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Our Rating
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Mark Fail and the team at PremiumPress have a sure-fire winner with DirectoryPress. We’ve been working on and off with this software for a few versions, and we have to say that v6 is totally on fire!
DirectoryPress definitely turns WordPress into a solid listing directory for city or niche sites. You aren’t going to get portal-like features such as classifieds or events, but what you get is a feature-rich directory ready to monetize to your heart’s content.
Features
Wow, where to begin. You have all the directory listing features you’d expect – detailed listing information, comments, social bookmarking, maps, contact business owners, etc. Then, you have the ability for controlling categories, sliders, custom information boxes, recent listings, articles with their own categories – all from the DirectoryPress settings. Sidebars are tied into standard WordPress widgets, and the main navigation menu utilizes WordPress menus. You’ve got banner advertising areas, an incredible robust system for charging for listings – and one of the best submission flows we’ve seen. (More on monetization below)
Mark and his team covered everything we’ve ever wanted in our directories, and many areas where other programs simply come up short. Want to allow businesses to upload files? Just specify how many. Want to let people submit but not have to login? Just change the setting. Want to setup custom fields easily and have them on your submission & editing forms? There are 15 custom fields ready for you to define, and you can choose which listing level / package can access them! Want your business owners / members to be able to send private messages? It’s all there in their account area, including links to edit their listings, create new ones, get help and more.
A key feature for our directory sites is a robust search, and DirectoryPress has you covered here also. You can activate Advanced Search and control your search fields. Example time – let’s say you want to allow folks to search by a custom field you created called “Zip / Postal Code”. By default, the advanced search shows you a keyword area and category – but you simply go in and add another search field, tell it to search a custom field, pick your field and boom! There it is. How cool is that?!
I was blown away when I went into the Tools section and found not only a CSV file import for listings, but also a DMOZ Import Tool! And if that isn’t enough to get you to switch to DirectoryPress, they built in a database import from eSyndicat, PHPLD, php Link Bid, Link Bid Script or eDirectory. I had to seriously stop myself from emailing Mark and asking him to marry me! 
Anything missing in features for me? Well, only one really and although the feature is there, it’s a little counter-intuitive to me although I understand why it works this way. There is an option to “Claim Listing”, which is great if you pre-populate your directory and want business owners to come up and claim the listing. It is different than I’m used to however, in that the Claim link only shows up when there is an email address associated with the listing. The idea is that you enter the email address of the company (using just the @companyname.com works best) and this triggers the Claim link. Then, when a business owner registers if their email matches the email address entered, they take ownership of the listing. There are issues with this of course, but Claim features are really hard to implement without opening up the potential for abuse – so I understand Mark’s logic here.
Ease of Installation
A+ to the dev team for installation, just upload the theme and activate it. It asks if you want some sample data (which is a good thing) and then you’re into setting the options. Everything is laid out in an easy to understand manner, complete with instructions and pictures for those of us trying to read through everything at 2am with blood-shot eyes.
There is a fair amount to setup, but just take it one step at a time – it’s very easy to follow. Remember to set your permalink structure to %postname% – as that trips everyone up the first time they install DirectoryPress. Everything you need is all laid out in the options panels, and documentation is available to help you get your directory up and running in no time.
Ease of Customization
Again, Mark did a wonderful job of providing tons of customization options right from the options panel. You have control over most of your layout, including things like 2 or 3 column layout, sliders that can be custom content or use featured posts, and custom category descriptions. And of course you still have widgets for additional goodies you might want to add to your site.
If you’re using DirectoryPress for something like a city business directory, you’ll want to add custom fields for address, phone number, zip, etc. But you can also use this theme for a standard link directory – it’s all in the flexibility built in. This should truly cover you for any type of directory.
There are a number of child themes that come with your download, and you can have fun customizing images and css through any child themes you might want to add. If you still find you want more customization, you can build your own child theme and edit template files.
We went looking for some live sites that have done a nice job of customizing the default theme. On the left is Best Travel Websites, and on the right is the Chicago Korean Internet Directory. The Chicago Korean Internet Directory seems to be using the articles for Events, which is interesting. Personally, I would have customized additional fields for this or created my own custom post type – but it’s definitely something that could be done. I tend to not like article submissions because of the spam and crappy articles, so it’s definitely an interesting use of the functionality.
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Monetization Potential
Okay, I have to warn you that I’m going to go a little crazy here. As I started diving into the money-making features of DirectoryPress, I seriously had a Meg Ryan moment from When Harry Met Sally. If you don’t understand that reference, you really need to watch the restaurant scene… that’s all I’m saying…
I can’t tell you how many directory software packages and themes have me intrigued at first, and then I get stuck with all these restrictions on selling my listings. Not so with DirectoryPress. First, the Listing Packages are perfectly implemented. Right off the bat you get the option to turn them off if you just want free listings. No hoops, no hassles. You also define if you want to see custom fields to be able to choose them per package. Awesome.
There are 8 packages available that you can set up. You determine what each package can have for listing data, including custom fields. Setup the price, and if you are using PayPal as your gateway you can make recurring payments. You can also setup individual prices per category, so if you want to charge extra for your most popular categories – go for it. Everything can be setup to be exactly what you need for your directory, no limitations to make you pull your hair out.
And let’s talk about Payment Gateways. I had a geekgasm here, I swear. Most directory software gives you a handful of gateways or limits you to PayPal. DirectoryPress pulled out all the stops here and provides the following gateways:
- PayPal Standard & PayPal Pro
- Worldpay
- Google Checkout
- Authorize.net
- Protx / SagPay
- CC Avenue
- Alertpay
- eWay, eWay UK Hosted & eWay NZ Hosted
- 2Checkout
- PayFast
- PayWeb
- iDeal
- NoChex
- ePay
- Realex
- Money Brokers
- MonsterPay
- Setcom
- PayTrace
- Bank Transfer
Wow…. just wow! And the money-making opportunities continue with banner advertising. DirectoryPress has standard banner areas setup for header, footer, left & right banners. You can enter html code or google adsense script, or you could simply enter a clickable link and an image. If you really wanted to go all out, you could setup OIO Publisher and use javascript for your zones in the built in ad areas – or you could simply sell advertising from a page you create on your site.
This is by far the most robust listing payment structure I’ve seen in any of the WordPress themes, and it’s right up there with the “big-boys” (read expensive) scripts like eDirectory. Simply a fantastic job thinking through all the features we’d need to run our directories. I’d give 6 stars if I could
SEO Optimization
Unfortunately, I had to lower the review score for SEO Optimization – as there really isn’t anything built in. Now this is WordPress, so you have options, but I really wanted to see SEO options built in. No support for Rich Snippets (microdata, microformats, RDFa) or built in XML sitemaps – but Google Analytics is built in.
Luckily, our favorite plugin WordPress SEO by Yoast works perfectly – giving you control over Title and Metadescriptions for both categories and individual listings, and automatic sitemaps. We recommend you install and configure this plugin as the perfect SEO enhancement to DirectoryPress.
Conclusion
Bottom line – this is incredible directory software to use for your next project. I immediately started making plans to revive some of my own directory sites, and Dave had to have a stern talk with me about all our other obligations. Curse you Mark Fail for making me want to create more directory sites!
Honestly, this is a steal for the price – especially since you have a license for unlimited websites. You can’t go wrong with making your next site with this directory software.
If you want a feature-rich directory built on WordPress with the ability to customize and most importantly make money – Run, don’t walk, and grab a copy of DirectoryPress today.
DirectoryPress WordPress Theme
Price: $79.00 Unlimited Sites
I bought the premiumpress directory package last year which include directorypress. I was excited when I got it. But soon find out that it is hard to customize..with the look, feel, and lack of usability I didn’t have the confident to prospect advertiser to list on my directory.
I approach you September last year, to get a copy of your WP theme to integrate with PHPLinkDirectory. You were kind enough to respond. Unfortunately, my mom was sick at the time & I didn’t have the time to work on my directory.
Since then, I have become less ambitious with my directory endeavors.
I was hoping you can look at a couple of the following directory websites and give me some recommendation where I can get something similar…or perhaps, something you might be interested in coding.
1. FuneralHomes.com – I really like this directory website. Beside, the domain name…there is a lot to like about this directory. Since you are a directory expert, I will let you be the judge of it. But I really like the single category with multiple location type of directory.
2. AirportHotelGuide.com – This directory is more of an affiliate play with integration with white label priceline.com hotel booking system. AS a one man operation…I really like to monetize via affiliate program. And, this website is very smart the way it is done. Can you build something like this?
Hi Poor Uncle,
Good point about customization. We’ll cover specifics when we do the full review, but we also had difficulty figuring out how this was structured to be able to customize. I ended up using CouponPress for one of my own site, and I had a lot of pacing and hair pulling to make it do what I wanted.
Interesting sites…. I’ve been looking at the source code on some of the FuneralHomes.com pages, and I’m not sure what software they used. It could be something custom built, as I’m not seeing any of the structure that I’m familiar with on other directory packages. AirportHotelGuide.com doesn’t seem to be a directory script either, more hand crafted with a CMS package probably.
Currently Dave and I have been looking at building a directory theme in WordPress that we can eventually make available to the public. While there are some already, like DirectoryPress and Geo Places – we’re interested in trying to bring some of the functionality from the more extensive php scripts into WordPress.
If you are looking for something now, and you really like the mulitple locations in one directory – Geo Places might work for you with their v4 (wait for v4, not v3). I’ve tested the v4 beta and the ability to work with “cities” – which can be city, state – is there and does work well to filter listings from one directory.
It does need to be customized some for a niche directoy – as it’s really built for city themes – but it could work.
Thanks for your recommendations Barbara.
I started out very excited about city directory too. But lets face it as a small business and a one man operation, trying to run a city directory is just too much.
I think the single category directory that support multiple geo city/state location is a better choice. Very surprise that I am not able to find this kind of directory script.
The single category directory seems to be more simple to develop in terms of layout and structure. Per the owner of the FuneralHomes.com website, it is a custom built enterprise level (whatever that means) software…and he wants a mid 5 figures for a license to use his script. I know there are more bell and whistles behind this website than meets the eyes. But the basic structure is quite simple. And, a couple of things I can clearly see by visiting the websites are that it is configure that an advertiser can claim exclusive ad space to a give geo city; and every click is tracked. For example, you have to click on a tag to see the phone # of a listing. I am no directory pro – but I think tracking clicks are very important. This seems easy to implement. I don’t see out-of-the-box directory that does those things…my guess is most out-of-the-box directory are written by programmers and not by directory website entrepreneurs.
p.s. I tried email Crowd Vox to ask if it support single category directory. I got a response that said yes by using its dynamic page filtering. So, that doesn’t sound very promising.
p.p.s. I also installed couponpress 6.0 on one of my citycoupon website for its coupon printing functionality. I have a hard time setting up the email correspondents. And, the printing coupon functionality can be a lot better. This version is better than the previous…but everything seems a bit off. In the end, I didn’t feel comfortable cold calling my local restaurants and merchants to publish their coupons on my crappy coupon website.
Hi Poor Uncle,
I’m curious why you feel that running a single city directory is too much as a one-man operation?
Dave and I have a city guide network we’re planning, and the idea is to allow owners to run an individual city (or several if they want) all within the overall network.
Our biggest challenge right now is deciding whether to use Geo Places and customize it quite extensive – or start from scratch with our own theme.
What is it about running a single city directory that you found challenging? It would really help us to know, so we can see if we can remove those hurdles in our network.
Hi Barbara,
My thoughts are running a successful city directory takes a lot money and work if you want to make real money..the kind of money that will let you quit your day job.
If I were in that kind of mindset or position, finding a perfect directory software for my city directory website would be least of my worry because I will have the budget to hire developers to build a directory with all the functionality that I would ever need. Besides, the last I checked eDirectory works fantastic if you have $5k to get a license.
Buying the exact city domain name, hiring local writers, and setup call center…those would be high on my priority. All those things cost a lot of money and time.
I am not saying that there aren’t successful one-man operation city directory out there. It’s just not something I can do on a shoes string budget by myself and be successful at it.
I can’t figure out why no one has a single category directory script offering. For an $80-$200 price point, single category directory would be a great fit for niche directories.
I am convinced that there is no out-of-the-box single category directory out there because every sample website I had ever looked at…installed with PHPLD, or PHPMyDirecotry, or eSnydicate, etc — all has this stupid search bar with 2 fields “Category” & “Location”.
p.s. you want to develop a city guide network? Something like CitiesPlanet.com? They partner with city domain owners. They install the software, takes care of all the marketing, sales, and writes all the article…and split the revenue with the domain owner. The last I heard…they also license their directory software…but it is not cheap. Burbank.com is one such website in case you want to take a look.
Sort of like that, yes – with a little City Search and Patch thrown in for good measure
We were thinking more along the line of we create, setup, provide support for a monthly fee – city owner keeps 100% of listing and advertising on their site. We have plans for this to be global as well.
I’m currently working on making a theme in wordpress that supports all the features for these city directories (listings, events, coupons, etc.) From what I’ve seen though, I would think a niche directory could be created with Cities in a drop down list and then use that to filter.
Actually, Geo Places already kind of does this. It has a panel in the back end where you define the cities and set one as default. When looking at listing or events, there’s a drop down to switch cities and it filters to items from just that city. It also uses those cities to create an optional home splash page where you pick the city.
There’s no reason you couldn’t make a niche directory like hotels, restaurants, plumbers, etc and just have the cities do the filter.
You might want to check out Geo Places further. The v4 beta I’ve been looking at is pretty well put together. I’m looking more for the proximity type searching, so it doesn’t work for me – but for something like the sites you mentioned above this could work.
We have a review up here you can check out. And it’s definitely in that price range.
Hi Barbara,
I like your idea. I think you will be very successful. There are plenty of city domain/website owners who will benefit from your service. Good luck.
I wish I could convince you to create a single category theme directory. I sort of look at Geo places last night. It gives you the ability to filter by location. I wanted all fifty states to be listed on the side bar, or at the footer…and be able to drill down to the cities. Simple enough right?
Anyway, I will be concentrate on my day job for a while starting tomorrow. Thanks again.