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Wikology, The Democratic Version Of The Open Directory

Andy Capp

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There’s an interesting new kid on the block. It’s called Wikology. Based on Wiki software, it will create a Business Directory somewhat parallel to the Open Directory. The Open Directory is a volunteer-based directory as well. However it is tightly controlled with a stringent process for selecting editors. It also can be very slow in accepting possible entries, which has elicited much criticism from those companies that feel they deserve a listing.

Now a company can enter its own details in Wikology and presumably the rules of any polite society will apply. If members feel that a description is not correct, then as in any Wiki they can set out to modify the entry. It’s too early to say how well this will work out.

However just as Wikipedia is giving Encyclopedia Britannica a run for its money, this is going to be a very interesting struggle.

Tags: Wikology, Open Directory

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 12th, 2006 at 9:00 am and is filed under Marketing, Search. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Viewing 8 Comments

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    I can see it being a bad idea if it actually catches on.
    I managed to create a new account, find a Dell UK listing, and edit it to be less than complimentary about the support they offer.

    It was quick and easy to do. Maybe now I should go and do the same for my competitors? While making my own listing look glowing. Or making sure it's not on there, so no one else can make it look bad.

    The site does have this disclaimer
    "If you don't want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then don't submit it here."

    So therefore what I just did to Dell UK's listing was fine? if they don't want it edited, it shouldn't be submitted....
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    That's exactly what I was thinking, Adrian. If it takes off, then there will be all sorts of potential controversy, just as there is with Wikipedia.

    If it doesn't take off, then it won't matter. :)
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    Barry,

    Thanks for this great information. I'll have to give it a look and see if I can muster up the courage to post my own company to Wikology.

    I recently did a little seminar for our local client base on wiki technology with the hopes that they might see some useful applications for it. I was somewhat surprised to find that almost none of our attendees - all business professional of some sort - had any clue that wikipedia was a site that they themselves could modify!

    I do think that once the technology was explained to them, many of the folks could start to see potential business uses for it. All in all it was a fun little experiment.

    We decided to feature wiki technology on one of our podcast episodes: http://www.greatbigpodcast.com/?p=6

    On a totally unrelated note, I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your posts on the cre8asite forums. I just now discovered this blog, so now I have much more of your content to read and learn from.

    Keep up the good work!!

    Tony Valle
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    Thanks, Tony, I'm glad you found it. If you look up to the right you'll find two other blogs if you're looking for more to read. :)

    StayGoLinks is a new one focusing on the Mobile world, and The Other Bloke's Blog looks at Business and Internet Marketing from a Montreal perspective. There's also quite a collection of Newsletters on the SMM website when you've finished with the blogs.

    I think your experience is a great example of how much people do not realize the incredible potential of the Internet and the new vehicles for communication that exist. This has a much bigger impact than the invention of printing. You still had to carry around the books and personally give them to your readers. Now folk can come and help themselves.
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    Google is banning sites using DMOZ content. I don't see any value with this site.
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    That's an interesting comment, max. IMHO it may be a little strong. Undoubtedly with all the clones of DMOZ the value of a link in one of these clones is likely to be minimal in Google. However although Wikology may have started with a good slice of DMOZ content, I would think by its very nature its content will become more and more distinct. If that's true, then it would have some value. Do you have some other information that would suggest something different from that.
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    This site is really superb!!! Thank you for you work! Good Luck>
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    I can understand the need for something faster than dmoz but when you are dealing with companies (and the inherent problems that come with a company directory) there is a need for checks and verification. That's what we've done with www.bizwiki.co.uk (US version www.bizwiki.com to launch soon). Any registered user can edit a page on Bizwiki BUT - and that's a big BUT - the change does not go through to the live version until it's been approved by an editor or member of staff. We'll still have problems and issues but the process of verification should help to root out at least the most obvious spam and defacement attacks. The simple fact that we require registration acts as a deterrent to would be attackers.
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