How to Build a Directory Website for Free on WordPress

Want to learn how to build a directory website? Here are four easy steps to help you create an online directory website with a free directory website builder!

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!

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