Sites where the content is entries.
WHAT THEY ARE
Business directories, classified listings, property listings, job boards.
THE OPTIONS
A directory plugin for your content system A dedicated directory application A custom build, for unusual requirements
WHAT TO PLAN
Who submits entries: you, or users
Whether submissions are moderated Whether listings are paid, which brings payment and expiry requirements How entries are searched and filtered
THE PERFORMANCE ISSUE
Filtering and searching many entries generates uncached database queries. A directory with thousands of entries and faceted filtering is demanding.
Ensure the database is properly indexed, and cache what you can.
THE SEO ISSUE
Filter combinations generate many near-identical URLs. Control which are indexable, or you fill the index with thin pages.
USER SUBMISSIONS
Moderate them. An unmoderated submission form fills with spam within days.
THE CONTENT PROBLEM
A directory with few entries is not useful. The hard part is not the software; it is populating it.
