How to Add a Claim Listing Button to Your Directory (3 Steps)

A claim listing option will enable business owners to update their own information. Here's how to add a claim now button to your directory!

Setting up a business directory can be remarkably simple with the right plugin. However, adding in-depth information for dozens of managed listings can be very time-consuming.

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In most cases, it's better if a business directly claims its own listing and adds as much data to it as possible. If you want to make verified listings possible, you'll need to offer users a way to claim listings. Fortunately, Business Directory Plugin offers a feature that does precisely that.

In this article, we'll talk about the Claim Listings plugin and show you how it works. Let's get started!

How to add a claim listing button to your directory

To get started, you'll first need to install the Business Directory plugin. Then, you can go ahead and set up our claim listings plugin.

Step 1: Set up and activate the Claim Listings plugin

The Claim Listings plugin is available with an Elite license for Business Directory. Once you activate that license, you can access your account and go to the Downloads page:

After downloading the plugin, navigate to the Plugins page in your WordPress dashboard. Then, select Add New → Upload Plugin and choose the zip file you just downloaded:

Uploading the plugin should only take a few seconds and you can activate it right away. Now it's time to configure how users will be able to use the claiming feature.

Step 2: Configure the claim listing settings

Go to the Directory → Claim Listings section:

You can also select the default owner for unclaimed entries by entering their username or user ID. That way, the plugin will know who to send claim messages to for approval.

If you keep scrolling, you'll also see options to notify the administrator of any new claims, and to configure what happens when a business submits a query:

Configuring claim notifications in Business Directory

The Claim Listings plugin also includes options for the verification process. This may include the approval and rejection email templates that WordPress can send depending on your response. You can modify these templates or use the default messages.

Ideally, we recommend providing business owners with details if you don't approve their claims, so they can re-apply with more information if needed:

Moving on, the settings page enables you to modify how the Claim this listing form works. You can enable a reCaptcha, ask users to include the reason why they're claiming a listing, and add a success message once they submit a request:

Finally, you can request payment after you approve a listing and give businesses a set number of days before they complete the payment, or the listing returns to its original unclaimed status:

Configuring payment options or claim free listing

When you're ready, save your changes. Now, users will be able to claim free listings on your directory. Let's check out how that process works.

Step 3: Manage claim listing requests from your dashboard

Once you set up the Claim Listings plugin, users who come across an unclaimed listing will see a claim now button or link. For instance, a geodirectory claim listing button may look something like this:

Geodirectory claim listing from directory with the claim now button

This could also include extra details like a Google map or service area.

Clicking on the button to claim this page will go to the listing and show the Claim Listing form. Here, the user can include their name and email address. It will also ask them to explain why the listing should be theirs. This means they'll need to submit proof of business ownership to the directory's administrator (that's you!):

After a user submits a claim, they'll see a success message (the one you set up during step two). Now, if you navigate to the Directory → Claim Listing tab in the dashboard, you'll see a new entry with options to approve or reject it, or to request additional information:

If you select the option to request more information from the claimant, you'll see a contact form. Using this form, you'll be able to enter your business requirements, and reach out to them without leaving the dashboard:

Requesting more information to confirm a listing claim

After you confirm a user's claim, they'll get control of the listing. That means they'll be able to update their business information including business categories, website address, and phone number. They can even delete the listing depending on the site settings.

Conclusion

Enabling businesses to claim listings on your directory is a smart move. Businesses have an incentive to ensure that their listings are up to date and that users will be able to get in touch with them.

In this post, we showed you how to use the claim now button in Business Directory Plugin:

Set up and activate the Claim Listings plugin.
Configure the claiming settings.
Manage claims from your dashboard.

Are you looking for the perfect plugin to help you set up a listings directory? Business Directory includes all of the features that you need, including the option for businesses to claim listings and update their information.