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Unread 17th Aug 2013, 10:12 AM   #1
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Mobile directory
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I'm having a question as I just start out setting up mobile sites.

I'm designing a Lawyer directory site with several inner pages and would like to focus with that site to have a mobile version so people in an emergency can find the lawyers over their Smartphones.

Is there anything different to a normal mobile site if I want to have a lot of inner pages available.

Guess the easiest would be to ask for a location, then present 2 or 3 options to choose from and when he picks one he see's a tap to call button.

Is that it or is there anything important I've missed?

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Unread 17th Aug 2013, 12:54 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by bwh1 View Post


Is that it or is there anything important I've missed?

G.
Yeah, you should really just set up the directory with a responsive design in the first place and then you wouldn't need to even think about a separate mobile solution. That would be your best choice...

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Unread 17th Aug 2013, 02:13 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by EmmaGraham View Post

Yeah, you should really just set up the directory with a responsive design in the first place and then you wouldn't need to even think about a separate mobile solution. That would be your best choice...

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Hi Emma

Responsive themes are great for tablets IMO but when you get to Smartphones, IPhones and Blackberries I think it's still too much Info so I prefer to add a mobile version.

Point I have no clue is, it's not a moblie site for ONE businesses, it will have a lot of businesses and each would have a tap to call button.

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Unread 17th Aug 2013, 09:47 PM   #4
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You can check the mobile version of bigger directories such as yp.com to get some ideas. I once had a mobile directory for dentists but it is not active anymore. If you are not using a CMS like WordPress, it will be good to use a database and build the site around it.
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Unread 17th Aug 2013, 10:56 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Nail Yener View Post

You can check the mobile version of bigger directories such as yp.com to get some ideas. I once had a mobile directory for dentists but it is not active anymore. If you are not using a CMS like WordPress, it will be good to use a database and build the site around it.
I just did that after I've posted my last reply.

There are some good ideas to get by looking at the competitors, sometimes we forget the simple things

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Unread 18th Aug 2013, 03:14 PM   #6
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I'd go for WP responsive theme as it is easier to handle more list in CMS platform.
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Unread 18th Aug 2013, 04:52 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by digo View Post

I'd go for WP responsive theme as it is easier to handle more list in CMS platform.
If you check out the mobile version of Yelp, you see in first place their icon and a search box, then below some categories. Nothing else.

I think that's a great way to present a local directory but if I do such a design directly in my homepage the site will look a bit weird when I access it from a PC.

Off course I always could setup a responsive theme at m.mydirectory.com and redirect them to that domain.

Have to try this out.

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Unread 19th Aug 2013, 12:36 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by bwh1 View Post

Off course I always could setup a responsive theme at m.mydirectory.com and redirect them to that domain.

G.

This is an excellent idea, mate. Tell us how it goes!

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Unread 23rd Aug 2013, 02:43 AM   #9
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Re: Mobile directory
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Originally Posted by bwh1 View Post

If you check out the mobile version of Yelp, you see in first place their icon and a search box, then below some categories. Nothing else.

I think that's a great way to present a local directory but if I do such a design directly in my homepage the site will look a bit weird when I access it from a PC.

Off course I always could setup a responsive theme at m.mydirectory.com and redirect them to that domain.

Have to try this out.

G.
I would not use WP for any mobile site. 1 reason. WP is a known resource HOG.
Also, responsive design is designing for screen size versus user agent.
Initially, you might want to decide who your main audience is and
stick with that. If it is mobile, stay there and design later for a desktop/tablet.

If it is Mobile device design opted for then responsive is not
needed. You can't be all things using a responsive design. That is a misnomer.
Not all content on a tablet, laptop or desktop is going to serve the purpose
on a smartphone. In other words, you will load content for a device that
does not need to be loaded.

A directory is a listing, tap to call, website referral linkage, QR code site
not a directory of full blown websites. So all the WP doodads are not
necessary and needless overhead plus tap to call AND SMS
is not going to work on a standard computer. If you design the
mobile aspects in and then decide to offer the directory as a be-all
things to all devices directory , people are going to click that tap to call on
a standard computer and get an error message no matter if it is responsive.

WP was designed as a CMS for computer blogging.
Yes they are responsive too now for mobile devices for blogs.
Mobile sites are not blogs and not all content looks good on 320x480
Obviously, WP has taken a life for those who can install WP, drag
widgets and install plugins. But that is hardly the optimum design for a mobile site.
No offense to all the WP designers that do so. I understand it is a way to make a buck
without learning any actual mobile programming design and you do the work 1x
to serve both std and mobile.

As your WP database would grow, It LOADS and LOADS and IT LOADS.
Just saying and this is a subjective viewpoint that may not be agreeable to all.

If you are building a very small local directory, WP may serve your need.
If you expect any growth at all, that may not be the wisest selection.

PHP or HTML5 is the choice without the WP Overhead.
Php is Fast, Clean, can incorporate html as well and can use CSS
as well as scripting such as javascript if need be. In other words, flexible and
can be adaptable using php modules to streamline.

If you are building a directory, you can pick a niche and build around the cities
as per se one directory then another and another all interlinked one to another or
you can pick a City and build around Multiple niches [ie categories] similar
to the old yahoo website.

Linking to each city [ie. from 1 folder to the other] should be easy enough
with a NAV Bar or Footer Section so it becomes seamless.
Then if a city info / design changes, it is easily found in its' own designated folder.

Once you have templates designed, then it becomes a matter of whether
you want dynamic updating [ie. they submit and get listed NOW or
you choose to have a submit and REVIEW process] to reduce spamming
or offensive material [yes someone will do that still].
OR you can use a membership / join option and use a required verify option
such as Text messaging so that the person submitting is at least verified
with some real information. This can be automated as well using SMS.

The Search Function is where it will be more of a test of your skill level.
Most people are going to want to Search your directory quickly.
This is the crux of what you are putting together and offering.
If this is cumbersome or serves up poor results, you will see traffic
go elsewhere.

Lay out your directory on paper [ie categories, cities....]
Set the direction [ie. mobile or not or both]. Build according to that.
Choose wisely on your foundation. If you have a popular directory,
you won't want to recreate the info once the ball gets rolling. You might
not get that chance.

Hopefully you found some constructive info in here somewhere as
that is the true intent. Best of luck with your project.


Last edited on 23rd Aug 2013 at 02:46 AM. Reason: typos as usual
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Unread 24th Aug 2013, 01:08 AM   #10
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Re: Mobile directory
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Hi, i only want give my point of view, i work a lot with jquery mobile, building mobile sites for clients, but the last week i start to test Foundation 4 responsive framework, and about things like "a responsive site has too many content for a smartphone" or "the phone buttons is not to work" there are hiding options in frameworks like this, so you can hide the tap to call button in the web site version and show it in the mobile version.

I agree that php and html5 maybe are a best solution. But there are also some mixed solutions. I´m now working in use wordpress as content management system and build the front end with other technologies like html5 and javascript, jquery (not a theme). Why? because is easy to use phone gap and build native apps with the same files. So you maybe can offer a mobile site and also a native app, since big companies make something like this (Facebook with mobile site and native app). I think the right solution depends on your requirements and budget.
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