How to Create a PDF Submission Directory Site?

Creating a PDF submission directory site can be a powerful tool for aggregating and sharing content for academic, professional, or creative purposes. This site allows users to upload and share PDFs within a centralized directory, making it easier for others to find, view, and download specific documents. Such a platform can be valuable for niche communities, organizations, or businesses that regularly exchange documents, presentations, reports, or publications.

The process of building a PDF submission directory site involves several key steps, from planning and setting up the website infrastructure to implementing features like user submissions, categorization, and search functionality. It’s important to ensure that the site is user-friendly, secure, and optimized for performance to handle the potential volume of uploads and downloads.

In this guide, we’ll explore the essential components and considerations for creating a successful PDF submission directory site. Whether you’re looking to develop a resource hub for a specific industry, an academic repository, or a creative showcase, this guide will provide you with the foundational knowledge needed to bring your vision to life.

So, without further ado, let’s dig deeper.

Requirements

To build a PDF submission directory website with WordPress, you just need two things –

• A WordPress website and
• A WordPress directory plugin, Directorist.

Why Choose Directorist?

Directorist is a popular directory website builder plugin that has more than 10,000 users from around the world with a 4.7 customer rating out of 5. It comes with the following benefits:

Features include:

• Compatible with all themes including popular ones such as Avada, Divi, Astra, and OceanWP.
• CSV Import/Export (listing, category, location, tag, media, etc.).
• Highly optimized and rocket-fast performance to ensure scalability.
• 25+ Elementor Page Builder widgets.
• Gutenberg support and 16 Gutenberg blocks.
• Advanced search filters with custom filter.
• Front-end and Back-end listing submission.
• Front-end user dashboard to manage listings.
• Open Street Map and Google Map Integration.
• Unlimited custom fields on the listing form.
• 100% responsive and modern-day design.
• WooCommerce multi-vendor plugin compatible [Exclusive].
• Built-in SEO optimization system as well as Yoast SEO compatibility.
• Personalize the directory using a wide range of shortcodes.
• GDPR compliant.
• Ajax-powered listing and review submission.
• Listing owner contact form.
• Bulk or individual user announcement
• Listing image slider.
• Listing and Review submission without login (Guest Submission).
• Listing reviews and ratings.
• Google reCAPTCHA
• Custom sidebar for single listing page.
• Custom user Registration and Login.
• New, Popular, Featured, and Open/Close badges.
• Create an Unlimited listing based on location and category.
• List and grid view for categories, locations, and listings pages.
• Translate to any language effortlessly using the Loco Translate plugin.
• Sustainable for long-term use.
• Updated regularly for flawless operation.
• And many more!

Premium features include:

• comes with a flutter-based native mobile app, compatible with both Android & iOS
• integration with GamiPress, Elementor Page Builder, Oxygen Builder, MailChimp, Google reCaptcha, BuddyBoss, BuddyPress, etc.
• integration with popular payment gateways such as Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net
• niche-based themes (dPlace, dClassified, dHotels, dRestaurant, dLawyers, OneListing Pro, dDoctors, dRealEstate, dCar, dList, dService, etc.)
• monetization with regular subscription plans
• monetization with WooCommerce Pricing Plans
• monetization with Rank Featured Listing
• Coupon creation
• and many more

See all the premium features from this link.

If you want to pick the best directory website builder to create a PDF submission directory site, Directorist is unparalleled. We believe this directory builder tool will be the perfect one to know how to start a directory website for PDF submissions.

How to Build a PDF Submission Directory Website with Less Effort

Assuming your WordPress website is already set up and operational, you only need to follow these steps to create a PDF submission directory.

Step 1: Install & activate Directorist

Navigate to the WP Admin Dashboard > Plugins > Add New > Search for the keyword ‘directorist’ > Hit the “Install Now” button (as indicated with arrows).

Next up, you need to activate and configure the setup wizard to make a fresh start. We recommend you to visit the official documentation so that you can configure it perfectly or the way you want.

Step 2: Install a free directory theme

Directorist is compatible with all WordPress themes, so you can choose any theme you like. However, selecting a directory-specific theme can significantly enhance your website’s overall appearance and functionality.

To do this, you can install the BestListing theme, which is free.

Once you get the theme, navigate to the WP Admin Dashboard > Appearance > Themes > Add New.

Then click on Upload Theme > Choose File and select the ‘bestlisting.zip’ > Install Now.

Now, activate the theme to take an effect:

Upon installing the theme, you will see some plugins and tools suggested to install. So, make sure you have installed all the suggested ones so that the theme works perfectly fine. For example, you must install & activate the Elementor, Contact Form 7, MailChimp, and a Theme ToolKit. So, we recommend you hit the “Begin Installing Plugins” option to install them all at once.

And that’s it!

Step 3: Create categories & tags for your website

A directory submission website must be user-friendly in a way that visitors can find their listing item in a flash of an eye. Upon creating relevant categories, Directorist can suggest related listings according to the visitors’ choice.

To this end, you need to create a set of relevant categories and tags. In the Directorist menu, you will find both of these items where (category) you can also add images, assign the category to a parent one, give a description, add icons & colors.

To do so, you just need to go to the Directory Listings > Categories > Fill out the fields > Hit the “Add New Category” button.

Similarly, you can add tags so that Directorist can show the relevant listing item to the visitors. You can do it from Directory Listings > Tags > Enter Credentials > Add New Tag.

Step 4: PDF listing submissions by publishers

To add listings to your PDF submission directory website, navigate to the WP Admin Dashboard > Directory Listings > Add New Listing.

Most PDFs will be added or submitted by PDF owners/publishers. You can review these PDFs to ensure they adhere to your community standards. Additionally, you can charge a fee for each PDF submission.

To add PDFs, publishers need to have a registration with your site.  After the registration, they can freely add more PDFs from the “Add Listings” option.  You can check the progress whether the submission is okay or not. 

Step 5: Adding Advanced features: Monetizing your PDF submission directory website

Monetizing is what makes your directory submission website lucrative. With Directorist, you can monetize your website in many ways:

• Charge for listings (Free)
• Featured listings (Free)
• Allow businesses to claim listings (Premium)
• Charge for viewing private listings (Premium)
• Allow private/sponsored advertising (premium)
• Charge for membership (Premium)
• Sell business leads (Premium)
• Promote affiliate products (Premium)
• Allow sponsored articles/guest posting (Premium)
• Paid ad placement (Premium)

Step 6: Adding a Free Payment Gateway

Directorist free version supports only the offline bank transfer method to receive payments. To add your bank account details, navigate to the WP Admin Dashboard > Directory Listings > Settings > Monetization > Offline Gateways Settings > Insert your details > Save changes.

Note about Bank Transfer Gateway:

• You should remember that this payment gateway needs some manual action to complete an order. After getting a notification of an order using this offline payment gateway, you should check your bank if the money is deposited into your account. Then you should change the order status manually from the “Order History” submenu.
• Apart from the offline Bank transfer method, Directorist also supports online payments gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net. However, they are available in the premium version only.

Related Post: How to Add Payment Gateways to Monetize Your Directory Website

Wrapping up

With Directorist, building a PDF submission directory site in WordPress becomes effortless. The free version offers numerous features typically found only in the premium versions of other directory tools, making Directorist highly recommended.

We have demonstrated how to create a PDF submission directory site affordably. If you encounter any difficulties with the steps outlined above, feel free to reach out to us. We take your queries seriously, and a team member will respond to you. If you’re already using Directorist, please share your thoughts in the comments section.

If you liked our posts, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog so that we can notify you once any post is published. Directorist is now on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn! You can also join the Directorist Community for sharing your thoughts and experiences relating to the directory niche. Come and join us to see what we’re up to.