Install

Step 1: Download and Install

QuickTip: The instructions for installing an Extension can be found here.

QuickTip: The instructions for installing a Template can be found here.

The first step is to head to the Add New section of the Plugins menu in the admin sidebar. Once there, search for Connections. Connections Business Directory will show up in the results, click the Install Now button.

Step 1: Search for Connections.

Once installed, click the Activate button to have Connections become active on your WordPress site.

Step 3: Click Activate.

Step 2: Categories for your Directory

Step 4: Click Categories.
After activation, you will see the Connections menu items in the admin sidebar on your site. One of the sub menu item will be for the Categories admin page. Click the link to begin.

Before proceeding, if you are unfamiliar with using the WordPress Categories for Posts, you might want to take a moment to review the basics of adding a category in Connections.

We will begin creating our directory by adding categories. This is an important setup step, and you will want to choose your categories with your result in mind.

For instance, for a corporation or business directory, you will want to have separate sections carved out for such groups as Sales, Technical Support, or Marketing. In comparison, a local business directory would contain such examples as Electricians, Restaurants, Jewelers, etc.

These categories build the backbone of your directory. As you can see from the example below, we’ve built a corporate structure which includes department categories as well as subcategories. Subcategories are useful for further customization of your directory.

Step 5: Determine category hierarchy.

Step 3: Adding Entries

Step 6: Click Add Entry.
Once the categories are in place, choose Add Entry from under the Connections menu item in the admin sidebar.

Now, before jumping right in and adding entries, you might want to review the basics of adding an entry.

It is recommended that you first choose the Entry Type before adding entry information. Take a moment to choose each Entry Type option. Notice how the Name field changes based on the selected Entry Type. Each Entry Type has its own fields, some of which are required to add an entry.

If you are creating a staff directory, leave the entry type set as Individual. However, if you create a local business directory, the Organization Entry Type would be the better choice.

After you choose the Entry type, you should then select the Visibility status. The default is Public, meaning the entry will be visible to your site visitors whether or not they are logged in. Choosing Private will require that the user be logged in in order to view the entry. And choosing Unlisted will only allow users with the Administrator, Authors, and Editor roles to view them.

Step 7: Choose entry type and visibility.

Once you make the two choices discussed above, simply fill in the entry’s information and then choose the categories to which the entry is to be assigned from those you set up earlier.

Step 8: Choose the categories.

Step 4: Displaying your Directory

Step 9: Create a new page.
Now that you’ve got your directory all set up and entered, it’s time to take a peek at what you’ve been working toward. Let’s begin by choosing Add New under the Pages menu item in the admin sidebar.

Design this page as you would like it. Add in the Title and text you wish to appear above the directory as well. Once all that is in place, you will place a “shortcode” into the page that will tell WordPress to go get the Directory you created and place it at that point on the page.

This is accomplished by choosing the HTML tab in the upper right of your entry box.

Step 8: Add the shortcode.

Now that you are in the HTML mode of entry, add the following:

[connections]

The Connections shortcode (in its simplest form) instructs WordPress to retrieve your directory and place it on the page. From there, it is just a matter of choosing “Publish” and viewing your results. Your site is now the proud owner of a new directory brought to you by Connections.

Step 5: Set Directory Homepage

The final step is to navigate to the Connections : Settings admin page and set the Directory Homepage option to the page on which you have embedded the directory in Step 4.

Optional

SEO

  • The Biography field should be used to the fullest. Adding unique quality content will give you the best opportunity for the Entry page to rank higher in the SERP.
  • By default, the Excerpt field is used for the page meta description; the text snippet is shown below the link in the SERP.
    • The text should be limited to about 155 characters.
    • If no text is entered in the Excerpt field, the Biography field’s text will be truncated and used. If no content exists in the Biography field, the Entry Title and Department fields are used if the Entry is an Individual, and if the Entry is an Organization, the address will be used.
    • NOTE: The search provider may choose to display content it decides is more related based on the user’s search query.
  • Only the [connections] shortcode should exist on the page that you embed the directory on. Any content added before or after the shortcode will also display on the directory Entry detail/profile page. This could potentially generate duplicate content errors that cause the page to rank lower in the SERP.
    • NOTE: If you wish to include content before/after the shortcode, use the
      [cn-content] shortcode to dynamically insert the content in the page.
  • The [connections] shortcode can be used on multiple pages on your site, but care should be taken to ensure directory Entries are not duplicated across multiple pages. Doing so could potentially cause duplicate content errors and cause the page to rank lower in the SERP.