Open Directory Project
 

I guess AGD already has a fabulous editor...134 different websites of our collegiate, alumnae, and junior circle chapters are already listed!!!

Ok so my org doesn't have a directory. If I PM you and tell you the alpha and beta chapter websites, what will this do for us?

If I may...

The Google Directory is a specific part of Google.com, separate from the Google search engine. It uses the data from a site called DMOZ (Open Directory Project). Therefore, you would submit your site to DMOZ to get listed on that Google Directory. Web search engines like Google.com have the idea if others link to you, then perhaps you are really a quality site for ranking higher for a particular search term query result.

Having a link from a site already included in Google to yours will help get your site listed in Google itself. Other search engines will be likely to include such a listing. That’s why trying to get your site listed in the DMOZ ('Google Directory') site is a good idea – since the Google websearch itself draws on it. I recommend it.

Although the algorithms of the google search engine are not public to avoid exploitation, it is clear that such items as meta tags in HTML website code have a limited effect on getting page area ranking. More links to you from quality sites including those in your theme area, however, are helpful for page ranking (page ranking has another specific meaning but is also used here in its more general sense).

It is a good idea to have a high page ranking, to be listed in the first few search results, to be easily locatable via relevant keywords entered into a search engine. As, with increasing reliance on the Internet both having a well thought out web presence AND people being able to actually find it are important elements of an overall communications strategy.

Of course, the Directory is an excellent resource for locating websites in its own right also.

In and of itself inclusion in the Directory will not override all other factors and bump your site to to the top of every listing on Yahoo, Google, etc. But, it will contribute to the process of working to make sure people can find information on your site more easily and working to make sure your site can communicate effectively to its customers by the greater ease with which it can be located and accessed.

I'll create a subdirectory for you. I wouldn't volunteer for that category because you usually need to get 100 edits before you can add your second category. I would build up a few cats, then add your sorority.

Also, I can't guarantee that anyone will get approved. Someone, who should have been approved wasn't, and I'm about to try to persuade the powers that be to change their decision.

ETA I created your cat here: http://dmoz.org/Society/Organization...s/C/Chi_Delta/
Give it until tomorrow night to pop up.

Ok I am going to sound like a complete computer moron... but what do i do with the link? PM me if you want.

And I think I understand the premise of the directory now. Thanks. The more web traffic, the better I suppose.

My chapter is on there, but its the alumni website from a few years ago-- seriously outdated. How do I get the updated site on there? Whenever I look up my chapter, this particular site is the main one but we havent used it since I was an active.

The link will show your org's websites as soon as the servers catch up. On rare occasion, it takes as long as a few weeks to update, but its usually done by Monday morning, if not sooner.

At the top of this page, http://dmoz.org/Society/Organization...pha_Chi_Omega/ , on the right, you'll see a link that reads "update url" The Alpha Chi category has an active editor, so it should be taken care of quickly.

I applied to be the Pi Beta Phi editor. We'll see what happens.

Thanks!

If you apply, when you provide examples of web site descriptions, remember that you are describing the web site, not the organization, and without opinions.

Good example for GreekChat: Contains chat rooms, directory, and forums for individual organizations, as well as topical forums.

Bad example for GreekChat: Coolest chat site for FRATERNITIES and SORORITIES!!!

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I received this letter with regard to that one rejection that someone received:
But first, some definitions. A "meta" or "meta editor" is an editor with very broad editing privileges, including the ability approve new editors. "Greens" refers to new site submissions that have not yet been approved for addition to the directory.

Hi Russ,

I intended to send you feedback about that - you just beat me to it ;)

Once an application is rejected, it is gone. Unless the Meta who denied it responds, there is no way to see what kind of potential problem there may have been (real or perceived).

The most common reasons for rejecting are probably the descriptions supplied. They don't have to be absolutely guideline compliant but that certainly helps. It's not unusual for someone with a particular passion for a subject to hype the descriptions at least a little and use of third person is also very common. Of course, you know that isn't acceptable. You wouldn't believe the silly spelling errors we see - and it soon becomes obvious that education seems to make little or no difference there. Some are, of course, just typos but, again, terrible spelling is pretty common.

It's also not unusual to see the sample URLs submitted are already listed. We have even seen applications with copy/paste of the existing descriptions.

Of course, some apply with only one URL. The application asks for 2 or 3. Three is better.

As I said in the post, there are a number of factors considered. What is the size of the cat applied for? Smaller is better for newbies but I have seen apps approved for cats with most of a hundred sites and 50 or 60 greens.....perhaps a *little* much but it can happen.

Tell him to remember that we describe web sites, not businesses (or in this case Chapters). It is most important that the description describe what a surfer can expect to find on the site - not the purpose of the organization.

He is, of course welcome to reapply but I can't make any guarantees. There is no way to predict which Meta will review the app. And we are all volunteers (and human) so each will have their own "criterion".

Thanks for your efforts at recruiting. Who knows, this time he may be accepted and then down the road could end up being a Meta. ;)

Jim

*Bump*

Multicultural Greeks...WHERE ARE YOU?? Please be sure to visit:

http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Organiza...ulti-Cultural/

and put in your org's national site as well as your chapter site.

:)pj

ETA: Go to "Suggest URL" at the top of the screen and if your group isn't listed, please PM me.