Submitting a Web Page to the Directory

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Anyone may submit a site for inclusion to Google Directory or offer corrections of currently listed sites and their descriptions. When doing so, you deal not directly with Google but with Open Directory Project, from which Google obtains its listings. Google provides links for interacting with the Open Directory Project submission forms, but I think it’s easier to operate from the Open Directory site.

Most people do not sit in front of their computers trying to find interesting sites that aren’t represented in Google Directory. If you do find yourself burning hours that way, you might consider becoming an Open Directory Project editor. (Click the Become an Editor link at the bottom of any Google Directory page.) Site submissions are usually made by site owners hoping to get more exposure for their pages. Nothing wrong with that, but be aware that Open Directory Project is a hand-picked, edited directory, and they are not obligated to list a submitted site.

You submit a site by filling in an on-screen Open Directory Project application that asks for the site URL, a description, the proposed directory category for inclusion, and your contact information. Google provides links to this application at the bottom of some category pages. Look for the Submit a Site link.

Directory preferences (not)

On the subject of preference settings for Google Directory . . . there aren’t any. Lack of global settings isn’t really a problem because directory browsing is a simpler matter than Web searching, which is subject to preference settings (see Chapter 2). On one point, though, you might expect the Web-search preferences to cross over to the Directory experience: Namely, the ability to open a new window when you click an outside Web link. This preference is extremely useful in the search engine, because it keeps one browser window anchored on the search results while you’re off in another window exploring a result site.

Don’t expect Google to open a new window when you click a directory link, even if your search preference is set that way. Instead, right-click any directory link and choose the option to open a new window.

Searching and browsing combined

A degree of integration exists between Google’s Web search results and the directory. On the search side, Google Directory listings sometimes appear on search results pages, naturally enough. When they do, an accompanying link takes you to the category page on which that listing resides.

The figure shows a search results page with two directory listings.

On the other side is the searching capability of Google Directory, covered earlier in this chapter. You can launch a category-specific search from any category page or initiate a Web search from the same keyword box.

Warning 

The Submit a Site link is convenient, but there’s a problem. Open Directory Project is in charge of deciding which categories and subcategories are open to new submissions. Not all of them are — especially upper-level directory pages. Google doesn’t distinguish between open categories and closed categories, so it places the Submit a Site link at the bottom of all pages. When you click that link on a category page open to new submissions, you get the application form with any special instructions that apply to that category.

When the category is closed, clicking the Submit a Site link displays the general information page about submitting to Open Directory Project.

Because of this confusion, I recommend starting your submission from Open Directory’s home base. Go to this URL for the Open Directory’s home page:

 www.dmoz.org 

Figure 3-4 shows the Open Directory main page with its top-level categories. They’re the same categories as in Google Directory, but the layout is different.

Figure 3-4: Home page of Open Directory Project. Start your site submission project here.

As you drill into the directory, keep an eye on the upper-right corner of the page. Notice that some pages carry no reference to adding or correcting a URL, while other offer the add URL link, the update URL link, or both. Figure 3-5 shows a third-level directory page with both links. Click the add URL link to see the application for that subcategory.

Figure 3-5: Check for links to add or update in Open Directory.

Tip 

Generally, the broad categories closer to the top of the directory are unavailable for new submissions. Open Directory is particular about where new listings are placed, and your submission is better received if you take the time to research appropriate categories.

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