Introducing Done For You: Expert Directorist Setup Without the Guesswork

Nine years ago, we shipped the first version of Directorist with one goal: give anyone the tools to build a real directory business on WordPress without learning any new technology stack or writing any custom code. Just a well-built plugin and a clear idea.

Nine years in, we’ve watched thousands of people start that journey. The extensions library has grown bigger. The themes have been expanded. The AI directory builder is here and the AI Pro – vibe coding assistant is upcoming. The infrastructure that once supported hundreds of directories now supports hundreds of thousands of listings across every niche you can imagine.

Everything we have is ready for your directory.

But one pattern has never changed in all that time. Most founders start with a clean vision. They install the plugin, they see what’s possible, and they know exactly what they want to build.

And then, somewhere between that first login and a live, monetized, thriving directory – things stall. Not because the idea was wrong. Not always because the plugin was missing something. But because the gap between “installed” and “ready to launch” is wider than it looks, and crossing it alone takes more time and technical patience than most people have.

We’ve seen this pattern for nine years. We should have done something about it sooner. But it’s never too late.

That’s exactly why we built Done For You – a Directorist setup service where our own team builds your directory for you. The same people who built Directorist, will configure it in your live site (or staging), so that you don’t have to figure anything out on your own.

Introducing Done For You

Done For You is a hands-on setup service run by the Directorist expert team. You tell us what you’re building, give us access, and we configure your directory for you – properly, from the ground up.

This isn’t a generic WordPress setup service. It’s the same team that built Directorist doing the work. We know every setting, every extension, and every decision point that trips people up, because we built the product those decisions live inside.

You get a configured, tested, launch-ready directory. No tutorials to follow. No guesswork about whether you’ve done it right.

See what’s included in each package →

A few things worth saying clearly

Before we get into why we introduced this, we want to address two questions we expect some of you will have.

This is not a replacement for support – it’s something separate.

Done For You is a paid setup service. It is entirely separate from the technical support you already have as a Directorist user. Nothing about that changes. Free users continue to get round-the-clock support regardless of subscription status. Premium users continue to get priority support as they always have.

Our support team is the same team, serving the same users, with the same commitment. Done For You sits alongside that as an option for people who want hands-on help building their directory, not a gate in front of support they’ve always had.

This has nothing to do with the product roadmap.

We know some of you will wonder whether a service like this signals a shift in where our energy is going. It doesn’t. The features, extensions, and platform improvements on our roadmap are moving forward exactly as planned and we intend to keep that promise.

Done For You is neither a pivot, nor a distraction. It’s an extension of our commitment to helping directory builders succeed, specifically for those who want more than a plugin and documentation to get there. The product keeps getting built. This is just one more way we’re making sure more people actually get to use it.

Why we built this

We’ve observed several factors that makes about 80% directories websites fail in year one. We also analyzed reasons, tried to find mistakes made by directory owners and decision makers. Quick insight: it’s rarely about the idea. It’s almost always about execution; building the wrong structure, skipping monetization setup, launching before the directory is actually ready.

A lot of that comes down to the technical setup stage. Someone builds a directory structure with fields that doesn’t match their niche. Someone skips the pricing plan configuration because it felt complicated and plans to “sort it out later.” Someone launches with a default theme and spends months trying to get the design where they want it through trial and error. Those aren’t small problems. They shape whether a directory becomes a real business or stays a half-finished project.

Our vision has always been simple: we want every person who chooses Directorist to actually succeed with it. Don’t just install the plugin, explore the add-ons and then stop using it. We want you to build something real with it, keep it running, and turn it into a profitable venture they’re proud of.

Done For You is that headstart. Think of it as a launchpad, something that handles the foundational work so you can take off without the risk of a crash landing. While we take care of the setup, you can focus on what actually grows the business: populating your directory, building relationships with listing owners, connecting with local stakeholders, and keeping your revenue model running.

And here’s the honest comparison. The alternative for most people is hiring a freelancer. Which means:

• Writing a detailed brief and negotiating the cost
• Waiting for them to get up to speed on a plugin they’ve never used
• Reviewing a delivery that may need more fixing, and
• Then running those fixes by our support team anyway.

That process costs more, takes longer, and puts you further from launch than you need to be.

Done For You skips all of that. At a fraction of the cost, you get the plugin configured by the people who built it and you start ahead of the competition instead of catching up to it.

Upselling is not what this is about. The biggest motivation is to see you stay with Directorist long enough to make it work and to remove the one obstacle that stops too many people from getting there.

Done For You closes that gap.

What’s actually included

There are three pre-designed packages, each designed for a different stage. And a scope to discuss your requirements further.

Done for You – Basic ($99, one-time)

This plan is ideal for builders who need a clean, working foundation. It covers full Directorist setup and configuration, theme installation, directory structure (one type), listing submission flow, search and filter setup, basic branding adjustments, monetization model recommendation, featured and claim listing configuration, and a launch-readiness review. Delivered in 7 to 10 business days.

What’s Not Included in DFY – Basic:

Done For You – Basic plan is designed for most solopreneurs who run the show alone. They can take the basic setup tasks off their shoulder and focus on what matters most for their business. However, it doesn’t cover advanced requirements like a custom UX, custom page design or setting up multiple directories and more. If you require any of these, the next plan is more suitable for you.

Done for You – Advanced ($199, one-time)

DFY Advanced plan is designed for builders who need a more complete setup before going live. It includes everything in Basic plan, plus multi-directory setup for up to three directory types, a three-tier pricing plan structure, payment gateway connection (Stripe or PayPal), advanced ratings and reviews, three custom pages, and approximately 10 hours of custom development work. Delivered in 10 to 15 business days.

What’s Not Included in DFY – Advanced:

Done For You – Advanced plan combines a series of technical improvements that are required by many niche-specific directory platforms. It doesn’t offer any sort of growth or marketing activities as we have a separate plan for directories which already launched and need visibility and traction.

Growth & SEO ($299 for 3 months)

We designed this plan particularly for directories that are already live but aren’t getting found or struggling to grow organically. The plan includes a full SEO audit, critical issue fixes, schema markup setup, keyword research for your niche and locations, category and location landing page structure, meta title and description setup across all listings, internal linking plan, and a monthly performance report.

What’s Not Included in Growth & SEO:

This plan doesn’t include a full marketing cycle combining – article writing, social media management, link building or any visual media generation. It’s not entirely out of scope of Done For You – we kept it open for a talk to us or request quote option.

Custom Development

Even before Done For You, we introduced custom development service at your disposal. If what you need isn’t covered by the packages above, you can request a quote for custom development just like many directory owners did before. Common projects include custom Directorist extensions, custom search filters, and third-party integrations with CRMs, SMS tools, or accounting platforms.

Our dedicated custom development team looks after this project and we’re looking forward to scale it so that we can deliver projects faster and you can start earning sooner.

Who this is for

If any of these describe you, Done For You is worth a look.

1. You installed Directorist but haven’t finished the setup. You’ve made a start but keep running into configuration questions that slow you down. You want your directory live and earning, and you’d rather spend that time on adding listings and placing ads than on plugin settings.
2. You’re technically capable but don’t want to spend the time. You could figure it all out yourself – but your time is worth more than that, and you’d rather have it done correctly the first time.
3. You’ve tried to customize the design and hit a wall. CSS changes, layout tweaks, design adjustments – this is where most non-developers get stuck. Our team handles it for you in the DFY advanced plan.
4. You’re committed to the business but not to the technology. You believe that the technical people should handle technology while you focus on actual task that impacts your directory growth.

Some of the most successful directories are run by people who are great at sales, community building, and listing owner relationships – not at WordPress configuration. Done For You means you can focus on the parts of the business you’re actually good at.

The fee is smaller than you might expect

A freelance WordPress developer who doesn’t know Directorist may charge between $50 to $200 for basic tasks and up to $2,000 to do advanced work. And it’s highly likely that they’ll spend a significant portion of that working hours learning the plugin, reading the documentation, watching the videos like you do at the start.

Our Directorist expert team doesn’t need that time. The Basic package at $99 covers a complete setup. The Advanced package at $199 includes a few hours of custom development on top. This is not a professional agency service. It’s a practical option for directory builders who want to move faster without compromising on how the setup is done.

How to get started

Choose the package that matches where you are. Complete the purchase, share your project details, and we’ll take it from there. You’ll receive progress updates along the way, and the final handover includes everything configured and tested.

Browse the Done For You packages →

If you’re not sure which package fits your situation, reach out before purchasing and we’ll help you figure it out.

Questions you may have