Design is important. English sites please. Sites with text in other languages besides English are more than welcome to submit their URLs, but the judgement of the content of a site will based on it's English sections only. Other languages are a benefit, but our English speaking editors need to be able to read the site. Be a good host.
Nothing is more frustrating to a web surfer than to hit a server that takes forever to load a page.
Your page should be on a fairly quick connection. We don't like waiting any more than anyone else. Free web hosts often stink. We frown on sites hosted on such systems because of this. Also, some free hosts have pop up windows, such as on MSN Home Page or Tripod.