This is Part 2 of a three-part tutorial. If you missed Part 1, you can read it here.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR SITE TO DMOZ
Dmoz provides step-by-step directions on how to submit your site at www.dmoz.org/add.html
Here are my summation and advice...
The first step is to find the category you want Dmoz to list you in. Keep drilling down into the categories by clicking the category links until you get to the one right for you. It’s like finding a certain kind of jelly at the grocery. Drilling down through the categories would be like GroceryStore>Isle 5>JellySection>ThirdShelfFromTop.
On the Dmoz Help page it says: “You should submit your site to the single most appropriate category that is directly relevant to your site's content. Please only submit your site one time. The ODP editors reserve the right to use their editorial discretion to determine which category or categories your site will ultimately be placed.”
The graphic to the right shows the best category starting place for real estate agents: www.dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/United_States/Business_and_Economy/Real_Estate/
To get there quickly, come back to this tutorial later and click the link above. From there, click on your state and keep drilling down (clicking links) until you find the city, county or metro area you want Dmoz to list you in.
IMPORTANT: If you click on a category and think that is where you want to be listed but there is no “Submit URL” link at the top of the page, it means that category is not available for selection.
If you have any trouble, here is the Help page on categories:
www.dmoz.org/help/cats.html
Although you don’t need to understand everything about Dmoz to use it, here is their Help page with answers to everything: www.dmoz.org/help/helpmain.html
IMPORTANT: Again, do not submit your site more than once. This can get you rejected, and it will definitely slow the process to a crawl. Also, do not submit a site that’s under construction. It will be rejected.
HOW TO WRITE YOUR TITLE AND DESCRIPTION
But first … when you type your site’s URL on the Dmoz submission form, make absolutely certain it’s spelled correctly. I believe after you type it in, you can check it by clicking it. If all is well with your spelling, clicking it will open your site in a new browser window.
Next, the Dmoz guidelines for writing your title and description are at www.akamarketing.com/open-directory-project-tutorial-guide.html
As the guidelines say, your TITLE “should identify the site, not describe it. It should be both informative and concise.” For instance, my title for InHouseWriter.com is InHouse Writer.
Next you need to write your description. Some search engines will use your Dmoz description beneath their link to your site on their results page. So it’s important to put some thought into your description.
IMPORTANT: Do not write your description as self-promotion. Dmoz is not for advertising. This can get you rejected. Make your description informational only. Spend a few minutes reading other descriptions to see how it’s done and to see what the Dmoz editors like.
Dmoz says the DESCRIPTION "gives specific information about the content and/or subject matter of the site. It should be informative and concise, usually no longer than one or two lines.”
Back when I submitted my site, Dmoz had a character + spaces limit. However, I could not find that limit in their guidelines when I looked recently. (Most word processors have a word-count tool that will give you a character count too.) Below is the description I wrote back then. It has 234 characters including spaces:
Copywriter Kay Steele Faulk, specializing in direct response copy for print and web, business marketing tools, advertorials, feature articles, SEO copy, web site critique and makeover. Find services, samples, fee minimums and contact.
Direct response copywriter that I am, I could not write it without including a call to action, which is the last sentence: "Find services, samples, fee minimums and contact."
This sentence did not violate the Dmoz guidelines that say “the basic formula for a good description is Description = Subject + Content.” As you can see, “services, samples, fee minimums and contact” all have to do with my site’s content. It’s that little word “Find” that asks for a response from anyone reading it. “Click for” would have been better, but it took up too many characters, and for all I know, using it might have gotten me rejected.
Well that's it. So, how long will it take your site to show up in the search engines? Please click here for the answer...
Writing for your success,
Kay Steele Faulk
The Real Estate Copywriter
Author of the forthcoming e-book
"A Copywriter's Guide for Real Estate Professionals -
How to Write & Lay Out Your Own Personal Brochure"
Available April 17, 2008
If you found the above information useful, you might also like my post that was an AR Gold-Star Winner:
What Is a Personal Brochure and Why Should You Care?
Copyright 2008 Kay Steele Faulk. All rights reserved.
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