Much like a review site, the PMOZ directory bases its listings on first-hand viewing of sites by PMOZ staff, Director Greg told XBIZ. Asked what makes an adult site a “quality” site in the eyes of PMOZ, Greg said that content quantity and exclusivity are at the top of the list, but the means by which sites provide their content also is crucial.
“The most important factor to me is that you are able to download the movies to your hard drive for viewing later,” Greg said. “I am not a big fan of the sites that have decryption methods to view the content, even streaming from their servers is painful to me.”
The goal at PMOZ is to approach sites with the same mindset that surfers and paying site customers do — something made easier by the fact that the staff of PMOZ has “spent the last 10 years involved in the industry, without girlfriends and without lives,” according to Greg.
“I have been a paying member of many porn sites in the past and I would say I was happy with not even 50 percent of them,” Greg said. “I like to see exclusive updates at least once a week, and full DVD quality movies/clips. There is nothing worse than viewing a porn movie in 400x400 resolution which is what some sites offer.”
In order to encourage more sites to submit listings to the directory, PMOZ has initiated a “Seal of Quality” program, under which sites receive a more thorough review before being bestowed with the seal.
“We talk to each webmaster on a one-to-one basis about their sites and the services [and] products they offer,” Greg said. “The most important thing they need to do is keep their word with what they offer and what you get. Many adult sites offer you one thing and you get a completely different thing when you hand over your credit card. Webmasters will normally give us full access to their sites so we can review and check that everything is legit.”
Ultimately, Greg said, the opinions of surfers and customers is what determines whether a site obtains and retains its listing as “quality verified” on PMOZ.org.
“We try at PMOZ to select the best of the best sites from the most reputable companies in the business,” Greg said. “If at any time we get complaints about the quality of a certain site listed we will investigate with the webmaster of that site and either try to find a solution or remove them from the directory.”