With one if it’s quickest back to back releases in company history, eDirectory 7.5 will showcase new blockbuster features such as the integrated blog tool, visitor registration and visitor profiles. While eDirectory can still be integrated with wordpress and other external blogging systems, the most recent version has added a fully integrated blog tool that has most features available in bloging platforms. Visitor can now register through the system and create user profiles to create a basic community for their sponsors and members.  Members and sponsors can add reviews and create users profiles, and sponsors can share their listings, articles and other elements through Facebook.

“7.5 is a significant release for eDirectory. The visitor profiles and blog feature will go a long way to engaging traffic and building a successful directory site.” says eDirectory CEO, James Chubb.

Uploading images into your content has become significantly easier as they can now be imported with a new tool on WYSIWIG editor.  Upload and create  thumbnails of those images and setting your main images are now tasks that can be completed in a centralized location where you add listings.. Restrictions on both listings and categories have also been lifted as now you can have an unlimited number of categories with listings, and categories with an unlimited amount of levels.

eDirectory is a division of Arca Solutions, Inc, a digital media company headquartered in the Washington, DC metro area.

While the original version was developed in, and since refined in PHP, the staff has recognized the importance to create a version of the system that can cater to more developers who are accustomed to a Microsoft enivronment.

“While it hasn’t been extremely detrimental to the growth of the software, we realized that the PHP platform was restricting to those more comfortable with, or used to developing in a Microsoft environment. As a company with a diverse backgrounds in software development, we appreciate the value of a system that can appeal to more than one platform” says eDirectory CEO, James Chubb.

Because eDirectory’s base code team has been so aggressive in releasing new features in the PHP version of the software in both 7.4 and 7.5, the .Net version will be contain all of the features through version 7.3. The most notable features not available in the .net version are the series of new graphical templates released in 7.4, the visitor login and profile creation, as well as Site Manager interface upgrades, access to a few payment gateways and other minor changes. Because version 7.4 was launched a little over two months ago, the .Net version of the system (7.3) will be as high, if not higher than a majority of all users.

With significant interest generated in the first week of it’s release, the .net version is now available on eDirectory.com Any questions about the new version of the system can be directed to sales@edirectory.com
eDirectory is a division of Arca Solutions, Inc, a digital media company headquartered in the Washington, DC metro area.

Associated Cities, who hosts the show, has selected New Orleans as its location after the show’s success in San Diego last year. GEODOMAIN EXPO 2010 will coincide with the 40^th Annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. eDirectory, the market’s leading solution for developing local search sites, will also be exhibiting its latest software release and new iPhone application.

“The Associated Cities show is a great place to get the pulse of the industry.” said James Chubb, “With so many new ideas emerging, I expect this show to be a focal point for companies seeking to capitalize on local search for many years to come.” he added.

The show provides the opportunity for industry leaders to share best practices, learn about new trends, meet vendors in the business and network with those who have a stake in local and geo search. The two day show will include speakers and panels related to the business of operating sites, as well as social and networking events, a trade show and opportunities to purchase and invest in geodomain properties.

eDirectory is a division of Arca Solutions, Inc, a digital media company headquartered in the Washington, DC metro area.

While 90% of their audience is reading the New York Times online, NYtimes.com advertisers only contributes to 10% of their total revenue.

Wait…what?

Nearly perfectly inverse economics.  So the medium in which only 10% of their audience is using to access their content generates 90% of their revenue?  So Print isn’t dying?!?!?!?  Well… not so fast.

While the preferred method of accessing the content is clearly online, the advertising dollars are slow to follow.  This means that there’s a gaping hole of opportunity to hop on all of the advertising revenue that will trickle from print to online.  If the shift in ad dollars is anything as drastic as it was for the shift in media itself, it will be more like a flood, not so much a trickle.

One more thing to note:  According to Forbes Magazine — 65 Billion Dollars will be shifting from print to online this year.  65 Billion dollars…

eDirectory version 7.4 will provider its’ iPhone app users with a multi-language platform, as well as the ability to handle ratings.  Perhaps one of the most notable additions will be a graphical library of 14 new graphical themes to better suit the theme of your online directory including those designed for online magazine publications, medical, law and hotel directories as well as online buyers’ guides.  With a new Site Manager (SiteMGR) interface, users will also be able to choose payment gateways, search by promotional code on transaction searches, and much more.

Other features to note are the ability to maintenance mode, as well as new search query options on both the eDirectory results’ page and transaction searches and newly integrated username real time validation on add account forms.

eDirectory is a division of Arca Solutions, Inc, a digital media company headquartered in the Washington, DC metro area

The most notable aspect of eDirectory’s release is the iPhone application, and the ability for site owners to now publish their site to over 23 million iPhone users.  Another source of search traffic and advertising revenue, coupled with Apple recently capturing their 1 billionth app download makes this feature most appealing to customers, and prospective customers alike.

In an effort to expand site owner’s demographic reach, all sites can now be translated into both Italian and German.While users only saw five levels, or subcategories deep on listings in the system before, they now have this same level of depth in both the events and classifieds section, giving users an arena for more organized and targeted echelon of content.  Other notable interface changes include a preview button for each listing template, as well as a new HTML editor with more robust features.  On the advertising end of the sitemanager system,  owners cna set up global banners, throughout the entire site and aren’t limited to posting them section by section.  Additionally, Ad Sense settings now give users the ability to choose whether users ads are only text, only video, or a random selection of both.
Finally, more minor and subtle features include verification pop ups when edits are made on the back end of the system to prevent erroneous corrections , as well as the ability to modify the layout or appearance of invoices sent through the system.

While eDirectory’s solution has always been mobile friendly, the app empowers site owners to produce a feature rich, easy to navigate application directly on their mobile phone.  eDirectory, who will assist their customers in publishing their site to the app store, are excited to bring their software through another medium in digital media

“Today there are an estimated 21 million iPhone users, and a private label iPhone application is a great addition to the eDirectory product line. The additional traffic generated through the iPhone apps will be a valuable asset to eDirectory site owners,” said eDirectory CEO, James Chubb.

To learn more about eDirectory for the iPhone, go to the eDirectory website http://www.edirectory.com/directory-iphone.php or call us directly at (703) 914-0770 x1.

For a little over a year, I had the opportunity to work for an Online B2B Publishing company. One of the most significant things I took away from my time there was the ongoing battle of print vs online media. Now to be fair, it’s not so much a battle as much as a transition at this point.  If you haven’t read some of the whitepapers in the resources sections such as “Selling a Directory” and  “Online Directories:  The Next Big Media Vehicle for Advertising Agencies,” both address the print and online media battle, but nothing quite as blunt, direct, but insightful as Gary Varnerchuk did in this video:

$70,000 blogging and reviewing 6 blocks worth of street food?  I briefly discussed the importance and value of developing an online directory with a niche focus, but midtownlunch.com has taken this to a whole new level.  As great as it was to hear about the success Zach Brooks has had with a directory-esque site such as this, Gary brings great insight into the opportunities that are arising, and will arise in online media with the departure of print publications.  If you’re interested in further discussing this, or other ideas you may have for a similar directory, don’t hesitate to call me.

Whether you’re just starting with eDirectory or may be looking to learn some of the advanced features of the system, the manual will provide you with all if the information to help you to developing your directory.  If you’re new to eDirectory or have recently purchased a license, the manual will serve as a valuable training resource to get started.

The Manual:  http://www.edirectory.com/pdf/eDirectory-Manual-7.0.pdf

SMX East Interview — eDirectory CEO James Chubb sat down with Webmaster Radio live at SMX East last week. Take a listen to what he had to say about SMX East, the value of online directories in the world of search marketing, and more. http://www2.webmasterradio.fm/search-marketing-expo-conference/?powerpress_pinw=90-podcast

The presentation given by James Chubb, eDirectory’s CEO attracted a decent crowd and features of the system proved to attract the interest of the most savvy search marketing professionals in attendance.

Be sure to head over to the resources section and download a new case study and whitepaper.  The case study follows the development of ohiobridal.com’s directory site, and the whitepaper analyzes how directories could become a vital media vehicle for advertisers to consider in the years to come.