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phrail
Joined: Jan 09, 2008
# Posts: 61
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Posted: 2008-Jan-14 17:25
Our company site is listed on dmoz and we don't have the "noodp" attribute set so in google SERPs we get our description from dmoz. I don't mind it at all because we are getting top 10 in our biggest keyword searches. However, we are doing a redesign and I was wondering how much it would affect us if we either edited the dmoz description by adding new keywords or if we used the "noodp" attribute and based it of our keywords on our site?
Any comment or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Quadrille
Joined: Nov 15, 2000
# Posts: 1064
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Posted: 2008-Jan-14 19:06
There's no way to say how much it would affect your listings, if at all.
But there's a good chance that it will affect the the appearance of your listings.
For example, if Google currently uses the ODP description, and you choose 'noodp', then you cannot be sure that Google will use your meta description in place. In fact, you CAN be sure that it WILL NOT use your meta description unless the search term appears within it.
You have to weigh up the pros and cons of a good-looking serp with a description that YOU feel is less than perfect, and a not-so good looking serp with a snippet pulled out that contains the search term. Or something else not quite predictable.
Remember that Google's rationale for using the ODP snippet is that it, er, describes your site ... while many non-ODP sites get non-descriptive serps.
If in doubt, why not experiment with a folder or two? Or even a site or two. And a bunch of searches, some of which are not answered directly by your meta description.
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phrail
Joined: Jan 09, 2008
# Posts: 61
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Posted: 2008-Jan-14 19:21
What about if we add to the ODP description and not touch anything that was there in the first place?
Thanks for your input, I will try some of those suggestions.
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Quadrille
Joined: Nov 15, 2000
# Posts: 1064
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Posted: 2008-Jan-14 20:34
I am not sure what you mean. Unless you are an ODP editor, you cannot alter the description.
Sure, you can ask. But unless Hell is freezing over, I don't see a huge chance of success - unless the site has materially altered since the editor entered the current ODP description.
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phrail
Joined: Jan 09, 2008
# Posts: 61
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Posted: 2008-Jan-14 23:35
There are however some important keywords that are missing. The ODP listing was done many years ago and I don't think the person working on the site back then knew that the ODP descriptions would show up.
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Quadrille
Joined: Nov 15, 2000
# Posts: 1064
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Posted: 2008-Jan-15 00:12
That's the point.
Your idea of a good description, and an ODP editor's idea of a good description are worlds apart.
You want keywords +++ (who doesn't), because you know the SEO value of (a) an ODP listing and (b) a 'good' description.
The ODP editor, on the other hand, is compiling an entry for a directory.
If, say, your site was in sport > football > NFL > Hall of fame players (I'm making this up as I go along  - then you probably want most of those terms as keywords. But they are EXACTLY the terms the ODP editor does NOT need, as your site is in the sub cat of the sub cat of the sub cat of the category, so directory readers will assume those terms.
By all means ask for an updated description, but remember that ODP is not a service to webmasters, but to directory users ... so, meantime, cut your coat according to your cloth ... either stick with the (current and until you know different) ODP description, or go noodp.
Good Luck!
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g1smd
Staff
Joined: Jul 28, 2002
# Posts: 10438
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Posted: 2008-Jan-15 01:15
Getting an ODP entry amended to "add keywords" isn't going to happen.
Getting an incomplete entry amended to add a comment about specific stuff that you do, and that means stuff that none of the other sites do (i.e. is unique to your site), is a realistic expectation that is often (that is often, not always) met.
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phrail
Joined: Jan 09, 2008
# Posts: 61
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Posted: 2008-Jan-15 15:30
ah I understand. Thanks for your input guys.
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