How to create a directory site

If you are looking to create a directory website from scratch, getting started can seem like a daunting task. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!

In this article, we discuss step-by-step how to create a directory website. We will cover…

Before we get started, we should first address what a directory website actually is and whether it makes sense to launch this type of website in 2023. If you are already familiar with what it is and are set on creating one, then feel free to skip ahead by using the table of contents links above. Otherwise, let’s continue…

What is a directory website?

A directory website, also known as a web directory or link directory, is an online platform that lists and categorizes websites or web pages under various topics or themes. These directories serve as curated collections of links that provide users with an organized way to find relevant websites based on their interests or needs.

Directories typically have a hierarchical structure, with categories and subcategories that help users navigate to the specific topic they are interested in. Each listing in the directory typically includes the website’s title, URL, brief description, and sometimes additional information such as the site’s owner, contact information, and user reviews.

Does it make sense to build a directory website in 2023?

Directory websites were more popular in the earlier days of the internet before search engines like Google became dominant. People used directories to find websites on specific topics, as search engines were not as efficient or comprehensive at the time. However, with the advent of powerful search engines, many traditional web directories have declined in popularity.

Today, web directories still exist, but they often serve specialized niches or local markets. Some directories may focus on specific industries, regions, or types of websites, providing a curated list of resources for users with particular interests. For example, Avvo is a legal directory that connects users with lawyers and legal advice. It offers attorney profiles, client reviews, and legal guides.

Additionally, some directories may include user-generated content and reviews to enhance the value of the listings.

In summary, despite their overall decline in popularity, there are still many successful, lucrative directory websites on the internet today. There is no reason why yours can’t be among them.

So, if you’re ready to create a directory website, then let’s get started!

How to create a directory website (5 steps)

1. Choose a website platform 🚉

Create a Directory Website WordPress.

Here at Themeisle, we always recommend building websites with WordPress. There are multiple reasons for this. These include…

  • It’s free – The WordPress software is open source and totally free. So you won’t find yourself shelling out extortionate fees every month just to keep your website live. That said, you will still need to pay for a hosting service and a domain for your site. However, this won’t break the bank!
  • You own your website – If you build your website with WordPress, you 100% own your site. However, if you use an all-in-one hosted website builder then you will lose your site if you stop paying your monthly subscription.
  • There are thousands of WordPress tools, plugins and themes – Add extra features and functionality to your website by taking advantage of the different plugins and tools available, or improve your site’s appearance by upgrading the theme.
  • You can customize every aspect of your website – However you want your website to look and behave, you can achieve it with WordPress. You can customize every element of your website to suit your exact specifications.
  • It’s easy to find help – A community of web designers, developers, and WordPress enthusiasts from all over the globe provide help and support via blogs, forums, and other avenues. So whenever you need some questions answered, you will find the information you need online.

As we mentioned earlier, if you choose to create a directory website with WordPress, you will need to purchase a hosting plan and domain name. We’ll explain how to do that in the next section.

2. Select a hosting plan and domain name 💻

There are a wide assortment of hosting services and plans available. Therefore, you will need to do some research to find the right host for your directory website.

So what factors should you consider when you are choosing a hosting provider? Here are a few of the most important:

  • Price – Hosting providers and plans can greatly differ in price. When you are first starting up your directory site, a basic budget plan will suffice. You can then upgrade as your traffic numbers and hosting needs grow.
  • Security and performanceThe security and performance of your website are crucial, so it is important that you pick a host with a good track record. Find out if there have been any past security issues, as well as checking uptime percentages and performance related-features that each hosting service provides.
  • WordPress-specific features – Some hosts provide a great range of WordPress-specific features, which can help with the setting up and general maintenance of your directory site. These can include one-click WordPress install, automatic WordPress updates, and/or daily backups.
  • Support – If something goes wrong with your site, your hosting service is your first port of call. Having a hosting provider that provides top-notch 27/4 support can be invaluable.

We recommend Bluehost

Bluehost homepage.

At Themeisle, we recommend Bluehost for those starting a new project because…

  • It’s affordable, with plans starting at just a few bucks a month.
  • You get a domain name for free.
  • It comes with an easy setup wizard to help you get started with WordPress.
  • You can upgrade as your site grows.

3. Install a WordPress directory theme 🎨

Installing a directory WordPress theme is an effective way to ensure your website not only looks the part but also has all the necessary directory features a directory website needs. There are a wide assortment of free and premium themes that you can choose from.

Let’s take a look at some top features that you may want your directory theme to include…

Directory theme features

The features you will want your theme to include may vary depending on the type of directory site you are creating. You may want to list local businesses, events, real estate, jobs, tourist attractions, or create a directory website for a different niche. However, whatever the type of directory site you are going to create, here are some key features that you may want your theme to incorporate…

  • Demo content – Easily set up your site by using pre-designed demo content.
  • Claim a listing function – Let businesses claim their own listing, without having to contact you directly.
  • Front-end submissions – Let businesses submit their listings through user-friendly front-end submissions form.
  • Search functionality – Enable your users to easily search your site and find the listings or information they are looking for.
  • Ratings and reviews system – Allow users to leave ratings and reviews, helping to create an onsite community.
  • Monetization options – From advertising, listing fees and subscriptions, to appointment bookings and reservations, look for a theme that allows you to generate an income in a variety of ways and that will integrate with prominent payment gateways (eg – Stripe or PayPal).

Before you commit to a theme, make sure you check out the demos and read reviews. This will ensure you have a good understanding of what features a theme includes before you make a purchase.

Here’s a list of themes built specifically to handle directory websites. Check them out, you’ll surely find something interesting there.

4. Decide how to monetize your site 💰

Yelp.

There are numerous ways to monetize a directory site. The strategies you choose will influence how you create your website. Let’s take a look at some of the different options.

  • Charge for listings – Selling listings can be an effective way to generate recurring revenue, especially for directory niches like jobs or retail estate. Consider charging a monthly subscription, or a one-off fee for a set amount of display time. However, to charge for listings, your site will need to be receiving high amounts of traffic.
  • Claim a listing – The ‘claim a listing’ model, used by sites like Yelp, is a great option for directory sites that are just starting out and are yet to receive much traffic. By displaying all the businesses in your niche, you are creating a valuable site for your target audience. Businesses can then pay to claim their listing, adding extra information like branding, extra contact info, and much more.
  • Premium listing – Another way to generate money is to sell premium listing space. Premium listings could be positioned in prominent places on your site. They can also contain extra information including larger images, more text, and social links.
  • Take bookings – Take bookings and reservations through your site (for example, for restaurants or hotels) and charge a commission to do so.
  • Sell advertising space – Businesses who want to tap into your target market may well be interested in advertising on your directory site. Look to sell prominent banner or sidebar positions on a monthly retainer.

Select the monetary options that work for your niche. Keep in mind however, that the strategies you use can change over time as your site and audience numbers grow. Most modern themes will integrate with payment gateway providers like PayPal and Stripe to allow you to take payments on your website.

5. Add extra functionality via plugins 🔌

WordPress plugins extend the functionality of your website by providing specific features that aren’t otherwise available in either your chosen theme or the native WordPress Block Editor.

When thinking about which plugins to add to your directory website, you want to approach it in two ways – adding foundational plugins and adding directory-specific plugins.

Foundational plugins

These plugins are what you’d consider foundational plugins in the sense that they can benefit any website and aren’t specific to directory websites. They include:

  • WordFence provides comprehensive security features and protection against malware, threats, and hacking attempts.
  • Yoast SEO helps optimize websites for search engines by offering tools for content analysis, meta tags, XML sitemaps, and more.
  • Optimole automatically optimizes images on websites to improve page loading times and overall performance.
  • WP Fastest Cache improves website performance and speed by generating static HTML files and efficiently managing cache.
  • Otter Blocks expands the native WordPress block editor by adding over 30 highly functional blocks that can really push the envelope of your website’s features.

Directory-specific plugins

Depending on your directory niche, your monetization strategies, and the features your chosen theme includes, you may need to install some extra plugins to add further functionality to your website.

Here are some potential options…

  • WooCommerce will give you advanced options for accepting recurring subscriptions and charging commissions for bookings and reservations. You can also combine WooCommerce with either PPOM or Sparks to further enhance your site’s functionality.
  • Popup Maker will let you display opt-in popups on your directory site. By collecting your visitors’ email addresses, you can then keep in contact. And importantly, entice them back to your site in the future.
  • Multiple Pages Generator can be useful for directory websites that target multiple geographical areas offering the same product or service. It will generate geo-specific versions of a page for each of the locales you want to target. This helps with both conversion rates and with local SEO.

Final thoughts on how to create a directory website

To create a directory site, you will need to put in the time to research and list businesses. You’ll also need promote your website and connect with your target market.

However, now that you have this tutorial as a resource, the process should be somewhat easier. If you follow the steps above, you will quickly get your site up and running. While the process isn’t terribly complicated, don’t feel pressured to do it all in one sitting either. Feel free to bookmark this page so you can come back to it and follow each step as you are going through it.

Don’t put it off for too long either though. At the very least, you should take the first step today and sign up for hosting with Bluehost. Otherwise you might bookmark this page and next thing you know, months will pass by without you having taken any action. We all know how life can pull us in different directions. If your goal is to create a directory website, then you owe it to yourself to take the first step toward achieving that goal.

Good luck!

Still have any questions on how to create a directory site? If so, please ask away in the comments section below.

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