As with all directories, one of the first things you will have to do is choose a category for your site. Open Directory allows one category per URL. The easiest way to determine which category your site best belongs in is by searching for keywords related to your site, and determining how other sites similar to your site is categorized.

For instance, if you choose the term 'spam filtering' you are returned with the category :

Computers > Internet > Abuse > Spam > Filtering

After choosing your category, you will find a 'Submit your Site' link at the bottom of the page for your category.  Please remember to only submit once, if you choose to submit your site more than once, chances are editors will become annoyed and possibly not approve your site.

Open Directory enforces the 'One category per URL' policy. Which basically means that each page on your site can only be in one category. You should first, find the category best for your entire site, and submit your index page to this category. After this, however, it's perfectly acceptable to submit the rest of your high-quality sites to other categories.

An important thing to remember, with directories, you pretty much have one chance to do it right. Modifying a listing is very difficult, if not impossible. However, once you have your site listed properly, you will receive great rewards from the listing, both in the form of visitors to the site, and better ranking by the search engines.

There is no magical formula to having your site accepted into The Open Directory. After choosing your category and starting to submit your site, you will need to write your web site title. Remember, directory editors are aware of all the tricks unethical search engine marketers will try to use to inflate their directory positioning, and because of this, it is not wise to try. You should have your official company name listed on your site in four locations:

• Header or Footer
• Locations page
• About Us page
• Contact Us page

The title of your company should always be factual, and not a sales or marketing hype. Although it may seem that the editors and webmasters have conflicting interests, instead, they want to add your site to their directory as much as you want it added, however, they will insist that it meets their qualifications to perserve the integrity of their directory.

Remember to be unique, there is no point in the directory editor adding your site, if there is another already like it in the same category. If you target a specific audience, mention the audience, if you specialize in certain services, mention those services. Most of all, make this description factual, do not try to stuff it with keywords or marketing hype, directory editors know their site viewers do not want to read keywords, they want to read a description.

Read all of the other descriptions in the category you wish to submit too. This will give you an idea of how the editors like the descriptions, if most of the descriptions are very small, do not try to make yours large, chances are you will be declined, or possibly they will edit the description for you, whether it's to your liking or not.

The Open Directory is used by many major search services such as Google, AOL Search, Netscape Search, Lycos and HotBot. Because of the strong use of Open Directory, you can understand why it is very important to have your site listed in this directory. Here is some things to consider to keep the editors happy, and more likely to approve your submission:

• Keep value in your site. Do not submit doorway pages, or pages with little content. Ask yourself whether the directories visitors will benefit from having your site listed.
• Do not submit sites which are a big affiliate program, whether for Amazon, or any other company.
• Never try to submit a site which is a mirror of another site.
• Redirects are not wanted in Open Directory, it is better not even to try to submit these.
  

Although not required, it is often recommended you add a link back to the Open Directory on your website, this will often give you the edge up on the hundreds of other sites trying to get submitted to the directory for that day. If you have any questions or concerns, there is an official forum which is maintained by the Open Directory editors at :

http://resource-zone.com/

Most of all, remember that editors take pride in their directories, they do not want to add sites which will reduce the quality of their particular category, or the directory in whole, because of this, only submit your site when it's finished, and in the best possible quality. The editors of The Open Directory are volunteers, unlike Yahoo and LookSmart, they are not paid staff.