A message posted on 25th October 2006 indicates that the Open Directory is having problems with its servers.

We are currently experiencing technical problems with our servers. Currently the public pages are static pages that have been generated from a backup. This means:

(1) the public pages do not reflect the most recent updates made to the directory;

(2) scripted pages, including site suggestion and application forms, are not functioning; and

(3) editors are unable to check the status of new editor applications.

We do not currently have an ETA for the resolution of the technical difficulties. We will update this announcement when the system is fully functioning again -- please do not start threads asking why the system isn't working properly or when it will be available again. Thanks.

The above state continues as at 30th November 2006

The Open Directory - dmoz.org is a large search resource, very similar to the revered Yahoo Directory in it's layout but with major differences in the way it is controlled behind the scenes.

• First, there are no charges to commercial organisations to get into the Open Directory
• Secondly, the Open Directory is run substantially by volunteers from all over the world.
• Thirdly, the Open Directory results are available in a format which is usable, by those who have the skills, to create other search directories.

The above third feature is the reason that we are including Open Directory in this "Open Source" section.

Some of you may be aware that Google carries three different types of search results

• the main free organic search results
• the paid search results from Google AdWords which appear down the right hand side of a Google page
• and results from the Google Directory.

The Google Directory results are derived from the Open Directory and modified by Google to display in the format they require.

This means that the Google / Open Directory combination provides five opportunities for listings of your website in Google search results -

1. In Google's free "organic" or "natural" search results
2. In AdWords results if you are willing to bid some money for Key Phrases
3. If you get yourself into the Open Directory, you will also appear in the Google Directory results (which, in turn, appear in Google's natural search results)
4. The Open Directory results will also be directly spidered by Googlebot and will appear in Google's organic search results
5. Other small directories which carry results from the Open directory, and which are also spidered by Google, will produce results about your website on Google.

You will find that not too many people use the Open Directory as their search device of choice, partly because not too many people are aware of the Open directory. But for the website owner there is another very worthwhile reason for appearing in the Open Directory.

A very important part of ranking highly in Google search results, and also with a relevance for search engines such as Yahoo and MSN Search, is obtaining backlinks from other websites to your website.

In the backlink scenario, three factors matter -

• Quality or relevance of backlinks
• Size of the website and web page which provides the backlink
• Total number of backlinks to your website

A listing in Open Directory meets two of the above criteria and contributes to the third -

1. Because of the way listings appear in directories, i.e. you are presented in a category which is relevant to your business and alongside similar businesses or organisation, this gives your backlink quality and relevance
2. Because of the overall size of the Open Directory, and often also because of the importance of individual category pages, Google will view this as a major link
3. And this single link from the Open Directory will be one more in your total number of links viewed by Google

Open Directory Links

• Open Directory

  • Open Office now available in Scots Gaelic
  • Scottish pages on Open Directory
  • Some Scottish Links on International Open Directory Pages
    • Colleges and Universities in Scotland
    • Cycling in Scotland
    • Independence for Scotland
    • Police Forces in Scotland
    • Presbyterian Church Links on Open Directory
    • Scottish Curling Clubs on Open Directory
    • Scottish football pages on Open Directory
    • Scottish football players on Open Directory
    • Scottish Golf pages on Open Directory
    • Trade Unions in Scotland