Business Directory Plugin (CMBD) - Free Version Tutorial


Free Version Tutorial

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This article covers only features present in the free version of the Business Directory plugin. It shows you how to create a directory of business.

Example

Business Directory

Example of the business directory - WordPress Business Directory
Example of the business directory

Business Page

Example of the business page - WordPress Directory Plugin
Example of the business page

Table of Contents

  1. Installation guide
  2. List of Features
  3. Using the Plugin - Overview
  4. Settings
    1. General (Defaults, Page ID)
    2. Business Page
    3. Index Page Settings and Appearance

Installation guide

Here are the steps needed to install the plugin:

  1. Download - To manually install the plugin, you must first download it from WordPress.org to your computer.
  2. Navigate to the Plugins tab in the WordPress Admin Panel to install the plugin.
Installing new plugin
Installing new plugin
  1. Activate the plugin. 

TIP: Register for Benefits

If you like, you can register your plugin to receive information about updates and our latest offers. You can complete your registration at any time. 

If you don’t want to register right away, you can select the Skip button.

Registering the plugin copy - WordPress Local Business Directory
Registering the plugin copy

List of Features

Free Edition Pro Edition
Add unlimited businesses Add unlimited businesses
Each business has unique page Each business has unique page
Simple, searchable directory with all business Customizable directory with four templates. Includes all or selected businesses
Filter by categories Search by name, and filter by categories, tags or custom taxonomies
Businesses have logo and basic information Businesses have logo, extensive information, and image and video gallery
- Promote selected business in search
- Show ads before and after listings
- Star ratings for each business
- Integrates with add-on for payment and user submission support
- Show all businesses in a Google Map
- Import and export all businesses via CSV
- Integrate with Twitter and Google
Interface in English Translate the plugin with customizable labels
No support Plugin can be used forever; one year support and updates

Learn more about Business Directory Plugin Pro version


Using the Free Plugin - Overview

TIP: Automatic Index Page

The plugin automatically creates the Directory page. You can find a handy link shortcut on the top of the settings screen.

Permalink to the directory index page - WordPress Business Directory Plugin
Permalink to the directory index page

Admin - Adding and Managing Businesses

You can add and manage businesses from the back-end. Head to Admin Dashboard → CM Business Directory → Business or Add Business.

Managing businesses - WordPress Listing Plugin
Managing businesses

What Does It Look Like to Add a Business?

You can add and edit business from the back-end. The fields are simple:

Form for adding a new business - WordPress Directory Plugin
Form for adding a new business
Adding business to a category - WordPress Directory Listing Plugin
Adding business to a category
  1. Company Name and Description
  2. General - Add the Company pitch, upload a logo, and choose if the business should appear first in searches
  3. Business Address - If virtual address is chosen, all fields will be emptied
  4. Business Info Box - Add extra and contact information
  5. Category Metabox - Useful for sorting on the directory

Example:

Front-end example of the business page - Business Directory Plugin
Front-end example of the business page

Settings - General (Defaults, Page ID)

General plugin settings - WordPress Business Directory
General plugin settings

In this tab, you can configure the overall plugin behavior and appearance.

Template
  • Show the admin edit link - Display or hide the edit link in the directory for users with the admin role.

Highlight

Admin button 'Edit' - WordPress Directory Plugin
Admin button 'Edit'
Defaults
  • Default map view country
  • Default year founded
  • Default business image - Only applied if the business doesn't have any logo

    Process

    To add an image, click Upload Image

    Adding an image - Business Directory Plugin WordPress
    Adding an image

    Add a new image or select a current one, and then, click File URL and Insert to Post.

    Uploading new image or choosing from the library - WordPress Business Directory Plugin
    Uploading new image or choosing from the library
Other
  • Business Index Page ID - The ID of the page considered the Business Directory - all backlinks will direct there. The plugin creates the page upon installation, but you can point it to another page.

TIP: Finding ID

You can find the ID of the page by editing it from the back-end and checking the URL. In the example below, the ID is 2298.

How to find the page ID - Business Directory WordPress
How to find the page ID

Learn more: Finding ID of Post/Page/Other Content

TIP: Using Shortcode To Customize Directory

You can use the shortcode [cmbd_business] to add the directory elsewhere on your site, 

The main advantage is that you can customize it extensively with these attributes:

  1. showfilter - whether to show the categories filter or not. Value should be 1 or 0 
  2. row_business - number of the business in the row (tiles view only) 
  3. page_business - number of the business on one page 
  4. cats - the id of the categories from which the business should be displayed 
  5. business_ids - the IDs of the business you only want to show in directory. Value should be an ID, or comma separated IDs. 

Example: [cmbd_business showfilter="0" row_business="2" cats="1" business_ids="1,3,5" ]


Settings - Business Page

You can configure everything related to the business page in this tab. 

TIP: Description is Always Show

You can show or hide some elements, but the business description will always be shown.

Business page settings - WordPress Listing Plugin
Business page settings
  • Default Template - Default template of the business page
  • Show
    • Back to directory index link - Show or hide
    • Categories - Show or hide
    • Site and email section - Show or hide
    • Address - Choose between
      • On top
      • On side

Settings - Index Page and Appearance

You can configure everything related to the index page in these two tabs.

Directory behavior and appearance settings - WordPress Directory Plugin
Directory behavior and appearance settings

Business Directory Tab

Show

  • Pagination on top - Show or hide
  • Pagination on bottom - Show or hide
  • Number of business - Show or hide
  • Categories as - Choose between
    • Tags
    • Dropdown

      Different views for categories - WordPress Directory Listing Plugin
      Different views for categories
  • Items per page selection - Show or hide
  • Categories - Show or hide

Other

  • Open business page on a new tab - Forces the browser to open business on a new tab, even on regular mouse clicks
  • Business pitch as image title - Shows the pitch on mouse hover

    Displaying business pitch when hovering on the image - Business Directory Plugin
    Displaying business pitch when hovering on the image

Directory Appearance

  • Business box width / height - Can be any CSS width value, such as px, %, auto, em etc.

    Setting up the image size - WordPress Business Directory
    Setting up the image size
  • Business in a row - How many business each row should have. "-1" will mean as many as possible.

More information about the WordPress Business Directory Plugin

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