How to Create an Event Directory Site for Free?

Creating an event directory site is a strategic and rewarding endeavor that can significantly enhance the way people discover and participate in events. Such a platform acts as a centralized hub, connecting users with various events, from local community gatherings to major international conferences.

For event organizers, it offers an effective channel to promote their events and reach a broader audience. To build a successful event directory site on WordPress, you should focus on strategic planning, user-friendly design, robust features and of course, a powerful directory plugin for WordPress, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for all users.

In this article, we will walk you through the essential steps and considerations for creating an event directory site that stands out and serves its purpose effectively. So without further ado, let’s dig deeper.

Requirements

To build an event directory website with WordPress, you just need several things –

• WordPress latest version
• A niche-specific domain ( Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc.)
• A reliable hosting ( Bluehost, Hostinger, Cloudways, etc)
• A WordPress directory plugin, Directorist.

But Why Choose Directorist?

Directorist is a popular directory website builder plugin with over 10,000 users worldwide and an impressive customer rating of 4.7 out of 5. Its benefits include.

Core (free) features include:

• includes a drag-&-drop based form builder with unlimited custom fields
• CSV Bulk Importer
• Powerful search filter
• Multi Directory facility
• WooCommerce multi-vendor plugin compatibility
• 17 Elementor widgets
• 16 Gutenberg blocks
• monetization with featured listing
• charge for every listing
• receive payments through offline bank transfer
• CSV export-import
• one-click demo import
• google maps integration
• OpenStreet maps integration
• free support via WordPress.org
• free directory themes like BestListing, Directoria, etc.
• 100% mobile responsive with an intuitive design
• RTL Support
• Loco translate support
• WPML integration
• and many more

Premium features include:

• Comes with a flutter-based native mobile app, compatible with both Android & iOS
• Integration with Oxygen Builder, MailChimp, Google reCaptcha, BuddyBoss, BuddyPress, etc.
• Integration with popular payment gateways such as Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net
• Niche-based themes (dPlace, dRestaurant, dLawyers, OneListing Pro, dDoctors, dRealEstate, dCar, dList, dService, and dClassified, dHotels, dJobs, etc.)
• Monetization with regular subscription plans
• Monetization with WooCommerce Pricing Plans
• Monetization with Rank Featured Listing
• Advanced review system 
• Coupon creation
• HelpGent integration
• Digital Marketplace
• and many more

Explore all the premium features here.

If you’re looking for the best directory website builder, this one stands out. We believe this tool is the perfect deal to create a directory website for events. However, if you want any other directory tools to create your event directory website, then we will suggest you start your project with their free versions.

Now, let’s move on with Directorist free version to build the directory. Oh, just forgot to mention that Directorist offers many options to monetize a directory website. It’s awesome, right?

How to Create an Event Directory Site for Free?

Assuming you already have a WordPress website set up, Now, let’s follow these steps to create an online 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.

Next, activate and configure the setup wizard for a fresh start. For optimal configuration, we recommend visiting the Directorist official documentation to tailor the settings to your needs.

Step 2: Install a free directory theme

Directorist is compatible with all WordPress themes, allowing you to select any theme you prefer. However, opting for a directory-specific theme can enhance your website’s overall look and feel.

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 event directory website

An event directory website must be user-friendly in a way that visitors can find their listing item in the flash of an eye. Upon creating relevant categories, the 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: How to add new locations

Just like adding categories or tags adding locations helps the users find the desired event listing from event organizers or event service providers. To add locations, you have to go to the Directory Listing > Locations > Enter credentials (name, description, directory type, etc.) > Hit the Add New Location button.

Step 5: Event listing submission by users

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

However, the event organizers or event service providers will add or submit the majority of the listings. One thing you can do is to check whether the listings violate your community standard or not. And, you can charge money for every listing. 

To add listings, event organizers or event service providers need to have a registration with your site.  After the registration is done, they can freely add more listings from the “Add listings” option.  You can check the progress whether the submission is okay or not. 

Extending Functionalities of a WordPress Directory Website for Events

Earlier, we finished building the basic event directory website for WordPress. Now, if you want to extend the functionalities of your directory website, then you can move easily with Directorist’s advanced features and extensions.

For example, you want to allow the listing owners to set different event fees for their listings so that their users can have different options to choose from. To set this feature, you can add this feature to your event directory website using the Pricing Plans extension.

Again, you can allow directory website users to compare listings just by adding an extension to your existing event directory website.

To add the extension, go to the WP-Admin Dashboard ➝ Plugins ➝ Add New ➝ Upload Plugin ➝ and upload the Extension ZIP file and Activate it.

Pro Tips: Monetize Your Event Directory Website with Directorist

Earning revenue from a directory website should be a primary objective for any directory website owner. Using Directorist, you can monetize your event directory website through various methods.

• 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)
• Bookings & appointment (Premium)
• Paid ad placement (Premium)

Bonus Tips: 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.

• 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 payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net. However, they are available in the premium version only.

Final Thoughts

We believe you have mastered the basics of creating an event directory website. To elevate the visual appeal and functionality of your site, consider upgrading to the pro version of Directorist. This version is meticulously crafted to help you build any type of top-notch directory website.

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.