WordPress Member Directory Plugin (CMED) - Use Case - Creating an Expert Directory From Scratch
Use Case - Creating an Expert Directory From Scratch
Note: This guide covers features from the Pro version of WordPress Member Directory plugin - This document uses version 1.5.7
Introduction
WordPress Member Directory plugin allows you to create a site with a comprehensive directory of experts. Each expert has a profile page with detailed information.
Quick Read: Expert Profile is Not WordPress Account
In this base plugin, users cannot submit/manage profiles. The admin controls all pages.
To let users manage their expert profiles, use the Community Add-on.
Video
Use Case Front-End
Expert Directory
Expert Profile
Use Case Assumptions
In this example use case guide, we'll cover how to create a small directory with five experts in Education and IT. You can apply the same idea to the topic of your site.
We consider that you have already bought the plugin, but not installed it.
It follows:
- Installing the plugin
- Adding the first expert
- Configuring the directory
- Search and filters
- Changing expert page
- Expert Page - Additional links and taxonomies
- Translating the interface
Installing the Plugin
The process is the same for all CM plugins.
- Download the plugin from your customer dashboard.
- Log in to WordPress and navigate to the WordPress Admin → Plugins settings.
- Click on Add New.
- Activate it and add the license.
Learn more: Getting Started - Plugin Overview
Adding First Expert
With the plugin ready to go, it's time to add the first expert!
Head to WP Admin Dashboard → CM Expert Directory Pro → Add Expert.
You will be able to fill detailed information for your new expert.
Creating John Doe Profile
Here we show the main sections of adding the profile for John Doe.
1. Name and overview
2. Publications, education, experience
3.1. Taxonomies Index - Filters (Search, Taxonomies)
3.2 Tags
3.3. Additional Links and Fields Expert Page - Additional Links and Fields
4.1. Address with Google Maps - Expert Page - Google Maps
4.2. Social media links
Also: Image gallery, video gallery, documents and more
Learn more: Getting Started - Adding an Expert
Configuring The Directory
The Directory Page is automatically created upon plugin installation in the address www.yoursite.com/expert-directory. As you add experts, it will be automatically updated to present all profiles.
It's a normal page with the shortcode [cmed_expert] , which outputs your experts.
You can configure how it looks by default by heading to the plugin's settings → Directory Appearance tab.
In this page you can decide options such
- Default template
- Filters
- Experts by page
- Default sorting order
Learn more: Index - Header Settings (Page ID, Number of Items, Pagination)
Different Views, Different Settings
The WordPress Member Directory plugin has four available views, each with their settings.
Settings
- Tiles View - Learn more: Tiles View
- List View - Learn more: List View
- Expert Directory View - Learn more: Directory View
- eCommerce View - Learn more: eCommerce View
Search and Filters
Another important setting in the directory is regarding filters - in other words, how users narrow down and search the directory.
For example, you might want to let users search by tags but not keywords. Or, allow search by custom taxonomies.
TIP: Filters Are Essential For UI
Especially if your directory is big!
What You Can Change
- Displaying filter fields as Dropdown or Tags.
- Display search field
- Show or not these filters:
- Category
- Expertise
- Service
- Language
- Tags
- Custom Taxonomies
All settings are under Filter settings.
TIP: Modifying The Index Content With Shortcodes
You can change what appears in the each instance of the directory by adding parameters to its shortcode, [cmed_expert].
Parameters
A small sample:
- view - the id of the view from the following: tiles, list, directory
- filter_search - whether to hide Search filter on Experts Index Page (set 0 to hide )
- cats - the slug of the category from which the expert should be displayed
- tags - the name of the tag the expert displayed should have
Example [cmed_expert view="list" filter_search="0" cats="teachers,educators" tags="available,remote"]
Check all shortcodes and parameters: Shortcodes - Available Shortcodes
Editing The Expert Page
Now let's match the page to our site's identity. Here are some examples of what we can achieve:
Head to the Expert Page tab.
Sample of what you can change:
- Default country
- Page colors
- Show or not expert picture, publish date, update date, comments, back to directory link, expert e-mail address, Publications, Education, Experience, Documents
- Show or not custom taxonomies
- Show or not additional links, and also what are their labels
- Related experts
Learn more: Expert Page - Customizing What is Shown (Template, Colors, Related Experts)
What Else Can I do?
Check some useful tips:
1. Enable Star Ratings
2. Show persistent advertisements
Expert Page - Additional Links, Fields and Taxonomies
WordPress Member Directory plugin is flexible in that you can configure a series of fields and choose to display them or not.
Example
What's The Difference?
- Custom Taxonomy - Work like categories or tags and is searchable. Ideal for concepts shared by many experts.
- Examples: Expertise, Area of Interest, Department
- Custom Link - Simple link.
- Examples: Portfolio, Personal Website, Company Profile
- Custom Field - Simple text field. Ideal for unique values
- Examples: Years of Experience, Personal Quote
1) Taxonomies
You can enable/disable and rename taxonomies from the Taxonomies tab. They will apply to both Directory and Profile page.
Learn more: WordPress Member Directory Plugin (CMED) - Additional Taxonomy (Labels, Expert Page, Index)
2) Custom Links
The settings are in the Expert Page tab. Set Show additional custom links to Yes and you will be able to see these fields when editing an expert. Choose a label and icon for up to four custom links.
3) Custom Fields
Custom fields are similar and the settings are just below Additional Links in the Expert Page tab.
Translating Interface
If your site is not in English, that's ok.
The WordPress Member Directory plugin lets you translate the most important front-end labels to your language of choice. To do so, head to the Labels tab.
Some examples of labels available for translation:
- Expert
- Address
- City/Town
- Back to Directory
Expert? Member? Specialist? You Choose!
A common use case is using a different name other than expert. For instance, you directory might contain only lawyers, teachers or scientists..
For this adjustment, you should:
Check all labels related to "Expert"
Labels Edit the title of the Expert Directory page from the back-end
Label on the front-end
Learn more: Settings - Labels
End Result
Following instructions found in the plugin and guides, you should be able to complete the directory with multiple experts.
Expert Directory
Expert Profile
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