Best Way to Build a Directory Site

7 replies
I've heard great things about Warrior Forum for years - I'm glad to have finally joined and am hoping someone can help answer my questions.

I need to develop a service directory of local professionals - with reviews, similar to Yelp. Eventually, I'd like to add a lead capture system to the backend, so that visitors can submit a request for a type of vendor on a particular date, and get "bids" from companies in their area.

I know it will take a lot of work, and I already have a lot of contacts in the particular industry I'm targeting. I have a killer exact match domain name. Where I'm stumbling is how to get started.

In the past, I've wasted a lot of money ordering designs (from 99Designs, etc.) BEFORE having a roadmap or fully conceptualizing the coding of the site. So this time around, I want to make sure the development side is legit before making it look "pretty." But I'm not sure which platform or CMS to use.

Most everyone I've talked to at local tech meetups and the Lean Startup community has advised me to build something from scratch, NOT to rely on Wordpress and 3rd party plugins. They're recommending Ruby, or Django, and that I learn it myself or hire someone. I'm not opposed to that, but I don't have a lot of funds and would like to get something up and running sooner than later.

And there's the minor problem that most "outsource" devs I've worked with aren't that responsive and seem to disappear after a few months.

I definitely do not want to use any of the typical out-of-the-box WP Geo themes that get shopped around. They're fine for other projects, but I'd need to hack it to death to get it to do everything I need, and from what I've read, they're buggy and not that flexible.

I guess my main question is: how do you go about the vetting process of finding the perfect designer and developer? I really want to build this site the RIGHT way, rather than cut corners and do everything in a rush. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
#build #cms #development #directory #domain #launch #site
  • Profile picture of the author Fredbou
    I would go with a ready-made directory script.

    There are several that are excellent in quality and value here:

    Search Listings

    Have a look at the demos. You really don't need to employ someone to build one from scratch. You can buy a good one for around $40. I could customize it for you in terms of color etc.

    You could go with http://www.mosets.com/tree/ and run it through Joomla CMS, with excellent results. There are heaps of really good Joomla templates that would go with the directory.

    PM me if you'd like me to help further.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8011056].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TravisO
    Start from scratch. Hire web and design developers for your plan. You won't have problem on hiring as those people had millions of numbers in that web development industry, the problem you will encounter is that to collect information from those professionals.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8011098].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author tsswd
    Start from scratch and build the entire directory around your concept. It is absolutely paramount you make sure your concept is unique in that you have something to offer that is very different from your competitors.

    As to vetting the designers, ask for references and examples.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8011119].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author SoundsGood
    Originally Posted by dcdotcom View Post


    I need to develop a service directory of local professionals...

    I have a killer exact match domain name.

    Where I'm stumbling is how to get started.
    Join the club!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8011830].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author RaySaj
    you will need to be part of a local services group if it is a local directory........to reach a wider audience you will need to do some leg work yourself...so try to import some directory results from other sites...........then try to get indexed and let the blogging community know of your service.......
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8011856].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author panic
    It sounds like you are starting a real business...not the type of thing the majority of people on this forum know much about...so be very careful about who you take advice from.

    The main thing I would recommend is to create your minimum viable product to test your hypothesis...that you can make money with a directory and use it to generate leads. Once you have determined there is a valid business model, then invest your money and scale it.

    Too many people start spending money thinking that they have a good idea, when it turns out there is not actually any real demand for it. Test test test, before scaling and before spending a lot of time/money.

    Good luck!
    Signature

    ~

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8011879].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author dcdotcom
      Originally Posted by panic View Post

      The main thing I would recommend is to create your minimum viable product to test your hypothesis...that you can make money with a directory and use it to generate leads. Once you have determined there is a valid business model, then invest your money and scale it.
      Thanks so much for the replies, everyone.

      Panic, your reply above was especially helpful. You're right - this is a little different than a mini-site, or a network of squeeze pages. I invested a significant amount of money into this domain, so I really want to make this a viable business, from the ground up.

      You're right about the MVP. I am all about testing, but what I'm not sure of is how public to make everything. For instance, some people have said to launch a blog (establish authority, build your audience, etc.) right away, but I'm the kind of person eho wants to wait until all the branding, identity, etc, is perfect.

      Also, I don't think paying vendors are going to want to sign up until the site is somewhat established and is getting traffic - but I'm not sure a minimally viable site with basic functionality can generate that.

      You're right about testing and changing things early on in order to save time/money later on, though.

      Thank you!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012843].message }}

Trending Topics