General Tips

If you're just beginning your adventures as an ODP editor or if you feel like your editing might be a little rusty, spend some time reading the forum posts and guidelines we've gathered here. These tips below will make you a better editor in no time.
  • Read the Open Directory FAQ, which covers a lot of your newbie questions.
  • Read the editor forums, especially the New-Editor forum and the forum corresponding to the subject branch in which you edit, e.g. Health. You will find answers to many questions in the editor forums. 
  • Threads of particular interest to those getting started are - ODP culture for Newbies 

    • (http://dmoz.org/forum/threaddisplay.cgi?t=Forum31/HTML/000449.html) and All you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask (http://dmoz.org/forum/threaddisplay.cgi?t=Forum31/HTML/000486.html) - both of which are in the New-Editor forum.
  • Be sure to read the Directory Guidelines. Since the guidelines are periodically updated it is a good idea to re-read them every once in a while. 
  • Finally, introduce yourself to co-editors and editors in categories above you. And always feel free to ask questions of senior editors.

Editing Tips

The Open Directory editors take great pride in our editorial quality, and it's very important that all editors understand our editing processes.  Here are some editing tips you might not be aware of which will help you become an even better editor. 
  • Be sure to read the category description and FAQ for the categories you edit. If the category you edit does not have a description, you should write one. Be sure to consult with co-editors and those who edit categories above the one you edit for ideas. Working with your co-editors will make for a much more cohesive category family.
  • Try searching the directory to see if there are categories in other areas that relate to the one in which you are editing. Consider adding @links to categories that would make good virtual subcategories. Consider adding related links to categories that are, well, related. The FAQ has more tips regarding @links and related links.
  • When reviewing submitted sites, do a search for the main part of the URL and see if the main site is listed elsewhere, as the system only recognizes multiple listings if there is an exact URL match. It doesn't automatically recognize sites from the same root domain . Example: if your reviewing the the following site - www.test.com/sections/testing - run a search on www.test.com. This is important, as it may not be necessary to add an additional listing or deeplink if the main site is adequately linked. If you are unsure about listing a site, ask other editors for input. 
  • Read editor notes written by other editors. This is especially important if the phrase "This url also appears in: Test: See Editor Notes" is at the top of the editing screen.
  • Always include an editor note to explain any edits you make.
  • Spell check your edits. A convenient spell check is included on the URL editing screen.
  • When there are no submissions in the category you edit, search for new sites to add.
  • If you are interested in editing a category in a subject unrelated to the current category you edit, then collect sites that would be appropriate for that category in your ODP bookmarks. Once you have collected some sites, then request permissions to edit that category from your dashboard.