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For Wordpress, does there have to be an article directory script?

by hbeezy
8 replies
I am trying to go about creating an article directory in Wordpress, but I have not come across any good free plugins for wordpress. So, is it really necessary to have an article directory script or can I just create a regular wordpress site without a script?

(If it is necessary just for members then I do not need it at all because I am not looking to have members on it anyway...)

Your help is greatly appreciated.
#article #directory #script #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
    It isn't necessary at all, no; you could easily setup Contact Form 7 to handle submissions and integrate any number of popular membership suites to handle posting. Have a dig around CodeCanyon.net, though. I seem to remember they have directory plugins. The above membership idea might even be a better option, though, depending on what membership functionality those directory plugins offer.

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    • Profile picture of the author hbeezy
      Originally Posted by Tom Addams View Post

      It isn't necessary at all, no; you could easily setup Contact Form 7 to handle submissions and integrate any number of popular membership suites to handle posting. Have a dig around CodeCanyon.net, though. I seem to remember they have directory plugins. The above membership idea might even be a better option, though, depending on what membership functionality those directory plugins offer.

      - Tom
      I checked it out and in fact they had a couple of plugins there. However, I am looking to create an article directory without any outside submissions with the flexibility to let submissions in if I want.

      Is this possible?
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
    In that case, I would avoid the directory software, which may not be as functional as a decent membership suite, or even something custom. You can easily develop your blog for personal use now (perhaps with guest blogs and/ or outsourced content) and later on integrate a directory process. If you look at a setup like Cracked.com, you'll see a very successful website that, in essence, is a viral magazine, but integrated into the mix you have software to handle submitted content. And that brings up a useful final point: the directory model, after being hit by Google, is a weaker option than what you've see in operation at Cracked. User-submitted content is a powerful model, when harnessed correctly.

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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    If you don't accept submissions, then is it really an article directory ... or just a blog with all your own submissions?

    I'm not sure what you are really trying to accomplish.

    To me, if you want a true article directory, you need to set up your site to be an Article Directory. There are lots of plug-ins and software that will do this - some free, the better ones will cost a few dollars (but are still reasonable).

    You can always move blog posts to an article directory later if that's what you decide you want down the road.

    I say, decide on one or the other and set up your site to handle whatever you decide.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author hbeezy
      I might have the name of what I want it to be mixed up but this is what I want to do:

      Create a Wordpress site in which I can throw a multitude of different niches with different articles on it. Then, I would try to monetize the site.

      Is this still realistic ?
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve B
        Originally Posted by hbeezy View Post

        Create a Wordpress site in which I can throw a multitude of different niches with different articles on it. Then, I would try to monetize the site.

        Is this still realistic ?

        Yes and no. It is realistic that you can set up a site that way. It is not realistic to think that you would make much money from it. That same strategy has been tried many, many times and it almost always fails.

        Choose to confine your efforts to a narrow and deep niche instead of going "wide and broad." For a small business, it is almost imperative that you have a very well defined niche and that you don't attempt to be all things to everyone. The broader you go, the more competition you get and the tougher it is to crack the top established sites.

        It's much easier to pick a very narrow niche, become the trusted authority in that niche, gather an audience of rabid fans, find out what they want/need/desire and then sell it to them. Specialize. Go narrow and deep. You can always expand into related markets once you command a loyal audience and following.

        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    If I'm not mistaken, the Pligg open-source directory software is still available and free to use.

    There are tens of thousands of junk directories still floating around out there, but that's not the fault of the software. Those "directories" are mostly made for junk links from garbage spun articles.

    With a little work and TLC, the software might work for you.

    As for the plan to "throw a multitude of different niches with different articles on it", you might have a hard time unless you have a way to lure visitors that doesn't involve search engines.

    If I were to tackle something like this, I'd use separate sites to make tightly themed niche portals with carefully chosen articles, link lists, and user-generated content.

    If you're set on Wordpress, set it up for multisite use and make each niche vertical on a separate subdomain or subdirectory.

    Much easier to monetize if the site is tightly focused.
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