How to Use Directorist for a Business Directory in WordPress

Directorist is a powerful and user-friendly WordPress plugin designed to help you create feature-rich business directories. Whether you’re building a local business directory, a service listing site, or a niche marketplace, Directorist offers customizable tools and features to set up and manage directories efficiently.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use Directorist to create a business directory in WordPress.

Step 1: Install and Activate Directorist

1.1. Install the Plugin

1. From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New.
2. In the search bar, type Directorist.
3. Find Directorist – Business Directory Plugin by WPWax and click Install Now.
4. After installation, click Activate.

Step 2: Configure Directorist Settings

Once Directorist is activated, it will add a Directorist section to your WordPress dashboard.

2.1. General Settings

1. Navigate to Directorist > Settings.
2. Under the General Settings tab, configure the following options:
   • Currency: Choose the currency for payments (if you plan to charge for listings).
   • Date Format: Set the format in which dates will be displayed on listings.
   • Google Maps: Enable and configure Google Maps by entering your Google Maps API key.

2.2. Listing Settings

1. Go to Listings under the Settings menu.
2. Customize how your directory listings will appear:
   • Listings per Page: Set how many listings to display on each page.
   • Review System: Enable the review and rating system if you want users to review businesses.
   • Featured Listings: Allow users to purchase or upgrade to featured listings.

2.3. Email Notifications

1. Navigate to Email under the Settings menu.
2. Configure automated email notifications for actions like new listing submissions, listing approvals, and listing expirations.

Step 3: Create Directory Listing Categories

To better organize your directory, you can set up categories and tags for different types of businesses.

1. Go to Directorist > Listings Categories.
2. Add new categories by entering the Category Name, Slug, and a Description.
3. Optionally, upload a Category Image for a visual representation of each category.

You can also create tags for further refinement by going to Listings Tags and following a similar process.

Step 4: Add Custom Fields to Your Directory

Directorist allows you to add custom fields to listings, making it more flexible for specific industries or business types.

1. Navigate to Directorist > Custom Fields.
2. Click on Add New Field.
3. Choose the Field Type (e.g., text, checkbox, dropdown).
4. Fill in the Field Label, Description, and any other options relevant to the field type.
5. Once configured, click Save.

These custom fields will appear on the business listing submission form and display in the directory.

Step 5: Create a Directory Page

Directorist provides a shortcode to display your directory on any page of your WordPress site.

1. Go to Pages > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Create a page (e.g., Business Directory).
3. In the content area, add the Directorist directory shortcode:
   [directorist_all_listing]
4. Optionally, customize the page with additional content or formatting.
5. Click Publish to make your directory live.

Step 6: Add Business Listings

There are two ways to add listings to your directory: manually by the site admin or user-submitted listings from the front end.

6.1. Manually Adding Listings

1. Go to Directorist > Add Listing in your dashboard.
2. Fill in the necessary details, such as:
   • Listing Title (e.g., business name)
   • Description
   • Category
   • Tags
   • Location (you can integrate Google Maps here)
   • Contact Information (phone number, email, website)
   • Operating Hours
   • Images or Business Logos
3. Set the Listing Status (published, pending, or draft).
4. Optionally mark it as a Featured Listing.
5. Click Publish to add the listing.

6.2. Allow User Submissions

1. Navigate to Directorist > Settings > General.
2. Enable the Front-end Listing Submission option.
3. Set other parameters, such as whether listings need admin approval before going live.

You can display the front-end submission form on any page by using the shortcode:

This will allow users to submit their business details for inclusion in the directory.

Step 7: Monetize Your Directory (Optional)

If you want to charge users for listing their business or for upgrading to featured listings, Directorist offers several monetization options.

7.1. Payment Settings

1. Navigate to Directorist > Extensions and install the Directorist Pricing Plans extension (optional, paid feature).
2. Once installed, go to Directorist > Settings > Payment.
3. Set up your payment gateways (e.g., PayPal, Stripe) and configure pricing plans for premium or featured listings.

7.2. Create Pricing Plans

1. Navigate to Directorist > Pricing Plans.
2. Add new pricing plans by setting the Plan Name, Price, Features, and Duration.
3. These plans will be displayed to users during the listing submission process, allowing them to choose between free and premium options.

Step 8: Customize the Directory’s Design

Directorist allows you to customize the appearance of your directory using pre-built templates or by tweaking the layout.

1. Go to Directorist > Settings > Appearance.
2. Choose from the available listing templates, map styles, and layouts for single listing pages.
3. If you have coding skills, you can also use custom CSS to further style the directory to match your website’s branding.

Step 9: Promote Your Directory

Once your business directory is live, it’s time to promote it to attract both businesses and users.

9.1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

1. Optimize your listing pages for search engines by using plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math.
2. Ensure each business listing has proper meta tags, keywords, and descriptions.

9.2. Social Media Integration

• Share new business listings on social media platforms to drive traffic to your directory.
• Encourage businesses to share their listing pages with their audience.

9.3. Email Marketing

• Send newsletters to businesses and users to keep them updated on new listings or special promotions.

Conclusion

Directorist is a comprehensive and easy-to-use solution for building a business directory in WordPress. With its wide array of features, such as custom fields, monetization options, front-end submissions, and Google Maps integration, you can create a robust directory tailored to your needs. By following these steps, you can launch and manage your business directory while offering an intuitive experience for users and businesses alike.