Keyword Research for Online Directories

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Keyword research for online directories is a key element to understand the opportunities your website has to rank higher on search engine result pages (Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc).

eDirectory’s code was written with SEO in mind. The structured code makes it easy for search engines to index and understand what is important.

On this webinar, our CEO James Chubb will show you how to determine which strategic keywords to target in your website’s content, and how to craft that content to satisfy both users and search engines.

This session took place on July 7th, 2021.

Check our webinar schedule at https://www.edirectory.com/webinars/.

Agency Services to Increase Revenue

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In this webinar our CEO James Chubb shows how to offer agency services as a way to build additional revenue. He discusses different offerings, how to price them, and execute the services.

This session took place on June 9th, 2021.

Check our webinar schedule at https://www.edirectory.com/webinars/.

Building and Monetizing your Database

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Building and Monetizing your Database is one of the possible revenue streams for online directory owners. The listing database is the heart of your directory business.

On this Webinar with eDirectory CEO James Chubb, learn how to set goals for breadth and depth in your initial data set, and strategies on how to monetize your database.

This session took place on May 26th, 2021.

Check our webinar schedule at https://www.edirectory.com/webinars/.

Monetization Tools and Strategies for Online Directories

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Creating an online directory brings an amazing opportunity to generate a recurring revenue stream. From using the built-in payment tools that eDirectory provides, to offering links to 3rd party affiliate products and services – when it comes to monetizing your website, opportunity abounds!

This session took place on May 12th, 2021.

Check our webinar schedule at https://www.edirectory.com/webinars/.

Meet the new eDirectory v13

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We’re proud to announce our newest release, eDirectory v13. This platform upgrade brings the exclusive Listing Template Editor: a game-changer on the way you build online directories. The listing template feature allows you to create customized listing pages for different use cases, like jobs, people, restaurants, whatever you can imagine. eDirectory is now more flexible and with improved usability for site owners, advertisers, and end-users.

What’s new on eDirectory v13?

The new Listing Template Editor replaces the previous Listing Type feature. In the past versions, you were able to create any custom field you want to match the needs of the categories of your listing. With v13 you are now able to not only add those fields but also to edit the design of the listing detail page, using the same widget-based logic already present in the v12. Drag and drop the elements to design exclusive pages. Besides this major new feature, we improved the design and usability of the back-end. With an optimized layout, this area had several elements reorganized and redesigned to improve its user experience, in addition to facilitating its actions and access to certain resources.

Tabs, Sidebar, and Widgets

You can choose from 26 different widgets to create listing detail pages with one column or with a column plus a sidebar. You can now create unlimited tabs to display the content of your listings but if you prefer having a single tab you can, it’s up to you to determine the look-and-feel of your pages with ease, and no code-knowledge required. Use the widgets to create unlimited custom fields. After creating the custom fields, configure the Levels & Prices section to select which plan will display these fields.

Summary Cards

For the search results page, you can choose one among eleven options of cards for summary views when creating a Listing Template. These cards were designed to meet different proposals and different needs.

Linked Listings

Easily associate other listings to one specific page. For example, if you are listing a Medical Clinic and want to highlight its professional’s profiles, with a few clicks, you can add the Linked Listings Widget on the page and display these profiles in an associated way. 

Related Listings

This is a great way to keep your users exploring your content and spend more time on your site. Simply add the Related Listings widget on the template and customize the rules to display rich content.

Call-to-Action button

Easily place a button on the listing detail page, customizing its label and destination URL. You can create a “Buy Now”, “Book appointment” that goes to an external shopping cart or booking system. Create whatever call-to-action you need for your advertisers.

Disable Locations

For those who target just one location, we added the ability to the site manager to disable completely the usage of locations in the system, this will also remove the field “where” from the search boxes.

Upgrade Plan button for advertisers

A new upgrade button has been added to promote free and lower level listings to upgrade to more lucrative paid plans. Now advertisers will see a handy upgrade button to stimulate plan upgrades. This generates a new lead for the site owner to follow up and close the sale. Also, for the lower listings levels, we updated the Listing form to display fields that are not available for the listing level with a lock message, motivating advertisers to consider an upgrade of their plan.

Stripe subscription cancellation

Many payment gateways do not allow subscription cancellations other than directly through the gateway system. Stripe enabled this option and now advertisers can easily cancel their subscriptions within the Advertiser Dashboard.

GDPR improvements

Our customers in or targeting European countries can take advantage of this improvement. We added the ability for the site manager to enable the requirement for explicit consent for end-users to store their personal data, improving eDirectory’s GDPR compliance. Because of that, forms no longer checks the “Sign up to our newsletter” by default.

More news from eDirectory v13!

  • Ability to add multiple banners on the listing page.
  • Ability to remove the pricing completely for all listings associated with a specific template.
  • Categories management completely redesigned for better user experience.
  • Added a shortcut for the site owner to go directly to the listing edit form when visiting a listing page on the frontend.
  • Claims section moved from the Listings section to the Activity sections on the site manager dashboard.
  • Preview page on the advertise widgets updated to offer the ability for users to preview listings from different templates.
  • Added captcha on the widget “Lead gen form” to block spam leads.
  • Site owners can now check information about their license and eDirectory versions through the “About” pop up.
  • Claim sign up page changed to show the registration form first, instead of the login form.
  • Label “Friendly URL” and “Page name” updated to “URL Slug”.
  • Webp image format applied to Call to action and Newsletter background images.
  • Log in and sign up forms updated to include the attribute “required” on the mandatory fields.
  • Button “Read more” removed from the listing page. The listing description is now displayed below the listing main image.

Read the full list of enhancements of eDirectory v13 here.

Upgrade to the latest version of eDirectory today!

For active clients looking to take advantage of the latest and greatest eDirectory.com has to offer, simply fill out the Upgrade Request form or contact your account executive. Upgrade fees may be applied.

For new clients looking to launch their online Enterprise with all you see here and much more, please request a demo here, call us directly at +1-800-630-4694, or send an email to sales@eDirectory.com.

Instant Messaging for Directory Websites

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eDirectory Instant Messaging Plugin

We released the Instant Messaging Plugin that allows site owners and advertisers to use Telegram, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger directly on the website.

Instant messaging provides real-time communication between visitors and listing owners, allowing them to make immediate sales contacts.

Site owners will be able to add a messenger floating button to the site, choosing one from the three options allowed. The other messaging platforms can be displayed on the header, footer and Contact Us page as clickable elements.

Instant Messaging Plugin for Directories

For advertisers, the messaging apps clickable items will be displayed below the phone number on the listing detail page.

Instant Messaging for Listings

Contact us today, add this Plugin to your directory, and get connected with your audience!

Benefits of using IM in your directory site

  • These apps provide instant communication. In addition to text messages, users can exchange multimedia messages, such as photos, videos, documents, or sound.
  • Instant Messaging is applicable to both B2B and B2C businesses. It is important to choose the right platform and explore what it has to offer.
  • Compared to digital marketing and social media, mobile messaging has much more engagement and return on investment in marketing.

Instant Messaging apps around the world

Different applications are popular in different countries, and so your choice of apps must take this into consideration:

  • WhatsApp is a world leader and is used in 104 countries. It is popular in Brazil, Mexico, India, Russia and in many countries of Europe, Africa, America, and Asia.
  • For US markets, the most used applications are Messenger and WhatsApp.
  • Facebook Messenger is used in 64 countries, notably Australia, Canada, and the United States.
  • Telegram and other messaging applications that are very popular in China, Japan, and Iran.
  • In Europe, however, the leaders are WhatsApp and Messenger. Asia and specifically in China, most users use WhatsApp and Telegram. In Africa, most people communicate via Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram.

Be sure to keep track of client preferences and their needs, which can change over time. Instant Messaging is a great development, satisfying the demands for speed, practicality, and real connectedness.

New Release: eDirectory v12

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We’re proud to announce our newest release, eDirectory v12. This platform upgrade brings a major design change and several new features. Our goal is to keep improving the experience for users, advertisers and site owners.

edirectory v12 header

What’s new on eDirectory v12?

From a quick sneak-peak in our eDirectory Demo site, you can feel it right away the new look of the site. Transparent navigation menu, the full-width image on sliders, fluid elements and more.

Here’s the list of all the improvements:

1. Frontend layout completely redesigned for all available themes

2. New widgets

  • List of featured categories with only text
  • List of featured categories with icons instead of bigger images
  • List of featured categories in just one horizontal line
  • Social network bar
  • Contact information bar
  • Call to action
  • Slider without search box
  • Three new types of cards widgets available for all modules
  • Section header / Page title

3. The ability of the site manager to choose the background color of the main widgets between three options (white, neutral or brand color)

4. The ability of the site manager to customize the look & feel of all the four header widgets, including:

  • Enable sticky menu
  • Change the background color
  • Display the navigation on top of a background image (option available when the header widget is followed by a slider or call to action widget)

5. The ability of the site manager to enable banners on the browse by categories and locations widgets

6. The ability of the site manager to remove the number of active items on the Browse by categories and Browse by Location widgets

7. Results widgets unified in just one widget, with options to enable list view, grid view or both

8. Better display and navigation on widget video gallery

9. Widgets Search box with Slider and Search box without Slider unified in just one widget

10. Widgets Lead gen with Slider and Lead gen without Slider unified in just one widget

11. Widget Search box with Slider rehashed to allow the site manager to create different slides sets, for different pages

12. The ability for the site manager to change the position of the content (left, center, right) on some widgets like Search box with Slider, Call to action, Newsletter, among others

13. Colors & Fonts section rehashed to offer more flexibility, including:

  • Nine colors available for customization
  • More than 900 fonts from Google fonts available
  • Ability to change the font size
  • Ability to customize the border style for images, cards, inputs, and buttons

edirectory v12 border control

eDirectory v12 with 900 google fonts

14. Integration with Unsplash, a beautiful, free photos service. Available for cover images, slides and background images for the main widgets

edirectory and unsplash images

15. Field features from listings rehashed to offer the ability for users to choose icons to each feature/amenity

edirectory icon features

edirectory icon features in front-end

16. Field opening hours from listings rehashed to offer the ability for users to select each day and time, instead of the text field, allowing visitors to see more accurate information like “Open now” on the frontend

17. Field fax from listings module replaced by a customizable field where the user can define the label of the phone number (i.e, fax, WhatsApp, office, home…)

18. The ability for users to upload a logo image to their listings. The logo image can be enabled for specific levels by the site manager using the Manage Levels & Pricing section

edirectory v12 logo uploader

edirectory v12 logo front-end

19. The ability for the site manager upload icons to featured categories (icons will be displayed on the new widget Featured Categories with icons)

20. Google maps icons updated to use the same color as the site main color

Read the full list of enhancements of eDirectory v12 here.

Upgrade to the latest version of eDirectory today!

For active clients looking to take advantage of the latest and greatest eDirectory.com has to offer, simply fill out the Upgrade request form or contact your account executive. Upgrade fees may be applied.

For new clients looking to launch their online Enterprise with all you see here and much more, please request a demo here, call us directly at +1-800-630-4694, or send an email to sales@eDirectory.com.

New Release: eDirectory v11.5

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eDirectory v11.5, released in early November 2018, is our most recent platform upgrade, filled with great new features and some performance improvements.

 

What’s new on eDirectory v11.5?

This release brings 15 new front-end and back-end items as it follows:

1. New fully customizable Cards widgets available for all themes.

  • Previous widgets such as “Featured listings”, “Popular events”, among others, were replaced by cards widgets.
  • Each widget can be fully customized, including:
    • Ability to change the widget title and the label of the “view more” link;
    • Ability to select the module that will be displayed on the widget;
    • Show items from a specific level, categories or location;
    • Ability to choose the order criteria;
    • Ability to pick items individually.
  • Layout for the widget “5 featured listings” updated and available for all modules.
recent deals widget

Define the content and display rules for your new widget…

… or handpick the items you want to be featured in your new widget!

2. New widget “Video Gallery” available for all themes.

3. Two new lead generation forms widgets available for all themes.

  • a. Lead form with static background image
  • b. Lead form with background slider

4. New layout for the article detail widget, including the ability to upload the author image and description available for all themes. See an example here.

5. New layout for the blog detail widget available for all themes.

6. New widget “Recent Articles in two columns” for the Article home page.

7. New widget “2 columns recent posts” for the Blog home page.

8. Added ability for the site manager change the labels of each location level.

location labels

9. New interface to manage the navigation menus and links for slides, including easier flow to link menus to custom pages, internal or external URLs.

10. Added new field to include a summary description for videos on the listings, events and classifieds form.

11. The layout of the Default theme rehashed to standardize spacings, margins and navigation structure, including the responsive version.

12. Added ability for the site manager to change the placeholders of the search box widgets.

13. Support to PHP 7.1.

14. New Gulp file to manage, compile and minimize less/sass files on development mode.

15. New layout for the “site unavailable” screen.

Other changes on eDirectory v11.5

  • Structured markup data on articles and blog detail pages updated to include the tags author and publisher
  • Facebook moderation tool updated to allow the site manager to moderate Facebook comments directly from the directory
  • Form to submit new reviews simplified when the user is already logged in
  • PHPMailer fully replaced by SwiftMailer

Read the full list of 100+ enhancements of eDirectory v11.5 here.

Upgrade to the latest version of eDirectory today!

For active clients looking to take advantage of the latest and greatest eDirectory.com has to offer, simply fill out the Upgrade request form found here or contact your account executive.

For new clients looking to launch their online Enterprise with all you see here and much more, please request a demo here, or call us directly at +1-800-630-4694, or send an email to sales@eDirectory.com.