Traffic Flow SEO

Just saw a post on the DMOZ (Open Directory) Blog that is titled, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T for DMOZ". Well, well, well, the DMOZ wants us to respect them, huh? From the most non-transparent and corrupt directory organization on the web this seems a bit of a surprise.

Let me walk you through what the DMOZ wants you to believe as to where your submission(s) go:

Here is their explanation:
http://blog.dmoz.org/2008/10/10/what-happens-after-i-submit-my-site-to-dmoz/

Here is mine:


Unless you offer this:


Here are some fun resources for your viewing pleasure:

- DMOZ Extortion (Shoemoney)
- The DMOZ Mob Strikes Again (Yoast)
- Trouble at the DMOZ (Turner Dow Search Engine Optimisation)
- Corrupt DMOZ Editor Blog (a confession)

There are very open buying and sales of DMOZ links on the forums - see below:

- Guaranteed DMOZ Listing (check out the amount of responses)
- Guaranteed DMOZ Listing 2 (still lots of people ready to bid on the project)

The list goes on and on, the above only represents two samples of an endless ocean of requests and fulfilled orders for guaranteed listings in the DMOZ.

Hell, they even have a way to report the abuse on their own website - Open Directory Public Abuse Report System

What should happen is simple. Make the DMOZ a paid directory. It will weed out the crap and allow it to generate some much needed income for AOL (the current owner) as does the Yahoo Directory for Yahoo. It will end the corruption as you can now 'officially' buy your way in and Google will still probably give it the credibility they do as they need to keep their search agreement with AOL in place as it is up for review soon.

While I love and respect web directories (and own some myself), respect for the DMOZ is something they are going to have to earn not request and it will probably not happen anytime soon.