Any site visitor who wants to become a Member of a directory site is required to undergo the sign-up procedure. Normally, site visitors acquire membership to take full advantage of the site’s features including the ability to add advertisement items such as listings, events, classifieds, articles and banners to the site.
The whole signing up procedure comprises three steps such as:
- Order -In this step, the applicant (or the site visitor signing up) is asked to create the first advertisement item that he/she wants to post in the directory site. This is also the time when he/she supplies the account information.
- Check Out –In this step, the applicant is asked to pay for the item that he/she created in the “Order” step.
- Configure –In this step, the applicant is asked to complete the item information that he/she provided in the “Order” step.
Signing up is offered free. The amount being solicited in the “Check Out” step is not for signing up but for the item that the applicant creates in the “Order” step. If the item that he/she creates there is in Free level, the “Check Out” step will automatically be omitted from the procedure.
Member accounts do not expire. Members also can create as many items as they want given that they pay for every item that they create. (Items in Free level are exempted)
To add a new listing, do the following:
- In the directory front’s Home page, click on the Join Now link. Usually, this link appears on the bottom of the Login panel. After doing this, a page will appear like the one shown below:
- Click on any Options tab. These options tabs (highlighted area in the image above) are the available item types which you can select from.
- Click on the Order Now button of the corresponding item type and level. After doing this, a form will appear.
The form may vary depending on the Item Type (e.g., Listing, Event) and Level (e.g., Premium, Showcase) that you choose. In the following procedure, we used that of Showcase Listing Level. This means that some fields and areas may not be present if you choose other Item Type and Level.
- In the Account Information area (image shown below), do the following:
- In the Username box, type the Login ID you want.
- In the Password box, type the password you want. (Password strength tells you if the password you input is weak or strong)
- Retype your new password.
In eDirectory version 7.4.00, a username real time validation is added in the Username field of this form (image shown here). The application validates username availability once a new Member types the desired username. It also issues warnings regarding the character type and length validity of the provided username in real time.
- In the Listing Information area (image shown below), do the following:
- In the Listing Title box, type the name of the item that you are adding. The title is the text that will appear on the top most part of your item. Be sure to make it descriptive.
- In the Promotional Code box, type the promo code that you want to use for the item. (To know more about Promo Code, click here)
- In the Categories and sub-categories area (image shown below), select the category and the sub-category (if there is one) under which you want the item to appear. As you click on a category, the list of all sub-categories under it is displayed.
You need to click on the Add link to associate the category or sub-category with the item. After clicking on the link, the category or sub-category is automatically displayed in the Listing Categories box.
You need to associate the item with one or multiple categories and sub-categories so as to display the item under the specific categories and sub-categories to the site visitors. To delete a category, highlight the sub-category name listed in the Listing Category box, and click on the Remove Selected Category button. - In the Billing Information area (image shown below), do the following:
- In the Language dropdown list, specify the language that you prefer. You can then receive e-mail notifications from the directory in the language specified.
- In the First Name, Last Name, Company, Address, Address (Optional), City, State, Postal Code, Country, Phone, and E-mail boxes, provide the information being asked.
- Select the Payment Method that you prefer. You can select from any of the following:
By Credit card – a Member who selects this method is asked to fill out the electronic payment forms
By PayPal – a Member who selects this method is redirected to the PayPal website where the electronic payment forms are located
Print Invoice and Mail a Check – a Member who selects this method must print off the invoice and mail it to the address specified on the invoice.The amount that you need to pay shows up in this area:
- Click on the Continue button. After doing this, a new form will appear. At this point, your Member account has already been created. You can choose to go on with the remaining steps below or you can sign in right away in to your account.
The form may vary depending on the Payment Method that you chose in the previous step. In the following procedure, we used that of Credit Card payment. This means that some fields and areas may not be present if you chose other Payment Method.
- In the Billing Info area (image shown below), do the following:
- In the Card Number box, type the long string of numbers that is embossed on the front of your credit card.
- In the Card Expiry Date box, type the date that is printed on the front of your credit card close to your name (e.g., 10/10).
- In the Card Code box, type the three- or four- digit security code that is printed on the back of your credit card. The number typically appears at the end of the signature panel.
- Click on the Place Order and Continue button. After doing this, a new form will appear similar to the one you fill out when adding a new item.
The main purpose of this form is to allow you to complete the item information that you provided earlier. It is important to have them finalized because once approved; all this information will be displayed in the directory front.