DirectoryHub Docs

Add Categories and Listings

This guide explains how to organize your directory by adding categories and then populating it with listings.

Add Categories and Listings

This guide explains how to organize your directory by adding categories and then populating it with listings.

Overview

Categories help organize your listings into logical groups, making it easier for visitors to find what they're looking for. Listings are the actual items, businesses, or resources in your directory.

Part 1: Adding Categories

Accessing Categories

  1. Navigate to your directory's settings
  2. Go to Settings → Categories (or /[org-slug]/directories/[subdomain]/settings/categories)

Creating a Category

  1. Click the "Add Category" or "Create Category" button
  2. Fill in the category details:

Required Fields

  • Name: The display name for your category (e.g., "Web Development", "Design Tools", "Restaurants")
  • Slug: The URL-friendly version of the name (auto-generated from name, but editable)
    • Only lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens
    • Example: "web-development", "design-tools"

Optional Fields

  • Description: A brief description of what this category contains
  • Icon: An icon name or emoji to represent the category
  • Color: A hex color code for category badges (e.g., #3B82F6)
  1. Click "Create" or "Save"

Managing Categories

  • Reorder: Drag and drop categories to change their display order
  • Edit: Click the edit icon on any category to modify its details
  • Delete: Click the delete icon to remove a category (listings in that category will need to be reassigned)

Best Practices for Categories

  • Keep it simple: Start with 3-5 broad categories, then add more as needed
  • Use clear names: Make category names self-explanatory
  • Consider your audience: Think about how visitors will search for content
  • Use icons and colors: Visual elements help users quickly identify categories

Part 2: Adding Listings

Accessing Listings

  1. Navigate to your directory dashboard
  2. Go to Listings → New Listing (or /[org-slug]/directories/[subdomain]/listings/new)

Creating a Listing (Step-by-Step Wizard)

The listing creation process uses a 6-step wizard:

Step 1: Basic Info

  • Name (Required): The listing name (e.g., "Acme Corporation", "React DevTools")
  • Slug (Optional): URL-friendly version (auto-generated if not provided)
  • Excerpt (Required): Short description (1-2 sentences) - appears in cards and previews
  • Description (Optional): Full detailed description - appears on the listing detail page

AI Tools Available:

  • URL Scraper: Paste a website URL to auto-populate listing details
  • Description Generator: Generate SEO-optimized descriptions from your data

Step 2: Category

  • Category (Optional): Select which category this listing belongs to
  • Tags (Optional): Comma-separated tags for additional filtering (e.g., "free, open-source, javascript")

AI Tools Available:

  • Auto-Categorization: AI suggests categories based on the listing name and description

Step 3: Contact Information

  • Website (Optional): The listing's website URL
  • Email (Optional): Contact email
  • Phone (Optional): Contact phone number
  • Social Links (Optional):
    • Twitter/X
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • GitHub
    • YouTube

Step 4: Location

  • Address (Optional): Street address
  • City (Optional): City name
  • State (Optional): State or province
  • Country (Optional): Country name
  • Postal Code (Optional): ZIP or postal code

Note: Location is optional but recommended for local directories

Step 5: Media

  • Logo (Optional): Upload or provide URL for the listing's logo
  • Cover Image (Optional): Main image for the listing detail page
  • Gallery Images (Optional): Up to 5 additional images
  • Video (Optional): YouTube or Vimeo embed URL

Step 6: Settings

  • Tier: Choose the listing tier
    • Free: Standard listing
    • Basic: Enhanced visibility
    • Premium: Featured placement
  • Featured: Toggle to feature this listing prominently
  • Status:
    • Draft: Not visible to public
    • Published: Live and visible to visitors

After Creating a Listing

Once you complete the wizard:

  1. You'll be redirected to the listing detail page
  2. The listing will appear in your listings dashboard
  3. If published, it will be visible on your public directory site

Editing Listings

  1. Navigate to your listings dashboard
  2. Click on any listing to view its details
  3. Click "Edit" to modify the listing
  4. Make your changes and save

Listing Statuses

  • Draft: Work in progress, not visible to public
  • Pending: Awaiting approval (if approval workflow is enabled)
  • Published: Live and visible to visitors

Using AI Tools

DirectoryHub includes AI-powered tools to speed up listing creation:

URL Scraper

  1. Paste a website URL in the AI tools section
  2. The system will automatically extract:
    • Name
    • Description
    • Logo
    • Social links
    • Contact information

Description Generator

  1. Enter basic information about your listing
  2. Click "Generate Description"
  3. Review and edit the AI-generated description

Auto-Categorization

  1. Enter the listing name and description
  2. The AI will suggest appropriate categories
  3. Select from the suggestions or choose manually

Bulk Operations

Seeding Sample Data

If you want to quickly populate your directory with sample data:

  1. Navigate to your directory settings
  2. Look for the "Seed Directory" option
  3. This will create sample categories and listings to help you get started
  4. Note: This only works if your directory is empty

Best Practices

For Categories

  • Start with broad categories, then add subcategories if needed
  • Use consistent naming conventions
  • Keep category count manageable (5-15 is usually ideal)
  • Consider your directory's niche when creating categories

For Listings

  • Write clear excerpts: These appear in cards and search results
  • Add detailed descriptions: Help visitors understand what the listing offers
  • Use high-quality images: Logos and cover images improve engagement
  • Include contact information: Make it easy for visitors to reach out
  • Add relevant tags: Improve discoverability through search
  • Choose appropriate categories: Help visitors find listings easily
  • Use featured listings: Highlight your most important or popular items

SEO Tips

  • Use descriptive, keyword-rich names
  • Write unique descriptions for each listing
  • Add location information for local SEO
  • Use relevant tags
  • Ensure images have descriptive filenames

Troubleshooting

"Category slug already exists"

  • Each category slug must be unique within a directory
  • Try a different slug or name

"Listing slug already exists"

  • The system will automatically append a number if a slug is taken
  • Or manually edit the slug to make it unique

Images not uploading

  • Check file size limits
  • Ensure the image format is supported (JPG, PNG, WebP)
  • Verify the URL is accessible if using external URLs

Listing not appearing on public site

  • Check that the listing status is "Published"
  • Verify the category is active
  • Clear your browser cache

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