HivePress<\/a>, a free business directory and classified ads WordPress plugin.<\/p>\n\n\n\nInstall the Theme and Plugin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Since ListingHive is a free theme, you can get it installed in a few simple steps. Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New<\/strong> and type \u201cListingHive<\/em>\u201d in the search bar. Click the Install<\/strong> button and Activate<\/strong> the theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce you have ListingHive activated, you\u2019ll see a suggestion to install the HivePress plugin. It will power all the directory features on your website. Therefore, click on the available link to Install<\/strong> and Activate<\/strong> the plugin.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAdd Member Categories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n To create a clear and comprehensive staff directory, start by defining the company\u2019s hierarchy. You can divide employees into categories according to specific characteristics, e.g., indicating their belonging to a particular department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s examine it on the example of a staff directory for an advertising agency. Suppose there\u2019re the following departments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nCreative;<\/li>\n\n\n\n Production;<\/li>\n\n\n\n Public Relations;<\/li>\n\n\n\n Accounting & Finance, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nTo assign employees to various departments, you should add different categories in the Dashboard > Vendors > Categories <\/strong>section. Fill in the Name<\/strong> and optionally Description<\/strong> fields, then click on the Add Category <\/strong>button.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDepending on the company\u2019s organization, you may need to add subcategories<\/strong>, such as Copy and Art & Visualization divisions within the Creative department. To do so, simply assign a subcategory to a parent category (take a look at the example in the screenshot)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou can create as many categories and subcategories as you need to build an extensive staff directory website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Add Member Profile Fields<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Having finished with categories, move to the next step of setting up employee profile fields. You can create various profile fields, to show different details about an employee, e.g., Name, Email, Phone number, and so on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, let\u2019s create a Phone number field for employees\u2019 profiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Go to the Vendors > Attributes > Add New<\/strong> section. Start with choosing the field\u2019s title, check the Editable<\/strong> option to allow the employees to fill in their contact information, and select \u201cText<\/em>\u201d in the Field type<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou can leave the Search<\/strong> section empty, as the Phone number field won\u2019t be used as a search filter. Instead, proceed to the Display<\/strong> section and configure the following features:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nAreas<\/strong> – in other words, the place on employees\u2019 profiles where the Phone number field will be displayed. Let\u2019s make it Block (secondary)<\/em>, Page (secondary)<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\nFormat<\/strong> – it\u2019s responsible for the visual display of a field. In our case, let\u2019s assign it the following format %label%: %value%<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nAlways finish by clicking the Publish <\/strong>button.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNext, let\u2019s add the Role field. It\u2019s a little different from the Phone number one as users should be able to select the answer from the proposed in the list. To create it, go again to the Vendors > Attributes > Add New<\/strong> section and type a title.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAllow front-end editing, and make this field obligatory by ticking the Required<\/strong> box. In the Field Type<\/strong>, go for a \u201cSelect<\/em>\u201d option.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNext, proceed to the Search<\/strong> section. By marking this field as Filterable<\/strong>, you make possible the search for employees by their Roles. In the Search Field Type<\/strong>, choose \u201cSelect<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter that, move to the Display<\/strong> section. As in the previous example, set up Areas<\/strong> (Page (primary), Block (primary))<\/em>, and Format<\/strong> %label%: %value%<\/code><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nAs soon as you Publish<\/strong>, the Edit Options<\/strong> button will appear in the Editing<\/strong> section. Click on it to add Role options to the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFollowing the example of the previously reviewed case of a staff directory for an advertising agency, you may need the next Role options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nGraphic Designer;<\/li>\n\n\n\n Copywriter;<\/li>\n\n\n\n Marketing Manager;<\/li>\n\n\n\n Strategist, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nAlso, you can create option hierarchies to allow users to specify their qualifications. For example, the Graphic Designer role can have several suboptions, such as Packaging Design, Logo Design, and Animation Design.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMoreover, you can create category-specific fields. For example, you can make Production department employees choose between the Seniority options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Add a new field in Vendors > Attributes > Add New. <\/strong>Set a title, make the field Editable<\/strong> and Required<\/strong>, set a \u201cSelect<\/em>\u201d Field Type<\/strong>, check the Filterable<\/strong> option, and mark the Search Field Type<\/strong> as \u201cSelect<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThen choose Display Areas <\/strong>(e.g., Block (secondary), Page (secondary))<\/em>, and Format <\/strong>%label%: %value%<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe next step will be to assign this field to the Production<\/strong> category in the section on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter Publishing<\/strong>, proceed to Edit Options<\/strong> and add a few. For example, you can add Junior, Middle and Senior options.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNow the employees using your staff directory will be able to add all the necessary data to their profiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Add a Page<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s move on and create a page where all employees\u2019 profiles will be displayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Go to the Dashboard > Pages > Add New<\/strong> section. Write the page Title<\/strong> and click on the \u2795<\/strong> sign to add some layout blocks. For example, let\u2019s add a \u201cVendor Search Form\u201d block and a \u201cVendors\u201d one that will display all the directory members. Don\u2019t forget to Publish<\/strong> the page.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter that, navigate to the Dashboard > Settings > Reading<\/strong> section, and set the just added page as a Homepage<\/strong>. Finish by clicking the Save Changes<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNow let\u2019s proceed to the next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Set Things Up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Within this step, we’ll go through the HivePress settings to make sure that everything works in the proper way. Firstly, go to the HivePress > Settings > Listings<\/strong> tab and disable the Listing Submission<\/strong> feature since, in most cases, it’s not necessary for a staff directory website for users to add listings. <\/p>\n\n\n\nNext, go to the Vendors <\/strong>tab and set a Vendors page<\/strong> (i.e., a page where all the directory members will be displayed) <\/em>in the HivePress > Settings > Vendors <\/strong>section. You can set your homepage here if you want to display all the employees on the front page.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn addition, here, you have to allow direct registration<\/strong>, it will allow employees to list their profiles on their own, from the front end. As always, as you finish, Save Changes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNext, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, proceed to the Dashboard > Appearance > Menus > Manage with Live Preview<\/strong> section. You\u2019ll need a registration link on your website so employees can follow it to list their profiles. To add it, go to Header > Add items > Custom Links<\/strong> and fill in the field using the following link structureyour domain\/register-vendor<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\nType a Link Text<\/strong>, then click Add to Menu<\/strong> and Publish<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat\u2019s it! Now there’s a registration link in the header of your website, and employees can add their profiles using it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Add Members<\/h3>\n\n\n\n ListingHive allows you two different options on how to add new profiles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nFrom the front end<\/strong> – employees can register via a user registration form;<\/li>\n\n\n\nFrom the back end<\/strong> – you can add user profiles manually.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nBased on your requirements, you can choose whichever way better suits your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, as an admin, you can add new members from the back end in the Vendors > Add New<\/strong> section.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOtherwise, let\u2019s also check how it works for employees. Users can add their profiles by clicking the List a Profile<\/strong> link (a link, we’ve just added in the previous step)<\/em>. After that, they\u2019ll be invited to fill in the form with the custom fields we\u2019ve just set up (e.g., Phone Number, Role, etc.) <\/em>and submit it by clicking the Save Changes<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCustomize the Front Page<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The ListingHive theme is fully compatible with WordPress Customizer, which allows you to personalize the look and feel of your website. You can change the website logo, primary & secondary colors, and fonts by going to your platform\u2019s page and clicking on the Customize<\/strong> button (check the screencast below).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n