providing sites that a web surfer would find of value.

We are not trying to list every site that is available, only sites that we feel (in our opinion) that will add value to a category.

As we are all volunteers, with real jobs, offering to pay for something that we spend our free time doing as a community project, is an insult to all of us. Were the Directory itself to offer us payment, most of us would quit immediately.

We don't expect submitters to have the same knowledge and skills that we have and submitting a website isn't meant to be an intelligence test (though a modicum helps). Neither is it a lottery or a game of snakes and ladders.

The huge majority of suggested titles and descriptions fail to meet our standards but this is not a reason to decline to list a website. We editors are well used to replacing them with something more sensible.

However, when scanning a pool of listing suggestions, many editors will first work on the ones where the submitter has at least made an attempt to get it right.

Look at existing titles and descriptions in the category. In commercial categories, they will normally take the form of the actual company name and a neutral description of the website. It's not likely that an editor will be tempted process a long string of keywords any time soon now is it?

Neither are we impressed by attempts to insert HTML tags - particularly <blink>

My top tips are:

1. Read the ODPs guidelines on submitting a site
2. Read the category description page for the site you are submitting to
3. Use full sentences with correct spelling, punctuation & grammar

So many people when they are submitting a site will get to the suggestion form and scroll past the bit at the top that says "Submission Guidelines" without reading it. This text has two sections to it. One is a general bit that appears on every suggestion form the other is a bit that is specific to the category you are submitting to. If you actually take the time to read this valuable information (even if you have read it before) for each link you send us then you greatly increase the chances of a speedy listing.

Of course, as jimnobel said, writing a bad description won't get your suggestion rejected it just means more work for us. It's also true however that if you do all you can to make our job easier then it is more likely that we will review your site before the others in the queue.

One last thing: Describe the website itself, not the product or company the website is for. "A company based in Never Never Land which sells Magic Wands." is not as good a description as "A local wand shop. Includes product information, online shop and contact details."

Great pointers I very much appreciate it. Sorry crowbar I wasn't trying to insult. Was thinking that if such a service existed it would help us thicko's out


Thanks for your time and help.


Regards,

W.>

I've just read my first post again. When I said "submission service" I meant writing the description and submission on behalf of, not rubber stamped approval. I'm sorry if that was how it was read (would explain crowbar's post).

W.>

That's how I read it, woostar, but with some of the accusations of corruption we get, I think we need to be very clear about offers of payment, .

It's not neccessary to pay for help, we'll gladly offer what assistance we can, freely.