How To Use WPML With Directorist (The Complete Guide)

If you’re building a global business directory, knowing how to use WPML with Directorist is crucial for success. A multilingual directory site doesn’t just sound impressive—it expands your reach, improves user experience, and builds trust with diverse audiences. But translating dynamic directory content like listings, categories, and user dashboards can quickly become overwhelming without the right tools.

Now imagine visitors bouncing off your site because they can’t understand your listings. Or worse—missing out on international traffic because your directory only ranks in one language. It’s a real challenge for directory site owners who want to grow beyond local boundaries.

That’s exactly where Directorist and WPML come together as the perfect duo. Directorist gives you the power to build any kind of directory website, and WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin) allows you to translate every part of it—smoothly, reliably, and without touching code.

In this complete guide, you’ll learn how to integrate WPML with Directorist step by step, translate your directory content, solve common issues, and unlock the full potential of a multilingual directory site in 2025 and beyond.

Why Use WPML with Directorist?

Building a directory website is a smart move—but building a multilingual directory website takes it to a whole new level. If your site only speaks one language, you’re missing out on a massive chunk of potential users, traffic, and revenue.

Benefits of a Multilingual Directory Website

Making your directory available in multiple languages can dramatically improve your site’s performance. Here’s how:

Boosts SEO: Multilingual content helps your site rank in different languages and regions. This means more visibility, more organic traffic, and better discoverability worldwide.

Enhances User Experience: Visitors are more likely to engage and convert when they browse in their native language. A translated site builds trust and keeps users on your site longer.

Expands Your Global Reach: Whether you’re running a local business directory, a real estate portal, or a service finder—offering content in multiple languages opens doors to new markets and diverse user bases.

Why WPML Is the Best Translation Tool for WordPress

WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin) is one of the most powerful and widely used translation plugins on the market. Here’s why it’s the preferred choice for WordPress users:

• Supports 40+ languages out of the box
• Offers manual and automatic WordPress directory translation options
• Fully compatible with custom post types, taxonomies, custom fields, and page builders
• Built-in SEO optimization for multilingual content (like hreflang tags, translated slugs, etc.)
• Works smoothly with popular themes and plugins—including Directorist

How Directorist Ensures Compatibility with WPML

The good news? You don’t need to worry about complex setups or code conflicts. Directorist is fully WPML-compatible, meaning:

You can translate all custom post types (like listings, categories, locations)

All static pages and directory interfaces are ready for translation

You can use WPML’s String Translation to localize labels, buttons, menus, and more

Together, WPML and Directorist make it effortless to build and manage a fully multilingual directory site—no coding, no confusion, just global reach made easy.

Directorist WPML Integration: Take Your Directory Multilingual Without Code

Want to reach a global audience with your directory site? The Directorist WPML Integration bridges the gap between Directorist and WPML—making it effortless to create a multilingual directory without touching a single line of code.

This powerful (and free!) extension allows you to switch your entire directory website from one language to another in seconds. Whether you’re listing local businesses, services, properties, or job opportunities—now you can present them in multiple languages and connect with users around the world. 

What Makes It Special?

Seamless Integration: Built to work perfectly with Directorist and WPML, the plugin enables full translation support for all core directory content.

Translate Listings Instantly: Create or translate listings into multiple languages to expand your visibility and attract international users. 

Localize Taxonomies and UI: From categories and locations to search filters and dashboard interfaces—everything can be translated easily.

Automatic + Manual Translation Workflow: Use automatic translation to speed up your process and refine it manually before publishing.

Multi-language Email Templates: Ensure your email communications are localized too—boosting user engagement and professionalism.

No Developer Needed: The setup is quick and beginner-friendly, giving you full multilingual functionality without complex configuration.

By using the Directorist WPML Integration, you unlock the power to build a truly international directory site, improve SEO across multiple languages, and offer a user experience tailored to a global audience.

How To Use WPML With Directorist

Before you begin translating your directory site, it’s essential to make sure everything is set up correctly. Here’s a checklist of what you need to ensure a smooth integration between WPML and Directorist:

Install WPML and Required Add-ons

To fully translate your directory website with WPML, you’ll need the following plugins:

• WPML Multilingual CMS (core plugin)
• WPML String Translation – for translating UI text, labels, and buttons
• WPML Translation Management – to manage and assign translation tasks
• WPML Media Translation (optional) – for translating media (images, video captions, etc.)

You can download these plugins directly from your WPML account dashboard after purchasing a license.

 2. Ensure Directorist Is Updated

Compatibility matters. Make sure you’re running the latest version of Directorist and any related add-ons to avoid conflicts or missing translation fields. Directorist’s regular updates include WPML-related improvements, so always keep your plugin up to date.

To check for updates:

• Go to Dashboard → Plugins
• Update Directorist and any bundled extensions

3. Use a WPML-Compatible Theme

While WPML works with most well-coded themes. Any theme that follows WordPress coding standards and doesn’t hard-code text. Avoid themes with poor internationalization support as they may block or limit string translation. You can use any theme from the directorist theme collection. All themes are well coded and WPML compatible. 

4. Back Up Your Website

Before making major changes—like installing new plugins or translating dynamic content—take a full site backup. This includes:

• WordPress files
• Database
• Media files

You can use backup plugins like UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, or your hosting provider’s backup solution to restore your site in case anything goes wrong.

With everything in place, you’re now ready to move on to the actual setup process and start translating your directory site. Let’s walk through it step-by-step next!

Step-by-Step: How to Set Up WPML with Directorist

Making your directory site multilingual is easier than you think. Follow these step-by-step instructions to successfully integrate WPML with Directorist and translate every part of your website. 

For a complete set up guide, please visit our documentation section from here.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

While setting up WPML with Directorist is mostly smooth, some common hiccups can occur—especially if you’re dealing with dynamic content like listings and taxonomies. Below are the most frequent issues and how to fix them:

Duplicate Listings Not Showing in Other Languages

If you’ve translated a listing but it doesn’t appear on your archive or search pages in the new language:

Possible Cause:
The post type atbdp_listing might not be set to translatable, or the translated listing isn’t published.

Solution:

• Go to WPML → Settings → Post Types Translation
• Make sure atbdp_listing is set to Translatable
• Check that the translated listing is published, not in draft or pending mode
• Clear your site cache or use a tool like WP Super Cache or LiteSpeed Cache

Language Switch Not Working in Directory Pages

Sometimes, clicking the language switcher doesn’t update the content on directory-related pages like “All Listings” or “Add Listing”.

Possible Cause:
The page templates might not be connected to translated versions or the menu links aren’t synced.

Solution:

• Make sure you’ve translated each static page (Listings, Dashboard, etc.) in WPML → Pages
• Sync your menus via WPML → WP Menus Sync
• Use WPML’s Language Switcher Widget in headers or footers, and verify placement via Appearance → Widgets

WPML and Theme Conflicts

In some cases, your theme might override translation behavior or not support multilingual setups well.

Symptoms:

• UI elements like buttons, labels, or section titles don’t translate
• Layout breaks in translated versions
• Language switcher disappears

Solution:

• Ensure your theme is WPML-compatible.
• Use String Translation to manually translate missing UI elements
• Contact your theme developer if hardcoded strings or functions are causing issues

Solving these common problems ensures your multilingual directory runs smoothly across every language—and keeps users engaged no matter where they’re from.

WPML with Directorist: Best Use Cases

Using WPML with Directorist opens the door to countless multilingual directory possibilities. Whether you’re running a niche local listing site or scaling globally, here are some powerful use cases where this integration truly shines:

Multilingual Business Directory

Let’s say you’re building a global B2B or local business listing site. With WPML, you can:

• Offer listings in multiple languages for better local SEO
• Let users submit listings in their preferred language
• Improve accessibility and trust across different regions

Job Portal Across Borders

If you’re operating a job board, WPML allows you to:

• Publish job postings in multiple languages
• Translate job categories, locations, and application forms
• Cater to international job seekers and recruiters effortlessly

Real Estate Listing Site

Real estate is a global market—and multilingual content is a must. WPML + Directorist helps you:

• Translate property descriptions, pricing details, and contact info
• Support multiple currencies/language-specific locations
• Target buyers from various countries with native-language listings

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use WPML to translate custom fields in Directorist?

Yes! WPML allows you to translate custom fields used in Directorist listings. You can configure them under WPML → Settings → Custom Fields Translation and mark fields like phone number, website, or pricing as “Translate”.

2. Does Directorist support automatic translation?

Yes. Directorist works with WPML’s automatic translation engine, which lets you auto-translate content and then review/edit it before publishing. This greatly speeds up the translation workflow while still ensuring accuracy.

3. Will WPML slow down my directory site?

Not significantly. WPML is performance-optimized and works well with most caching plugins. However, translating large directories can increase database load slightly. Use caching, lazy load features, and performance-optimized themes for the best experience.

4. Is Polylang or TranslatePress a better alternative?

WPML offers deeper integration with complex plugins like Directorist and better control over custom post types, taxonomy, and multilingual SEO. While Polylang and TranslatePress are solid, WPML is the most robust option for scalable directory sites.

5. How do I translate emails sent from Directorist?

You can make Directorist’s email templates multilingual by:

• Navigating to Directorist → Settings → Email
• Using WPML String Translation to localize the template content
• Creating conditional templates based on language if needed

Final Words

Going multilingual is no longer optional—it’s a strategic advantage. By using WPML with Directorist, you unlock the ability to serve users from across the globe in their native language, boost your search visibility, and improve user engagement on every level.

From translating listings and categories to localizing your dashboard, search pages, and even emails—WPML makes it seamless. And since Directorist is fully integrated with WPML, you don’t need to worry about compatibility issues or complicated setups.

Whether you’re building a business directory, a global job board, or a real estate marketplace, this integration helps you scale effortlessly and stay ahead in a competitive digital space.

Ready to go multilingual?
Start using WPML with Directorist today and make your directory truly global—without writing a single line of code. And make translation more easier with WPML Integration.

👉 Get Started with WPML Integration for Directorist