I have bought a web directory theme from directory press and successfully installed. Help Needed

I am building several directories with DirectoryPress. With the recent updates it is a much better value than ever before. By just searching the forums you will find answers to 97.55% of your questions. Any others can be submitted to support for timely help or posted to the forum. Someone will most likely have run into any question you might have and will jump into help.

If I have one complaint about DirectoryPress (DP), it could be that sometimes there are language rifts. I am not a programmer or coder and sometimes the descriptions and instructions used to explain different functions within the software and the WP (Wordpress)/DirectoryPress dashboard don't make sense to me, seems like some was not written with a dummy like me in mind, LOL . Personally I have sorted through the information and have written down some of my own instruction so as not to get confused or discouraged and plan to do a video for others jumping into the deep end of the DP pool. I dove into the deep end this time and I am 3 days into it and my site is looking pretty sexy..PM me and I will send you a link..

Another piece of advice is to stick to the basics and make some key decisions on how your directory is going to operate before you start working on your settings in the WP/DP dashboard. Be economical in the beginning with the features you add because you can add more anytime after the basic directory is up. You should write out a rough draft to guide you through the build:

1. What URL are you going to use?
2. Will you be using a logo (what size) or just a text title?
3. Decide what design/template you will be using as provided in the DP Dashboard. Look at each one and decide if the layout will be well received by your visitors and Members? Decide if you are making a directory that sells listings and is usable for visitors or if your are designing the directory for search engines and Adsense.
4. Determine permissions. Who gets to see what. Do all visitors get to see all listings or do they have to register to see certain listings?
5. Determine business member permissions and packages. What will a business be able to post in their listing based on their membership level.
6. What are the different membership levels, whats included and whats the cost? Monthly, Yearly? Recurring or one time fee? Who will be your payment processor? PayPal, 2Checkout, Google Checkout, Etc.
7.Define for your own usage and direction, who is a visitor and what are they looking for. What does a directory listing member look like and what are they seeking from my service?
8.Do you charge for visitor usage or member usage or both? Will there be FREE options for either or both?
9. What is a minimum viable product that you will be satisfied with, that offers value to your members..
10. How do you plan on marketing your directory? PPC, targeted telemarketing, email announcements? Where do you expect your income to come from or is there another reason for building a directory? Are you building it for current clients or as a client acquisition tool?

Please do not answer these questions here, they are just the start of a longer list I am creating for myself as I build my directories out. Don't be afraid of the process, once you have done it once, and kept notes on it, it will be easier going forward. I am finding that the opportunity in directories lies in the fact that few people get to where you are right now, most people who have bought DP or any other directory script quit before they start. That puts you in a very small club that gets smaller and smaller as you progress. And that is where the money lies...

Cheers!

Chris