The DMOZ is shutting down...

cheat_master30 · Mar 1, 2017

Wow, didn't expect this to happen. Turns out the Open Directory Project is going to shut its doors next month:

https://www.dmoz.org/

Important Notice

As of Mar 14, 2017 dmoz.org will no longer be available.

Seems like after a few years of little activity the directory has finally run its course. And well, given the status of Yahoo's Directory (shut down a few years ago), that now means both of the biggest human run directory sites on the internet are no no more.

But hey, what do you think about this? Are you shocked the DMOZ is shutting down? Or did you expect something like this to happen for a while now?

Starskull · Mar 1, 2017

DMOZ was awesome for what it was. Then it went down hill. Getting into it could be hard and a lot of the sites were so outdated. Human ran sure, yet it still had downfalls. Directories just don't hold as much SEO power as they once did. There isn't much content to base it from anyways. Since no traffic, it is sure to die off. Not to mention it used to be a big thing to be in the DMOZ, now to get into Google fast or ranked by Alexa can take no time at all. I started my site Sunday. Checked today and am already ranked on Alexa. I was actually happy to see that considering I compared to a site in same niche that is 3 years old and we are ranked the same....But I did it in less than a week.

cheat_master30 · Mar 1, 2017

On another note, I think some of the members here used to be editors. So hey, let's see what the likes of quentin,

Delirious said:
DMOZ was awesome for what it was. Then it went down hill. Getting into it could be hard and a lot of the sites were so outdated. Human ran sure, yet it still had downfalls. Directories just don't hold as much SEO power as they once did. There isn't much content to base it from anyways. Since no traffic, it is sure to die off. Not to mention it used to be a big thing to be in the DMOZ, now to get into Google fast or ranked by Alexa can take no time at all. I started my site Sunday. Checked today and am already ranked on Alexa. I was actually happy to see that considering I compared to a site in same niche that is 3 years old and we are ranked the same....But I did it in less than a week.

Yeah, the directory is nowhere near as important as it used to be, and is probably now visited more by webmasters looking for backlinks than actual human visitors now.

And yep, it's woefully outdated too. I mean, look at the gaming section for a minute. They still don't have categories for the 3DS, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U or Nintendo Switch. That's pretty pathetic really, especially given how many of these systems were released in 2011. No one's gonna use a site that's that outdated.

Starskull · Mar 1, 2017

cheat_master30 said:
On another note, I think some of the members here used to be editors. So hey, let's see what the likes of quentin,

Yeah, the directory is nowhere near as important as it used to be, and is probably now visited more by webmasters looking for backlinks than actual human visitors now.

And yep, it's woefully outdated too. I mean, look at the gaming section for a minute. They still don't have categories for the 3DS, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U or Nintendo Switch. That's pretty pathetic really, especially given how many of these systems were released in 2011. No one's gonna use a site that's that outdated.

Very valid point. I remember trying to get my mafia mmorpg into the DMOZ...for a backlink...There wasn't even a category for it. Not to mention the different types of sites that have popped up since then. Such as meme sites and esports. If they would have just stayed modern and updated like they should, they would have still been a top site.

cheat_master30 · Mar 1, 2017

Delirious said:
Very valid point. I remember trying to get my mafia mmorpg into the DMOZ...for a backlink...There wasn't even a category for it. Not to mention the different types of sites that have popped up since then. Such as meme sites and esports. If they would have just stayed modern and updated like they should, they would have still been a top site.

Yeah, same situation here. Ran a 3DS forum, had all kinds of trouble getting it accepted due to the main category not existing and the related categories never getting round to my submission.

Starskull · Mar 1, 2017

We should just start a directory....and make every category we can think of! If it doesn't exist, let users request a new category! jk...
That would be so hard to maintain.

Monkey Wrench · Mar 1, 2017

Good thing it's shutting down, most people nowadays use google and social media in favor of directories. Dmoz had plenty of other flaws too like outdated links and control freaks as moderators

Alpha1 · Mar 1, 2017

Delirious said:
Checked today and am already ranked on Alexa.

lol. One of my SEO practices is to keep Alexa away as much as possible.

mysiteguy · Mar 1, 2017

Amazing how many people still have SEO thinking of 10 years ago, Alexa barely mattered in 2007, it matters less now.

DMOZ, going the way of altavista and many other pioneers. Change is constant.

Starskull · Mar 1, 2017

Alfa1 said:
lol. One of my SEO practices is to keep Alexa away as much as possible.

Why is that? I thought being ranked in Alexa was good. It's based off traffic right?

How else do you weigh your domain. Only by Google branded services?

mysiteguy · Mar 1, 2017

Until you get near the top rankings, Alexa's ratings are notoriously unreliable, and bigger marketers know this and won't base advertising decisions on this.

Alpha1 · Mar 1, 2017

Its based on low quality traffic. Users who have Alexa Toolbar or other plugins installed. There is little reason for a real person to have such spyware plugins installed.

You weigh your domain by readers, members, engagement, income, growth.

Gus · Mar 1, 2017

cheat_master30 said:
Wow, didn't expect this to happen.

What I didn't expect is that it's still around in 2017. I haven't seen or heard talk about that site in years.

doubt · Mar 1, 2017

Alfa1 said:
There is little reason for a real person to have such spyware plugins installed.

Bullseye.

Yappi · Mar 2, 2017

I was an editor on there a long time ago. Had some issues with a couple editors that kept their own sites at the top so I just stopped going there. I may still be an editor but haven't logged on for over a decade...

Interestingly, I went there a few months ago to look for a directory of sites. It was amazing how many dead links they had on there. Without anyone updating current links, it was completely useless. Not sure if it was like that in every category but it was embarrassing how bad it had become.

bucket · Mar 3, 2017

out of curiosity, I went to google and did site:dmoz.org

800,000 results

cbp · Mar 3, 2017

bucket said:
out of curiosity, I went to google and did site:dmoz.org

800,000 results

It hasn't shut yet and apparently editors are exploring options to keep it going.

cornnfedd · Mar 4, 2017

wow the memories!!

I remember trying to get my sites listed on dmoz like 12 or maybe even longer years ago.. i cant believe it lasted this long!!

Triangulum · Mar 9, 2017

cheat_master30 said:
Are you shocked the DMOZ is shutting down? Or did you expect something like this to happen for a while now?

I'll be 100% honest, I am pretty shocked.

In addition to my brand new forum, I also run an e-commerce site and I've been trying to get listed onto the DMOZ since 2008 I think? lol. I guess that's one less thing to keep me up at night now.

But, I guess it isn't all that surprising. In the VERY old days, it was common for every website to have a links page where you would exchange links with other webmasters you'd meet to up your rankings in search engines.

When was the last time you saw a site with a links page?

Call me crazy, but I really kind of miss the old days. In a lot of ways, I really hate what the internet has become.

Or, am I just getting old?

davert · Mar 13, 2017

It was great when it started. Then they started getting really overbearing and power-mad, IMHO...

They still have a folder for DaimlerChrysler (broken up in 2007). I sent in four requests to change that over the years... like all other communications, ignored.

They kicked out a huge number of editors without warning at some point (1999-2000?) and I think that was the end. Yes, some editors may have had minor transgressions, but “no warning and you’re permanently blacklisted” eliminated most of their labor pool, and nobody was left to separate the spam submissions (98% of them) from the real ones, or to update as needed!

The DMOZ is shutting down...

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