Need a good Wordpress theme for a local business directory. Please help.

Can you provide any examples of what you are looking for?
I have over 400 premium WP themes.
I am sure I have the one, or one similar to what you are looking for.

Basically something similar to GeoPlaces but that functions properly and looks smooth. I'd like each listing to have its own page with contact information and details and the homepage would show different categories with a few listings under each.

John,

I am also using the same method as you and have a local website ranking in the first few spots for a keyword (still working on some other keywords first).

Anyway, I would not recommend you to have multiple advertisements on the one site. IE- I would fine one lawyer, and get his ad on there for $XXXXXX per month, instead of getting 2 or 3 on there.

I think if you have more than one, it begins to look a little unprofessional (just my opinion) and I definitely think the lawyers will kick up a stink when they find out. I especially wouldn't do this with lawyers unless they explicitly know there will be more than just their ad on the site, otherwise they'll get you with some legal jargon you don't even understand.

Krzysiek

hmm Good i happy that i found this i tho i was the only one had this bad thing...

I am using this one. Have a look and get back to me. It is actually a classified theme I modified but has all the payment info in it so is fairly simple to set up. I only started it in December and already got a few customers.

Australian Business Listings

Quentin

I am doing the same thing and found the same issues with DirectoryPress.

I just bought ClasiPress from appthemes.com and I am having someone install it. The website will be www.ocautocoupons.com. It won't be up until next week so you can check it out then.

I use the Advanced Newspaper theme from Gabfire - not an obvious choice perhaps, but it works for me

Tony

I could advice you AppTheme guys, they had some god WP scripts for that BUT unfortunately they decided to update their scripts with a new URL format:

Old form: sitename.com/postname
New form: sitename.com/ads/postname

Ads can be replaced by whatever word you want, problem is, you have to put ONE word in there - how stupid is that, if I can ask...

These guys are shooting their own business, so I won't advice them in any way, otherwise, as me, you can find yourself scratching the head asking WHY they did what they did to awesome scripts... and to existing top rankings sites.

EDIT:

Just noticed site above uses the script I was talking about, but since it's not updated, you can't see the new URL structure.

Thanks for all the responses. Going to go check some of these out.

Just to keep you updated.

I am changing my directory theme to the Woo Theme Listings. It looks pretty awesome and I can't wait to get it going. Sucks that I spent actually $750 on the ClassiPress customization, but I have to have everything work right. So I am moving on.

Check out the WooTheme here. Listings | WooThemes

I dont think you have any other option other than Geoplaces in wordpress, but you have options in Joomla for Directory

Any other suggestions here? What did you decide on OP?

My WooTheme Listings is up now. Take a look. Its in my sig.

John, any updates? I too am going nuts trying to find a better-than-average solution.

Thanks so much for the tip on Turbo Flex Pro Theme Master. I had no idea anything like that was out there.

Sorry, didn't realize this thread had become so popular. Still haven't really decided on a definite but right now GeoPlaces is up which, after some modification, looks pretty clean and professional. Whether or not a particular theme has a payment processor built in is unimportant to me as I'll be collecting payment by alternative means, so I'm still basically just looking for a good-looking theme.

I've got something coming soon, stay tuned. I'm going to release to my mailing list first, then I'll release to the forums. Stand back, and be ready for quality!

I am using listings right now for several sites. I like it but it is not perfect of course. If you want to get it, go for it. They will be coming out with an ecommerce solution in a few months.

I am liking the WooTheme Listings. Very functional and versitile. Not perfect for sure, but done is much better than perfect.

Wow there seems a few of us in the same boat, I too am after a decent directory model wordpress based. Have classipress, city guide & directorypress but none have gripped me. I want to do a lawyers directory and a city directory. If woo listings allowed payment I think it would be up there ... waiting & subscribed

I have been using primarily Elegant Themes and Catalyst

Can some of you who have bought several WP directory themes perhaps list some of the Pros and Cons of each theme to help select a suitable them for our own project?

We all have different requirements so what is a negative for one person may not be an issue for others.

So to start the ball rolling:

LISTING theme from Woo Thems
Cons: Does not handle payments

Sorry I haven't gotten back to this thread until now, folks.

For those of you who were following this, here's what happened. I never did end up with a good local directory that fit my liking, after trying quite a few. I hired a programmer to mold and shape GeoPlaces as much as possible to fit my needs and wants but it just couldn't be done while maintaining the theme's functionality. Consequently, I ended up changing to a "rent-the-site" type business model where the client basically gets to put their contact info up on the homepage, and for that I'm using Scott Blanchard's new BizLocal theme package. It looks and works great. Check it out.

I've been building websites for clients, "renting" sites to local businesses, and selling ad space to local businesses for a while now.

Scott Blanchard's new BizLocal offline theme package is great. I have finally found something that has filled the void I've had for years created by the need for a simple, functional, professional-looking, easy-to-work-with, impressive WP theme to use for offline business sites.

When I first checked out the preview a few months back, I knew I had to have it. I must have emailed Scott 10 times every few days asking when it was going to be released. I picked it up on the first day of the early bird special for current Clickbump members, and have loved it since.

Also, for help with finding good localized keywords to rank for that the Google Adwords Keyword Tool is actually hiding from you, I'd highly recommend checking out Keyword Sniper Pro 2.0 from Jack Duncan. It has been invaluable for me. I wrote a personal review of it which you can find in my sig.

I can't praise these tools enough. Clickbump Engine, BizLocal, and KSP have literally changed my business, my income, and my life forever.

Great thread with a lot of excellent responses and suggestions.

I'm curious though, what do you guys consider good features/functions for this kind of theme. From the few I looked at, they were very similar.

If I wanted to setup a directory theme, what elements would make it stand out? I dont have a directory site but I wouldn't mind giving it a go

Appthemes are in the process of developing a fully fledged business directory called Vantage.

Their classipress theme looks amazing for classified listings and has a payment built into it.

Just put an ETA request into them today.

Hope this can help. Check this out: Wordpress Theme

You can use Woo Themes Listing Theme, but it's kinda costly. If you need something more customized theme, I would say get a custom theme developed for a wordpress theme developer. This will ensure that you have the best theme look, features and all the functionality you are looking for.

For anyone who is still considering setting up a local business directory - here's a post I wrote to help you choose the best one. I compare the top four directory themes in the industry that are specifically created for local businesses:

Local Business Directory Themes - Geo Places vs Geo Theme vs City Guide vs Vantage | There is a Theme For That