A WordPress user directory is the simplest way to help people find who they're looking for.

From staff to membership directories, they're useful in a variety of situations. But how can you easily create one without knowing how to code?

And that's where the best WordPress user directory plugin comes in: Business Directory Plugin.

It makes it simple to create your own WordPress user directory in a matter of minutes. So, we'll cover some of the things you need to know to start, then we'll show you exactly how to create a dynamic user directory with our step-by-step tutorial.

Let's begin!

What to expect from a WordPress user directory plugin

WordPress doesn’t come with a directory system out of the box.

This is why you need a WordPress directory plugin. And all it takes is two tools to start your WordPress user directory:

1. A live WordPress site
2. Business Directory WordPress plugin

You can use your existing WordPress site (e.g., your organization's website) or a new one.

Getting a new WordPress website is easy. Just contact a WordPress hosting provider and you’ll receive all the necessary details.

Business Directory Plugin is the best directory plugin for WordPress.

It helps you create any type of directory in the shortest amount of time so you can focus on more important tasks. Whether it's a member directory page or a searchable directory for a list of business directories, Business Directory makes it easy for anyone with its user-friendly interface.

You can use the free plugin from WordPress.org or the premium version.

It's possible to use the free version to build a basic user directory site. But if you want more advanced features like unlimited listings or extra layout types, then it's best to go with one of Business Directory's paid plans.

Plus, Business Directory has Google Maps and advanced filtering options only available in the premium plans. So we’ll use Business Directory Plugin premium in this tutorial.

How to create a people directory in WordPress

It's only a few simple steps to make your WordPress user directory:

Step 1: Get Business Directory

First, we must install the free version and then the premium version.

You can download the free version by going to Plugins → Add New. Then search for Business Directory and click Install, then Activate.

Next, head to the pricing page and grab a Business Directory premium plan if you want the extras in this tutorial. Then, in your account, go to Downloads and click the Download Business Directory Premium button.

Also, copy your license key while you're in your account. You'll need this in a second.

Next, go to your WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins → Add New again and upload the zip file for Business Directory premium. Then install and activate it.

Then, there's only one more step: getting your license key entered.

So go to Directory and you'll see a notification for your license key:

Click Review license keys and you can enter the key you copied earlier. You're now set to go!

Step 2: Create user directory pages

For a user directory site, we need to create multiple directory pages. These are standard WordPress pages with Business Directory Plugin shortcodes:

First is the user directory front page.

Right after you activate Business Directory Plugin, you’ll see a dashboard notification about how creating the required pages is included in the directory. Click the Create required pages for me button, and the directory home page will be created.

You can find it from WordPress Dashboard → Pages. By default, its name is “Business Directory”. We’ve changed that to “User Directory”.

This page will be the front archive page of the directory. You can also set it as the home page of your site if you want.

Next is the list submission page.

This page is on the WordPress frontend and is used internally to add user listings to the site.

To create the list submission page, first, go to WordPress Dashboard → Pages → Add New.

Give your page a title. We used “Add new user”. Then, put the [businessdirectory-submit-listing] shortcode into the new WordPress page.

Publish the page, and your form is ready to go!

Step 3: Set up the WordPress user directory system

Now let's customize some of its default settings. We’re going to do the following.

• Hide the list submission button from the front page.
• Decide who can create people listing entries.
• Adjust the listing expiration time.

Turning off the Submit Listing button: Usually, a user directory doesn’t accept listing submissions from the public. The site’s internal team adds the listing entries.

By default, Business Directory Plugin displays a Submit Listing button on the directory front page. But we don’t need this button for this tutorial. So let’s go to Directory → Settings → Listings → Buttons.

Uncheck the Submit listing button option from there.

Decide who can create listings: We want to ensure that only our registered internal users can add user listings to the directory. So, go to Directory → Settings → General → Registration.

Enable Require login to post listings. Then disallow users to create accounts during listing submission. Don’t forget to save the settings.

Step 4: Add listing categories

We can categorize the listed people to make the list more organized. For example, we can categorize an organization’s staff by their departments.

To create these categories, go to Directory → Categories.

You can add and manage them from the same place.

Step 5: Edit the directory form fields

You’ll get some readymade form fields inside the list plugin. These can be edited to match your needs. You can also add custom fields if you want.

Go to Directory → Form Fields. Edit the form field titles and options there.

We’ll need the following fields for this tutorial which can act like a profile builder.

• Name
• Designation
• Bio
• Address
• Phone number
• Email address

Want more detail about editing form fields? Please see our form fields guide.

Step 6: Add user listings

After getting our categories and form fields ready, we can now create listing items. We’ll use our front-end list submission page for this. Here’s a screenshot of our list submission page.

We just need to add the user profile data to this form and follow the on-screen instructions. It’s easy and quick.

Step 7: Improving the design of your WordPress user directory

To present the directory professionally, we’ll use a premium Business Directory Plugin template. For this tutorial, we’ll use the Elegant Business theme.

We’ve taken a screenshot of the listing archive to show you. Check it out!

The single listing detail view looks like the one below.

And that's it! Our people directory is now ready.

If you want, you can use Google Analytics to see the traffic stats, including the profile page visits. This can give you a view of who is the most popular in your community! Fun, right?

Learn More: How to Create a WordPress Contact Directory

Ready to make your WordPress user directory?

Business Directory Plugin has many features that you can explore and use on your user directory site.

And we hope this tutorial has helped you get started with your employee or membership site! Please share your thoughts via comments!

Ready to launch a WordPress people directory? Get Business Directory Plugin now and build the people listings site today!

Choosing a niche for your directory site is like choosing our child's name.

And that's because it's arguably the most crucial step in creating a successful directory website. 

So we're here to help.

In this article, we'll guide you through the niche selection process, giving you some tips to help you make an informed decision. We'll cover how to find a profitable niche, the importance of passion and expertise in your selected field, and how to gauge competition and potential for growth.

So, are you ready to find your perfect niche and kickstart your directory website journey?

Let's dive in!

Understanding the importance of niche for your directory website

Choosing the right niche for your directory website is not just a crucial step; it's the backbone of your entire project.

But why is it so important? 

Well, the niche you choose determines the type of content you provide, the audience you attract, and the success of your directory website.

It's like picking the perfect location for a brick-and-mortar business.

Just as a coffee shop will thrive in a bustling city center but struggle in a quiet rural area, your directory website will flourish when you find the right niche. 

“The right niche can make or break your directory website. Choose wisely.”

Choosing the right niche for your directory website isn't just a decision; it's a strategic process that can lead to great success if handled correctly.

So, ready to start your niche-finding journey?

How to choose a niche for your directory website

Choosing the right niche for your web directory is crucial to its success. But how do you find the perfect niche?

Here are some steps to guide you through the process of becoming a business owner.

1. Brainstorming for unique and creative niche ideas

Have you ever wondered how the most successful directory websites found their niche?

The secret lies in creative brainstorming. Yes, it's as simple as that. But how exactly do you brainstorm for a unique and engaging niche idea for your directory website?

Here are a few tips:

• Identify gaps in the market: Are there underserved or overlooked niches in the current market? This is your chance to fill those gaps. An unserved niche can be a goldmine if you tap into it correctly.
• Consider profitability: While passion is critical, profitability is equally important. You can love your niche more than your mother, but you won't make money if no one's interested.
• Explore trending topics: Trending topics are a good source of inspiration. However, remember that trends come and go, so choose a trend that can stick around.

These are just a few ways to generate unique and creative niche ideas for your directory website. 

The crucial part is to choose a niche that is not overcrowded, has potential for growth, and will keep you engaged in the long run. 

2. Identifying your passion and expertise before choosing your potential niches

Are you passionate about something? Do you have a particular field of expertise?

Identifying your passions and areas of expertise is a critical first step in choosing the right niche for your directory website. Your enthusiasm and knowledge about a particular subject will not only make the process of building your site more enjoyable, but it can also make it more successful. 

Why is this so?

Consider this: If you love what you do, you're more likely to put in the time and effort required to make your directory website stand out. Moreover, your passion will shine through in your content, attracting like-minded individuals who share your interests. 

So, how do you identify your passions and expertise?

1. Reflect on what you love: Take time to think about what you genuinely enjoy. This could range from hobbies to broader interests or professional skills. Is there something that you could talk about for hours without getting bored?
2. Consider your skills: What are you good at? Do you have a professional background in a specific field? Maybe you're a tech wizard, a health enthusiast, or a travel expert. Your skills might point you toward the perfect niche for your directory website.
3. Research your interests: Once you have a list of potential passions and areas of expertise, it's time to research. Are there other directory websites in your area of interest? What are they doing well, and where could you add value? This research will help refine your niche and set your website apart.

Your passion and expertise are powerful tools in choosing the right niche. They can help differentiate your directory website and provide a strong foundation for your content. So, don't overlook this vital step.

Dig deep and find a niche that aligns with your passion and expertise.

3. Analyzing the competitiveness of your potential niches

Without proper analysis, you may dive into an overly saturated market or, worse, a niche with little to no demand. 

But why would that matter?

Remember – the narrower the niche, the less competition you face, making it easier to establish yourself as a leading authority. But tread carefully; too narrow a niche might limit your audience reach.

Now, let's dive into how to analyze the competitiveness of your chosen niche for your directory website:

1. Check existing directory websites in your chosen niche: Research is your best friend. Start by searching online for existing directory websites that target the same niche. How many are there? If there are many, it may be a sign of a highly competitive market. 
2. Identify their strengths and weaknesses: Take a hard look at these websites. What are they doing right? What could be improved? Jot these down for the future to find ways to outdo them.
3. Understand the demand: Is there a large market size? Use tools like Google Trends or Keyword Planner to check the search volume on search engines for keywords related to your niche. Low search volumes may indicate low demand and vice versa.

Remember, choosing a niche for your directory website is not only about passion or interest. 

It's about balancing demand, competition, and potential for profit. 

4. Evaluating the profitability of your niches

So, speaking of profit potential: how profitable is your niche?

This is a crucial question you must answer before you go any further with your directory website. After all, creating a directory as an online business is a great source of passive income.

But how do you evaluate the profitability of a niche?

Well, you'll follow the steps you used in the previous step!

Are your competitors making money through ads? Affiliate products? Or are they using premium listings? These are all great ways to earn extra cash, so pay attention to how they make money with a directory website.

And remember, the most profitable niche isn't always the one with the highest demand or the least competition.

It's often a balance of these factors.

So, take the time to do your research and crunch the numbers. Your future self will thank you.

5. Considering the long-term potential and sustainability of your niches

It's not just about the present; you must also consider the future.

Your chosen niche should have longevity; it should be relevant not just today but also in the future.

How, you ask?

Start by looking at trends and see if there's growing interest or demand in a specific area. Tools like Google Trends are excellent for this.

Second, you can refer to your competition analysis.

If there's a lot of competition, it likely means it's a sustainable niche. But, on the other hand, it could make it too difficult to succeed if there's too much competition. Find that healthy balance.

Last, consider any demographic changes.

For example, an aging population could mean more demand for healthcare directories. Or, a tech-savvy generation may mean more technology directories. Weigh any demographic changes over the long term, and you're on the right track.

6. Research your target audiences for a better understanding of their needs

Researching and understanding your target audience is a pivotal step in choosing the right niche for your directory website.

You must know who they are, their needs, and how your website can meet them. 

How might one begin this research, you ask? 

1. Demographics: Start by identifying the basic demographics of your audience. This includes age, gender, location, employment status, and income level. This information will help you understand your audience and inform what type of content is relevant and engaging for them.
2. Psychographics: Going beyond basic demographics, psychographics gives you a more detailed understanding of your audience's lifestyle, values, interests, and attitudes. This helps you tailor your website to align with their values and interests.
3. Online Habits: Consider how your audience behaves online. What types of websites do they visit? How do they use search results for information? Understanding their online habits can help you optimize your website for their browsing habits.

Once you've gathered this information, use it to evaluate your niche further.

This will help you make the perfect directory your audience has always searched for.

7. Finalizing your niche selection and moving forward with your directory website

Finalizing your niche is an essential step, not to be rushed.

Why? Because this will serve as the foundation of your directory website. It's like selecting the seed from which your online directory tree will grow.

So, let's discuss how to finalize your niche selection:

1. Revisit your research: Go back to the list of niches you've identified. Which one aligns best with your interests, knowledge, and market needs?
2. Consider your audience: Which niche will appeal to your chosen target audience? This is crucial. Remember, a directory without visitors is like a library without readers.
3. Competitor analysis: Have you considered your competitors in each niche? The less competition, the better. But don't let competition deter you if you're confident in your offer.
4. Profitability: Consider the potential profitability of your chosen niche. Yes, passion is essential, but so is being able to sustain your directory in the long run.

After finalizing your niche, it's time to move forward with your directory website.

This involves several steps: 

• Define your website's structure and layout
• Choose the right website platform
• Design your website, focusing on user experience
• Create engaging and valuable content
• Devise SEO and marketing strategies
• Launch your website and continuously monitor and improve it

Choosing your niche, designing your directory website, and launching it can feel daunting. And that's why we recommend Business Directory Plugin to help you. It takes the confusion out of building a directory website, simplifies it, and makes it quick.

That way, you can focus on the more critical parts of building your directory, not fumbling around with code and design.

Ultimately, remember that every successful directory website started at the same point you are now. 

So, go ahead and take the plunge. The internet world awaits your unique directory!

Popular niche ideas for directory websites

There are tons of successful directories out there.

So, let's look at some of the popular niches for directory websites to see if they can give you some inspiration: 

• Local businesses: Local business listings in your area or a specific city are a popular and highly sought-after resource. Users are always looking for a reliable source of information on local businesses, from restaurants to plumbers and everything in between.
• Professionals: Directories of professionals like doctors, lawyers, or real estate agents are also immensely popular. These directories help users find and verify professionals' credentials in their area.
• Events: An events directory is a great niche, especially for specific geographic areas. This directory offers a consolidated list of upcoming events, concerts, festivals, and meetups.
• Non-profit organizations: Directories listing non-profit organizations and charities help people find causes they want to support or volunteer for.
• Job boards: A job board directory is a popular go-to place for people seeking employment or employers looking to hire. It can be general or focused on a specific industry.
• Restaurant directory: A restaurant directory is super popular among people who love eating out. And there are a lot of restaurant lovers out there to keep your directory busy!

Have you chosen a niche for your directory?

So, have you found your niche? Ready to create a unique, valuable, and captivating online directory that resonates with your target audience? 

It's an exciting journey; the right niche is your first step to success. Choose wisely, and remember, a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step. And if you want some help, remember Business Directory Plugin is ready to help (and you don't only have to create a business directory website).

You can even try the free version to help get you started.

Good luck as you take that first step!

Ready to build a directory website with WordPress you're proud of?

Picture this: a complete online platform categorizing and listing services or products. And this platform brings traffic and generates revenue.

Sounds great, right?

Well, you're in luck! This dream becomes a reality with the proper guidance, WordPress, and WordPress directory plugin, regardless of your tech skills.

We will guide you to create your online directory website. Step by step.

Whether you want to build a business directory, real estate listing, or a classified site, this guide helps you get there.
So grab a seat and pay close attention!

Let's dive in.

Step 1: Install and activate Business Directory Plugin

Ever wondered how easy it could be to create your directory website with WordPress?

Well, brace yourself for a smooth ride. The first step is installing and activating the Business Directory Plugin (BD).

This is a crucial tool for creating a dynamic and user-friendly directory website. It's the best business, real estate, or user directory plugin.

Follow these easy steps to install and activate the Business Directory Plugin: 

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Go to the Plugins menu, and click on the Add New option.
3. In the search bar, type in Business Directory Plugin and hit Enter.
4. Find the Business Directory Plugin from the search results and click Install Now.
5. Once the plugin is installed, the Install Now button changes to the Activate button. Click Activate to bring this plugin to life!

There you have it!

You've installed and activated the Business Directory Plugin.

This is a significant first step in building your directory website.

But you're not done yet. Now the plugin will ask if you want it to create your pages. This is the easiest way to get up and running, so go ahead and allow it.

Once you click Create required pages for me, the plugin creates your directory, and you're ready to go.

Go to Pages and find the directory page. There's a [businessdirectory] shortcode inside, which displays your directory.

What's great is this also creates a listing page in WordPress for you and also a submission form page to submit listings. While this form is great, if you want to spice it up a bit, we recommend using Formidable Forms as the best WordPress form builder.

You can preview the page to understand what your directory looks like so far.

Step 2: Adding and managing directory listings on your website

First things first, you need to add listings to your directory.

But how do you do it? Follow these easy steps: 

1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard: This is the first step to any WordPress operation. Go to your WordPress dashboard by typing your website URL followed by /wp-admin.
2. Navigate to the Directory plugin: Go to Directory → Directory Content → Listings. Then click Add New Listing in the top right. Then fill out the fields and save it.
3. Check your listings: Go to Pages to your directory page and view it. You'll see the listings you added in the previous step. 

If you ever need to manage or remove a listing, go to the Listings page to manage all your entries.

You can also import listings if you have them already by going to Directory → Directory Content → Import & Export.

You can import a CSV file or even a ZIP file containing images!

Pretty great, right?

Step 3: Customizing your directory website design and layout

Ever thought about the importance of your directory website's design and layout?

It's essential to remember that design is not only about looks. It's an interactive map for your users, guiding them through your website's information.

So let's dive into your directory's design so visitors have the best experience. 

Choose a theme 

First things first, you need to choose a theme.

WordPress offers a plethora of themes tailored to directory websites.

Do you want your site to look professional, playful, or somewhere in between? The choice is yours.

Remember, your chosen theme should align with your content and the audience's taste. 

Lucky for you, though, Business Directory offers themes to use! Then it takes a few clicks, and you're ready to go!

Here are a few business directory templates BD offers:

Let's check out how to customize yours.

Customize the theme

BD makes it easy for you to set up your theme.

Go to Directory → Themes and click Activate on the theme you want to use.

Once you've selected a theme, it's time to customize it.

Most WordPress themes come with a range of customizable options. Want to change your header image or the color scheme? It's as simple as a few clicks.

Don't be afraid to experiment to determine what works best for your directory website. 

By default, Modern Business Theme is active. But you can also choose Tabbed Business, Business Card, or a simple Default. Other themes are available with Business Directory's paid plans.

Choose and customize widgets 

Widgets enhance your website's functionality and user experience.

From search bars to recent posts, there are widgets for almost everything. Decide on the ones that benefit your users the most and customize them to fit your website's design. 

Remember, the goal is to create a directory website that isn't just pleasing to the eye but also easy to navigate.

If you want to add widgets, head to Appearance → Widgets to customize what and where your visitors see them.

It's time to let your creativity shine!

Step 4: Marketing and promoting your directory website

Isn't it exciting to have your directory website up and running?

But wait, the journey doesn't end there. The real challenge begins now — marketing and promoting your directory website. Here's how you to make your website the talk of the town. 

First things first, SEO or Search Engine Optimization is your new best friend.

This is what helps your website appear higher on search engine results. An optimized website is like a shining lighthouse in the vast sea of the internet, bringing all visitors toward your shores (er, website).

Remember, the higher you rank on search engines, the more visibility and traffic you get.

But what exactly can you do to optimize your website? 

1. Keyword Research: Find words or phrases people use when searching for businesses in your directory. Use these keywords on your site.
2. Quality Content: Search engines love fresh and relevant content. Update your site with new listings, informative articles, or industry news.
3. Backlinks: These are links from other websites to yours. Having high-quality backlinks boosts your site's SEO.

Tools like Semrush and Ahrefs are great for helping with keyword research.

Besides SEO, social media is also a powerful tool for promotion.

Create engaging posts to attract your target audience. Think about it, what better way to reach out to people than where they already spend much of their time?

Additionally, consider email marketing.

It's an efficient way to keep your audience updated about new listings, offers, or events. Remember, keeping your users engaged is critical to your website's success.

Services like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, and MailPoet are all perfect to start email marketing.

Another effective strategy is partnering with businesses listed in your directory.

They could promote your website in return for a featured position in the listing or other benefits. It's a win-win. 

Your directory website is a powerful tool, but only if used effectively. Marketing and promoting may seem daunting, but with these strategies, you're well on your way to becoming a powerhouse in your niche.

So, are you ready for the challenge?

Step 5: Advanced features and add-ons for your directory website

Now that we've covered setting up your directory website, let's jump into the bells and whistles of WordPress.

How can you make your site stand out? What are the advanced features and add-ons to leverage to elevate your directory website?

Let's explore! 

First, the premium version of Business Directory Plugin adds many design and enhancement options. It's full of advanced features to help you build a directory website that is unique, functional, and user-friendly.

So, what are these advanced features, you ask? Here are a few: 

1. Featured listings: Allows you to highlight specific listings on your directory website. These stand out from regular listings and attract more attention (and business).
2. Custom fields: Imagine being able to fully customize your directory, tailoring it to your unique needs. With the Business Directory Plugin's custom fields, this becomes a reality.
3. Flexible payment options: Set up payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and more. This means you offer users a wide range of payment options, making paying for their listings easier.
4. SEO-friendly: The plugin is designed to be search engine friendly. From its design and structure, you ensure your website is discoverable by search engines.

These are a few examples of Business Directory Plugin's advanced features.

But what about add-ons? Can you add anything else to your website to make it more appealing and functional? 

The answer is, of course, yes.

The Business Directory Plugin also offers a range of add-ons to enhance your website further.

Here are some popular ones: 

• Google Maps: Integrates Google Maps into your directory listings, making it easy for users to find business locations.
• Ratings and Reviews: Allow your users to rate and review the listings on your site. This increases engagement and trust on your site.
• Directory themes: These are unique themes designed for directory websites. They come with built-in features necessary for a directory site. Powerful search functions and listing pages are a few. With directory themes, you can manage the listings and users on your site.

Now it's your turn!

Start with these advanced features and add-ons, and see how they transform your directory website.

Remember, the goal is to create a user-friendly, functional, and unique site that stands out.

Best practices for maintaining and updating your directory website

Ever wondered how to keep your directory website running and updated without a hitch?

Well, you're in luck! The key to maintaining and updating your directory website lies in following a set of best practices.

These practices ensure your website functions at its best and keep it fresh and relevant for your users.

So, what are these best practices?

1. Keep your WordPress version and Business Directory Plugin updated 

Keeping WordPress and your plugins updated isn't something you do now and then.

Keeping these up to date is something you do often.

Why, you ask?

Well, updates often contain necessary performance improvements and security patches. They ensure your website is secure and working. Plus, they give you access to new features to enhance your directory website's functionality.

So, always make sure to check for updates and install them. 

2. Regularly backup your website 

Regular backups are your safety net in case something goes wrong.

And they will go wrong.

Imagine losing all your hard work due to a technical glitch or a security breach. Sounds terrifying, doesn't it? This is why it's essential to back up your website.

Use a reliable backup plugin or opt for a hosting provider with automatic backups. 

We recommend Jetpack and Backup Buddy. They both offer automated backups on a regular schedule and easy restoration.

It's reassuring to know that with Jetpack and Backup Buddy, it's set it and forget it.

3. Track your website's performance 

Monitoring your website's performance is crucial.

Slow page load times and poor performance drive users away and impact your website's SEO. Users run away from your website every second longer it takes your page to load.

So use a plugin to fix it.

Plugins like WP Rocket, SiteGround Optimizer, and W3 Total Cache help speed up your website. They get the files you don't need or use out of the way so your site runs like a horse in a race.

4. Update your directory listings 

Your directory website is only as good as the listings it contains.

So, it's essential to keep your directory listings current and accurate.

Review and update your listings to ensure they provide up-to-date and reliable information to your users. 

5. Optimize your website for SEO 

We mentioned it above, but we'll restate it because it's that important.

SEO is critical in increasing your directory website's visibility and attracting more users.

Optimize your website for SEO by using relevant keywords, creating quality content, and ensuring your website is mobile-friendly. 

By following these best practices, you maintain and update your directory website. 

Remember, a well-maintained and updated website offers a better user experience and ranks higher in search engine results.

So, why wait?

Get started today and give your directory website the care and attention it deserves!

Frequently asked questions about building a directory website with WordPress

1. What is a directory website? 

A directory website is a digital data collection focused on a specific sector, region, or subject.

For example, it could be a directory of local businesses, a listing of healthcare professionals, or a catalog of educational institutions.

Imagine the Yellow Pages, but online and way more dynamic! 

2. Why should I choose WordPress for my directory website? 

WordPress is an incredibly versatile platform.

Its powerful features, ease of use, and extensive range of plugins make it a fantastic choice for anyone looking to build a directory website.

And the best part? You don't need to be a tech whiz to use it! 

3. What is the Business Directory Plugin? 

The Business Directory Plugin is a WordPress plugin designed for creating directory websites.

It has customizable form fields, advanced search functionality, and payment processing capabilities.

This tool makes building a professional-looking directory website a few clicks away. 

4. Can I monetize my directory website? 

Absolutely! The Business Directory Plugin has built-in payment gateways allowing you to charge for listing submissions, featured listings, and more.

So not only can you build a directory website, but you also turn it into a steady source of revenue.

Isn't that exciting? 

Ready to build your directory website on WordPress?

So there you have it, folks! Everything you need to know to start building your very own directory website with WordPress and the Business Directory Plugin.

Ready to turn your dream website into a reality? Whether it's a business directory website or simply running an online business, get started by grabbing Business Directory Plugin!

Blog directories are perfect for bloggers and directory owners.

You see, it's much more than just a listing site. A blog directory is great for search engines, blogs, and readers!

So, if you're ready to get started with your blog directory, let's get started!

Why create a blog directory?

Besides being an authentic traffic source for blogs, a blog directory is important for its owner as well.

Here are some reasons why you would want to run a WordPress blog directory.

• You help new bloggers get exposure to readers.
• Accept paid listings and make money from the site.
• Offer different features in different directory pricing options.
• Display ads on the site and monetize your directory traffic.
• Provide content marketing services.

So, not only do you help people grow their blogs, but you make some extra cash on the side!

And if that sounds good to you, we've got the perfect WordPress plugin to get you started: Business Directory Plugin (BD).

But don't be fooled by the “business” part, BD is great for any type of web directory!

Not sure? Let's show you what we mean with a great step-by-step tutorial.

How to make a WordPress blog directory

To start, you must have a WordPress website and Business Directory Plugin.

You can get a fresh WordPress site from our recommended WordPress hosting companies. A web host is needed for any website.

Once you're ready with these tools, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Install and activate Business Directory Plugin

Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and install Business Directory Plugin.

You can use the free version of BD to get started. But the premium version gives you even more to make your blog directory one of the best.

Installation is easy. But if you’re a newbie in the world of WordPress, follow the detailed installation instructions in our documentation.

Step 2: Create the necessary WordPress blog directory pages

Luckily, BD makes the first part easy for you!

When you install and activate the plugin, BD asks you if you'd like to create the required pages for you.

So, to make things easy, click the Create required pages for me button.

Now the first part is done! That page is your main listing archive.

Next, you need to create another page for an “add listing” page.

This will be a front-end form. You and your visitors can add or submit blog listing items using this form.

To create this, add a new page and put the [businessdirectory-submit-listing] shortcode in the content box.

Then make sure both pages are published.

The main listing archive page can be set as the home page of your blog directory.

And, you can link the listing submission page from your menu bar or wherever you want.

Step 3: Get customized form fields

Form fields are an important part of the Business Directory Plugin.

It collects listing information via these fields. The plugin has a few form fields built in.

You can edit, add, or delete form fields from WordPress Dashboard → Directory → Form Fields.

So, let’s edit our existing form fields to get the following fields.

• Blog Title
• Description
• Blog URL
• Age of the Blog

On a form field’s settings page, decide whether this should be displayed on the excerpt view or detailed view. Or, you can show a field on both views.

Step 4: Add WordPress blog directory categories

When you write a blog post, you assign it to a category, right? It's an easy way to keep blog posts organized.

Business Directory Plugin does the same with its listing items. It has a special category system called Directory Category. Each directory item belongs to a category.

As a manager of the WordPress blog directory, add some directory categories to keep the blog listing items organized.

To get started, go to Directory → Directory Categories in your WP admin.

Business Directory Plugin also has the Enhanced Categories module to power up your categories.

It adds features like category hierarchy, custom category presentation, category thumbnails, etc.

You can use this module to enrich your blog directory.

Step 5: Configure the directory system

At this point, we want to set up the directory system.

You can customize this in the Business Directory Plugin settings.

For a public blog directory, you don’t need to do a lot of work on this.

You can access the directory system settings from Directory → Settings. Most of the default options will work for a public directory like the one in our tutorial.

You can explore and tweak the options as you like to fit your needs.

If you want to accept paid listings, we need to add pricing plans and a payment method to the directory.

Like any other service, your paid listings should have a pricing plan. While adding a blog listing item to your directory, a visitor will see these pricing options and choose one.

To set this up, go to Directory → Plans to create and manage pricing plans.

A free plan is built-in, but you can customize your own to fit your pricing structure. If you want more info, check out our plan documentation.

Business Directory Plugin offers Authorize.net support by default.

If you want to use that, you can add your Authorize.net account right away. Or, you can also add PayPal, Stripe, and more using our premium modules.

To set up your payment gateway, go to Directory → Settings → Payment.

If you need some help, please see the payment docs.

Step 6: Style your directory with a dedicated template

There are several exclusive directory templates to make your directory site beautiful.

You can check out our theme collection and get one for your blog directory. These templates can be used on any type of listing site. For this tutorial, we’ll choose the Restaurant theme.

To install a theme, go to Directory → Themes.

After the installation, activate the WordPress theme to see it in action.

Need some assistance with themes? We’ve got detailed documentation for that, too!

Step 7: Add blog directory items

Now that we’ve prepared our WordPress blog directory, it's time to add listing items.

Go to the listing submission page to create directory items.

Remember the Add Listing page from the 2nd step? Open the form and add sample blog listings.

Just provide the blog site information and publish the listing item.

Your visitors can also submit listings using this page. All of their submissions will be saved as pending by default.

Check out listing settings to get more control over your directory structure and how the blogs are shown.

Step 8: View your WordPress blog directory

Well done! You've successfully created your WordPress blog edirectory.

Here’s an example screenshot of the directory front page.

Next, take a look at the blog directory archive view.

And this is a single blog directory item detail page.

Pretty easy, right? Now your blog directory is ready to go and it's time to start earning some cash!

But, don't stop here. If you want to create other directories (like real estate or business), BD can help you with that, too!

Ready to create your WordPress blog directory?

We hope you're excited!

Starting a new website is always full of so much potential, and your blog directory is just the start!

So, don't wait any longer. Grab Business Directory Plugin and get started today!

Get Business Directory Plugin premium with a 14-day money-back guarantee! Your investment is well protected. Start your WordPress blog directory with confidence.

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Most people think of directory websites as a thing of the past.

Small business directories are still popular. And for good reason. Visitors quickly find the businesses in their area in seconds with a quick Google search. Restaurants, clothing shops, auto services, and many industries benefit from directories.

Now, usually, creating a great business directory means hiring a web designer. But what if there was a plugin that could do everything a web designer does and more?

Well, there is! And it's called Business Directory Plugin (how fitting, right?).

This post will show you how to build the directory website you want, all in a few easy steps with Business Directory.

So, let’s get started.

What is a WordPress business directory?

A WordPress business directory is a simple collection of listings so visitors can easily find what they’re searching for.

For example, you can create a business directory of local businesses where users can leave ratings and reviews. You can also include maps so visitors can easily find the business location. As you can see, it works very similar to Yellow Pages, only better!

So, you’re wondering how to build a simple business directory website.

There are two easy ways: a WordPress plugin or theme.

If you want to use a WordPress business directory theme, we suggest using BD’s sister plugin, Formidable Forms. Its features and ease of use make it a perfect solution for your WordPress theme and website.

But, for our post today, we’re going to focus on using a plugin. And that’s Business Directory.

How do I create a business website directory?

The first thing to do is install and activate the Business Directory plugin.

To do this, go to your WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New, and search for Business Directory. You can also download the Business Directory plugin here.

Try out BD!

Now, it’s 6 simple steps to get your business directory up and running:

1. Create your directory listing page
2. Adjust your settings
3. Modify your form fields
4. Create categories
5. Test your form and add listings
6. Link to your directory page

Step 1: Create your directory listing page

When you activate the plugin, Business Directory asks if you want it to create your required pages. So, choose this option to make it easier on yourself.

The other option is to create the page yourself, then add a piece of shortcode.

To do this, go to your WordPress dashboard and choose Pages → Add New. In the page editor, you can add the [businessdirectory]. This shortcode works for now, but you can adjust this later if you want.

So, now that pages are set and ready to go, let's dive into the settings.

Step 2: Adjust your settings

Now, go to Directory → Settings in your WordPress dashboard.

This is the main dashboard of your directory. You can configure settings like:

• Requiring visitors to register before submitting
• Enabling reCAPTCHA for spam
• Choosing payment settings
• Setting up listings and categories

Step 3: Modify your form fields

Business Directory comes with predefined form fields, but you can customize them or add new ones if you’d like.

To do this, go to Directory → Form Fields.

Once your form fields are set to how you want, advance to the next step.

Step 4: Create categories

You must attach a Category to link listings on your directory page properly.

To add and customize your categories, go to Directory → Categories.

These categories help users navigate your site and also provide structure to your website, which helps with Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Step 5: Test your form and add listings

Next, navigate to the business directory page you set up in step one.

Here, you can simply click Add Listing to test out the submission form. Or you can go to Directory → Listings and click Add New Listings.

If you have many listings, you can add them in bulk using the CSV import feature.

But, to test it out, submit listings to ensure it’s working.

Step 6: Publish your directory page

And you’re all set. The only thing you need to do now is to publish the page you created in step one.

You can also do that now if you have any additional listings to add before.

If you're ready to go, though, you can start directing website visitors to your page!

Easily create directories with Business Directory

If you couldn’t tell already, Business Directory is the best WordPress directory plugin on the market.

With its simple drag-and-drop builder, creating a directory website using WordPress only takes a couple of minutes. And that means faster results for you.

For example, imagine you want to make money with a WordPress business directory. You plan to feature paid listings and have ads to get passive income. The only thing stopping you is getting your site up and running!

Using BD means you’re generating income faster with a simple listing plugin.

But that’s not the only reason BD is perfect for your directory site. Here are a few more features you’ll find helpful:

• Pre-built templates
• Mobile-friendly listings
• SEO-ready software
• Free and paid listings
• Custom fields

So, no matter your goal with your directory website, Business Directory is here to help. And you get even more with Business Directory pro!

Let your team shine with a team members page

Your team members are the heart and soul of your business.

So, repay them with a little bit of the spotlight. And the best way to do that is meet the team page in WordPress.

Here, you can list their position, what department they work in, and their accomplishments, and give them a shining description to show how amazing they are. You can even let them write it to make it more personal!

Either way, it’s easy to do with Business Directory and saves you tons of time.

Boost your real estate business WordPress website

Become the realtor you always dreamed of with Business Directory.

You can easily create a real estate website to watch your business soar!

Create your realtor profile, display the latest listings, and accept leads through the form to boost your sales. And BD works perfectly with Google Maps so that you can pin the house's location for easy viewing.

Business Directory is a multi-use tool that keeps on giving.

Offer the best restaurant listings

One of the first things people do when they arrive in a city is look up the best restaurants.

And your website can be there waiting for them. All you have to do is build it.

That’s easy with BD. We offer a template for restaurant listings! 

So you just kick back and relax and enjoy the traffic to your site.

And it doesn’t only have to be used for restaurants. You can create any website with this theme!

Wrapping up

It’s that simple to build a business directory in WordPress.

But who would have expected less from a plugin with the name Business Directory?

This post taught you how to simply create an online business directory and have it up and running today. And we hope it helped out! Be sure to leave a comment if you enjoyed the post or if you have any questions!

Try out BD!

So, what are you waiting for? Get Business Directory Plugin now and launch your fantastic directory site today!

Building a directory website seems like a huge task.

It'll take tons of time, money, and effort. And you don't know if you have that.

But what if we told you it wouldn't take any of those things?

In fact, you can create a business directory website in minutes and for free!

If this sounds good, you've come to the right place. This post will show you how to create an online directory with a free directory website builder! (That's right, they exist!)

So, let's dive into it.

Why would you create a directory website?

Everything is digital today.

So having a directory website to look up restaurants, businesses, or real estate makes things much easier.

But it also has benefits for owners, too:

• Extra income ?. Directory websites make money! Paid listings and classified ads are great for earning some extra cash on the side.
• Build connections ?. A directory website connects you with local businesses and customers, which helps with local SEO.
• Increased traffic ?. People love directory websites for finding online business listings. And that means you can get massive amounts of traffic to your site.

Plus, when you have a WordPress plugin like Business Directory Plugin (BDP), all this is easy.

Let's show you what we mean ?.

How to build a directory website on WordPress (in 4 steps)

We assume you already have a domain name, hosting, and WordPress installation.

Also, you might want to consider using a directory theme for your website. This helps enhance the look of your listings and pages.

Step 1: Install and activate Business Directory Plugin

To get started, install and activate Business Directory Plugin on your WordPress site.

You can find the free version on WordPress.org. Follow our installation guide if you need help with the installation process.

Once you activate the plugin, it asks you to create the required pages in WordPress:

We recommend using these. You can set them up yourself, but letting BDP do it is much easier. Click the Get required pages for me button, and it'll complete the page setup process.

Next, you can navigate to your directory page by clicking on the Business Directory link:

You can also use this page to name your directory. But let's get the settings taken care of for now.

Step 2: Configure your free directory settings

The plugin assigns listing settings. But you can change them by going to Directory → Settings → Listings:

Here, you can find many controls for customizing the listings on your website.

For example, you can change how many listings you show per page, enable renewal, and add time limits.

When you're satisfied with the changes, click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3: Add categories to your free directory site

With the default settings out of the way, it's time to set up your categories.

Before moving on, decide on your type of directory. Will you create a niche directory or a general listing site?

This is an essential step as it helps in a few ways:

• Organizes your directory
• Boosts your User Experience (UX)
• Improves Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

To begin, go to Directory → Directory Categories:

By default, the plugin adds “General” as the only category. You can delete this if you want.

Then enter a name, slug, and description for all following categories. After each one, click Add New Category at the bottom.

Step 4: Set up your pricing details

After changing the settings and categories, add pricing details to your directory website.

To do so, navigate to Directory → Plans → Add New Plan:

Configure these settings to your liking. Business Directory also has payment gateways like PayPal to make things easier for you.

For example, limit how long to run the plan (by default, it's set to forever). You can also determine whether it's a recurring fee, choose the pricing model, and set the plan price.

You can also add listing background colors. These are perfect for separating your premium directory listings from free ones!

When you're done, remember to click on the Save Changes button.

Bonus Step: Enable users to claim listings on your directory

Next, letting businesses claim the listings in your directory is a good idea. This increases the credibility of your directory.

To do this, go to Directory → Settings → Claim Listings:

This isn't required for a directory website.

But you must upgrade and install the Claims Listing Module to access this feature.

Then you can click on Enable “Claim Listing” to add a claim listings button.

Also, decide on your notifications. You can receive a notification whenever someone makes a claim. Then, you can set up the claim listing process.

Ready to build a directory website?

Online directory websites are one of the best ways to make money online.

But that doesn't mean you must shell out a fortune to build one.

As we discussed in this post, you can create a free directory website by following four simple steps:

1. Install and activate the Business Directory plugin
2. Configure the directory settings
3. Add your listing categories
4. Add your listing price information

Business Directory Plugin helps you create a powerful, effective directory website. No matter if its for businesses, classified ads, or even a members directory — BDP can help.

If you're ready to enhance your site lists to include even more advanced features, consider upgrading to a premium plan of the Business Directory WordPress plugin today!

Read more about building a directory website

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Are you a fan of the Elementor page builder?

It makes WordPress websites much easier to build. But what about using Elementor for business directory sites? Is it possible?

You better believe it is! And all you need is a WordPress directory plugin for Elementor! So, we'll show you how to use Business Directory Plugin and Elementor to create a directory website in WordPress.

So, let's get started!

Is Business Directory Plugin compatible with Elementor?

Yes, Business Directory Plugin and Elementor are perfectly compatible!

Business Directory Plugin is the oldest and most used plugin for WordPress. Want some specifics?

Here you go:

• Create local directory sites with store locations and much more.
• Create business directories, city directory sites, real estate listings, and any type of directory listing site you can imagine.
• Build WordPress directory sites for local businesses, including Google Maps
• Optimize your listing pages for paid listings, free listings, or a combination of both.
• Update the look of your directory elements with built-in directory theme templates.

So as you see, it's one of the best WordPress business directory plugins for more reasons than we can list!

So, let's show you how you can customize a single listing page even further with Elementor.

How to create a business directory with Elementor and Business Directory Plugin

To get started, there are a few things you need:

1. Business Directory Plugin Premium
2. Elementor

The next thing we need to do is get Business Directory Plugin installed. We actually have a complete guide in the following article: How to Create a Business Directory in WordPress.

1. Set up your Business Directory

First, install the Business Directory Plugin.

Go to WordPress.org or Plugins → Add New and search for Business Directory for the Lite Version of the Business Directory WordPress plugin.

Next, we need to activate Business Directory Premium.

Go to your downloads page and click the big download button. Next, go to your WordPress admin, click Plugins → Add New, and click the Upload button. Then, click Browse and find the ZIP file you downloaded from the Business directory.

Install and activate the plugin, then head to Directory → Settings → General and enter the license key from your downloads page.

Also, there's a small notification in the bottom-right corner. This notification asks if you want the plugin to create a Business Directory page. You can let the plugin do this because it's required for the plugin to work.

The next step is to create your directory.

With that in mind, go to your WordPress admin and go to Pages → Business Directory.

Here you can change your directory name and slug. Make sure these match for search results.

There are a few quick steps to follow here:

1. Name your directory
2. Add categories
3. Add/Edit fields
4. Add payment options

It may seem like a lot. But it's actually quite simple.

2. Install Elementor for WordPress

Next up, let's get Elementor installed.

Find it in the WordPress.org directory. Or, go to Plugins → Add New and search for it in the WordPress plugins.

Elementor handles your listing website's WordPress theme and overall page-building experience.

Once installed and activated, you go through a quick setup process. Then, we're ready to move on to the next step.

3. Create your directory pages

Luckily, Business Directory does the work for you here!

These are the main pages you need:

• Directory listings page: this is where all your listings are shown.
• Listing submission page: this is where you people add listings to your site.
• Listing pages: these are automatically created when the listings form is submitted. These are the pages we'll customize in this tutorial.

The above pages are created automatically with the Business Directory Plugin. The listing pages are customizable using Elementor templates or the Elementor page builder, which we'll do in the next step!

4. Customize your pages for your business directory with Elementor

We gave you a sneak peek in the above section. But now we will show you how to make these two plugins work together.

And here's the best part: it's simple!

First things first, find the Templates section in your WordPress admin panel:

From there, click on the Theme Builder menu item and choose Single Page (note: the template theme requires using Elementor Pro).

First, define a layout for the page. This can look however you want. And you can create a custom design for custom post types in this menu, too.

Remember, it can include any Elementor elements and Business Directory widgets.

Here's a list of the main widgets you can drag and drop into your page:

Now you can design your images, default fields, and custom fields how you'd like and save your page template.

It's easiest to see how it looks by clicking the settings gear in the screen's bottom left corner.

Under the Preview Settings, you can choose a listing for the preview.

After that, there is just one more thing to do. In the bottom left corner of the Elementor window, click Display Conditions.

Then, include the Listing → Directory page to apply this template to all listings pages in the pop-up.

And you're done!

Ready to create a business directory with Elementor?

Now with our Business Directory plugin and WordPress Elementor, you can customize everything to your heart's content.

Remember, it's not all or nothing, though. You can add as little or as much customization as you want.

So, if you're ready, feel free to grab a premium plan to Business Directory Plugin and get started now!

Approximate read time: 5.5 minutes

Your team is your most important resource.

And having a WordPress team page explicitly dedicated to them is an essential part of your website. After all, how will anyone know anything about them? But you want an easy way to do it.

Using a meet the team plugin is the simplest way to showcase your team, and Business Directory is just the plugin to do it.

In this post, we’ll show you how to easily create a meet the team page in WordPress so you can have one on your site today!

Let’s get started.

How to create a WordPress team members page

If you haven’t created a WordPress site yet, you should do that first.

Assuming you’ve done this step, log in to your WordPress dashboard to start. We’ll handle everything from one place to make things easy. Next, you’ll want to install and activate the Business Directory plugin from WordPress.

There are 5 easy steps:

1. Create a directory listing page
2. Configure the meet the team WordPress plugin
3. Create categories to organize your WordPress meet the team page
4. Customize the staff directory item fields
5. Add employee information to the directory

Let’s begin.

Step 1: Create a directory listing page

First things first, we’ll need a page to display our team members.

Luckily, this is simple with Business Directory. As soon as you activate the plugin, you’ll receive a notification with an option to create a new page.

The other option is to create a page yourself, then use a piece of shortcode.

You can use other shortcodes, but [businessdirectory] will work for now. For more information, check out our list of Business Directory shortcodes.

Step 2: Configure the meet the team WordPress plugin

To edit your settings, go to your WordPress admin, then find Directory → Settings.

We won’t need to change much here now. We do want to adjust the ability to submit a listing. After all, this is your team showcase, not a place for people to add their own.

So, now that you’re in Settings go to Listings → Buttons. Uncheck the ‘Show the “Submit listing” button.’ 

Also, we need to change the expiration date on the listing. As a default, it’s set to 365 days, but we want to change it to forever.

So, go to Directory → Plans → Free Listing. Then, choose “run listing forever” under “How long should the listing run?”.

Save, and you’re finished in the settings.

Step 3: Create categories to organize your WordPress meet the team page

Do you have different departments in your business?

If not, then feel free to skip this section. But, if you want to be able to sort by each department, this is the section for you.

First, go to Directory → Directory Categories. Then, add, edit, and remove different categories based on your business. The process is similar to adding WordPress categories.

Pretty simple, right?

Step 4: Customize the staff directory item fields

Now we want to manage what custom fields are listed for each team member on the search and main page, like managing different post types on a website.

To do this, go to Directory → Manage Form Fields. You can customize the field labels to whatever you want, but we’ll give you some examples from the best team members showcases.

1. Change Listing Title to Member Name.
2. Change Listing Category to Department.
3. Change Short Description to Job Title.
4. Keep Description the same.

Feel free to add any that will fit your business. For example, many team member pages feature social icons and unique designs (no CSS needed).

The power is in your hands.

Step 5: Add employee information to the directory

Now, we’ll add your fantastic team members to the directory for your site.

To start, go to Directory → Add New Listing. This is your page builder for each team member.

To start, type your team member’s name into the title box. You can type out a team member bio in the main text box. And the excerpt field will serve as the team member’s job title. Last, choose the department from the category on the sidebar.

But what if you’d like your team members to be able to submit their own?

Easy. Simply create a new WordPress page and add [businessdirectory-submit-listing] to the page, then publish.

Now you (or your team members) can visit the page and add to the team.

If you want more customization, you can check out additional WordPress team page templates Business Directory offers to make your page look even more unique.

And that’s it! Your showcase is ready! Pretty easy with the simplest meet the team plugin for WordPress, right?

How do I add meet the team on WordPress?

If you didn’t do it in step 1, you must create a new WordPress page.

Next, type [businessdirectory] into the content section of the page, and hit Publish.

And that’s it, your team will be displayed on WordPress.

Why Business Directory is the only WordPress meet the team plugin you need

The free version of Business Directory is the perfect meet the team builder plugin, but the pro version takes it even further.

Here are some of the top features in the premium plan:

• Category Images. Want to have a dedicated picture for each work department? Make each one look more professional with category images.
• File uploads. CVs, multimedia, or documents, no matter what you’re uploading, we can handle it.
• Migration. Need to migrate existing listing data and settings? No problem with our migrator module available in Pro and higher packages.
• Premium Themes. Let us do the hard work for you. You simply post your team members, and we’ll make everything look great. It’s like having a meet-the-team page template in WordPress.

And, if you have an existing theme (like Elementor), Business Directory is fully compatible with it and ready to go.

Those are just some of the features we offer in our premium plans. Be sure to visit our pricing page to see everything you get.

Wrapping up

You want to give your team members the praise and recognition they deserve.

That’s why finding a great team members showcase plugin is critical. With today’s post, you learned how Business Directory can help you build the page to display your team, the pro version offers even more.

Let us know in the comments if you found this post helpful! And be sure to check out the list of the best team member plugins for your WordPress website.

Business Directory Plugin premium plans are risk-free. We offer a 14-day full money-back guarantee. No questions asked! Get Business Directory Plugin now and launch your employee directory website today!

Learn more about team members plugins in WordPress!

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With thousands of people wanting to sell their goods and services, creating a classified ad website like Craigslist can be big business. However, while these sites may look simple, it can be hard to know where to start.

Fortunately, when creating a classified ad website, there's a plugin that covers everything. AWP Classifieds is an all-in-one tool perfect for beginners and experienced users alike.

In this post, we'll look at the things you should consider before creating a classified ad website. Then we'll go through the process in four easy steps.

Let's get into it!

Why create a classified ads website anyway?

On a classified ad website, people pay you to list products or services they're buying or selling. They also usually include contact information. Therefore, interested parties can communicate directly after seeing the ads on your site.

A classified ad website can be a profitable business. Ad spending in the classifieds sector should reach $23.9 billion by 2026. If you can make a high-quality website and attract customers, there's plenty of money to be made.

However, before making your website, you'll need to choose a domain name and hosting. We also recommend using WordPress to build your site. It comes with many themes and settings to customize your website's appearance. It's also pretty beginner-friendly.

Additionally, WordPress comes with different plugins to supercharge your website. We'll be working with a popular classified ads plugin in our tutorial. You might even consider making a classified ad website combined with a business directory. In this setup, customers pay you to list their companies in your index. Then, you can make money from both listings and ads. Plus, our Business Directory Plugin is very user-friendly.

Your best bet: create classified ads websites with WordPress

If you don’t have a CMS (content management system) picked out yet, hands down the best choice is WordPress. When you use WordPress, you can create a classifieds website the easy way.

The reason? Because WordPress has a huge community of plugin developers who create solutions to make building a classifieds site easy (like AWP, the one we’ll show you a bit later).

For a specific use case like this, WordPress websites are the usual pick. That goes for any kind of directory websites too.

Unless you are a talented web designer and developer, building your classified listings site with WordPress is easily the best choice. Even as a non-programmer, you’ll be able to follow our step by step guide below to create a listing website in no time.

? Want the best classifieds plugins for WordPress?: 8 Best WordPress Classifieds Plugins for Your Website

How to create a classified ad website (in 4 easy steps)

Now let's look at how to create a classified ad website in four easy steps!

This tutorial will use the AWP Classifieds plugin. It’s a plugin that works with virtually all modern WordPress themes.

That means you won’t need a specific classified ad WordPress theme – all you need is this plugin (and a hosting plan, of course).This plugin has a ton of features that we’ll cover, including the often requested ability to feature ads and place Google adsense wherever you want on the page.

Here are the four steps to creating your classified ad website:

1. Install and activate AWP Classifieds.
2. Set up the plugin.
3. Build your pages.
4. Create your classified ads.

Step 1: Install and activate AWP Classifieds

We'll be working with AWP Classifieds in our tutorial. This freemium plugin lets users search for ads based on different classifications. These include location, state, username, and other popular filters. Plus, the tool is compatible with Adsense, helping you make money from your site:

The first thing you need to do is install the AWP Classifieds plugin. You can do this by opening up your WordPress dashboard, going to Plugins → Add New and then searching for “AWP Classifieds” :

Click on Install Now. Once the plugin is installed, select Activate. The tool should now be ready to use on your site!

Step 2: Set up the plugin

Now head to Classifieds. If you'd like a detailed walkthrough on using the plugin, you can click on Yes Please! underneath Would you like some help getting started?

Otherwise, select Classified Ads → Settings. Once open, you'll see tabs for General, Pages, Classifieds, and more:

The settings in the General section deal with how you present your ads. You can choose to show ads on your main page and define your categories. There are also settings for welcome messages and terms of service.

Moving along, you will find options for Date & Time, Currency, Registration, Anti-SPAM, AdSense, and Advanced Settings. Make sure to change all these settings to meet the needs of your classified ad site.

Step 3: Build your pages

You'll now need to make pages for your classified ad website. Here you will show your advertisements and allow users to submit listings. Head to the Pages tab:

AWP Classifieds can create default pages for your site. Otherwise, you can make new ones by clicking on Create Page. Make sure to select Save Changes once you're done.

You might also consider adding other pages to your classified ad website. For example, a contact page can help advertisers reach out to you with questions. An about page can also teach visitors more about your site.

Step 4: Create your classified ads

Finally, you'll want to create some ads. This step ensures that your site isn't empty. It also lets you test different features.

Head over to the Classified Ads → Classifieds and click on Add New:

As you can see, creating a new ad uses the familiar WordPress interface. You can add your title and description just as you would when making a post.

You can insert media files, custom fields, and choose a category for the ad. You can also Preview to see how your ad will look on the front end. Finally, hit Publish.

Once your website is ready, we recommend making a social media strategy to reach new users. For instance, you can use local Facebook groups, paid ads, or Instagram. Using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques can also bring organic traffic to your website.

Conclusion

Creating a classified ad website is easy with AWP Classifieds. By correctly setting up the plugin and building the pages your customers need, you'll be up and running in no time.

If you want to take your website further and create a directory, our Business Directory Plugin can help. Learn more about the many directory features we offer!

If you run a directory website, there's probably some content that you want to highlight. This might include featured posts or listings. However, to add this feature, you'll need to use a WordPress plugin.

Fortunately, Business Directory Plugin offers a quick and simple solution for adding featured posts to your WordPress directory. Once installed on your site, you can easily enable the feature and select which listings to showcase to your visitors.

In this post, we'll briefly discuss why you may want to add featured posts to your directory website. Then we'll walk you through the process. We'll also show you how to add featured listings to your sidebar. Let's jump in!

Why add featured posts to your directory site

Featured posts are a great way to showcase the best content on your WordPress site. They enable you to highlight specific listings, which can help increase their visibility and improve your site's user experience:

You can use featured posts to promote new content, products, or services. In addition, highlighting specific posts or listings can help you boost your site's Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Featured listings can help differentiate some of the content on your directory website. For example, you could charge users a higher fee to be featured. This can help you increase your revenue and grow brand awareness among your target audience.

How to add featured posts in a WordPress directory

Now that we understand why you would want to highlight certain posts, let's take a look at how to do it. In this tutorial, we'll show you how to add featured listings in a WordPress directory.

We'll do this in just three simple steps:

1. Install and activate our Business Directory Plugin.
2. Create the content you want to feature.
3. Enable the featured listing option on your plan.

Step 1: Install and activate Business Directory Plugin

If you haven't done so already, the first step is to install and activate Business Directory Plugin:

Our plugin offers a complete solution. You can use it to create listings and build a fully functional directory in WordPress.

Once you purchase a plan, you can download the plugin and upload it to your WordPress site. After you activate it, the plugin will add a Directory item to your admin menu.

Step 2: Create a new post with your desired content

If you want to feature a new post or listing, you'll first need to create it. To do so, you'll need to go to Directory and click on Add New Listing:

Next, you'll need to fill out some details about your listing. You can add a name, image, and description. Under Directory Listing Fields/Images, you can include important information, such as an email address and phone number.

To the right, you can configure various Listing Information settings. When you're done, click on Publish. You can repeat this process for as many featured listings as you want to include.

For existing listings, you can go to Directory and select Edit under the listing name. Then, you can add it to the plan that allows featured listings.

Step 3: Enable the featured listing option on your plan

Finally, you'll need to enable the featured listing option on your plan page. Go to Directory Plans, then select Edit under your plan. You can also add a new plan.

Next, click to enable the Make listings on this plan featured (sticky)? option:

Save your changes when you're done. Now, any listings you create under this plan will be Featured.

If you need to change the plan for an existing listing, go to that page and locate Plan Details on the right-hand side of the screen:

Select the plan from the drop-down menu, then click on the OK button. That's it!

Bonus: How to add featured listings to your sidebar

Adding featured listings in your sidebar is a great way to showcase your best content. Business Directory Plugin makes this very easy.

In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance → Widgets. Next, select the sidebar where you want to add the featured listings and click on the (+) icon. Search for “Business Directory Featured Listings”, then select the block to insert it:

Next, you can configure the widget settings as desired. You can choose how many listings to display, the order in which they appear, and whether to show the listing's featured image.

When you're ready, save your changes. You can then visit your site to see the featured listings in your sidebar.

You can also use the [businessdirectory-featuredlistings] shortcode. Select the (+) icon, then search for the Shortcode block and add it to the sidebar:

Paste the shortcode into the text field, then hit your Enter key. This will show all of the featured listings within your directory.

Wrapping up

Featured posts are an effective way to promote certain content on your WordPress site. You can use them to draw attention to specific listings on your directory. Additionally, you can charge businesses a higher fee in order to be featured on your site.

Are you ready to add featured posts to your directory site? Download Business Directory Plugin today to get started!