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Overview

The Members Dashboard is the central hub where directory users manage their listings, reviews, favorites, and account settings. Understanding how members interact with your directory helps you create a better user experience and support your community effectively.
If a user wants to add a listing to favorites, leave a review, or claim their business, they need to create an account in your directory.

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Account Creation

New users can easily create an account to access member features.
1

Navigate to Sign-Up

Users head to the sign-up page from your directory’s main navigation.
2

Enter Information

Fill in required information:
  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Password (secure)
3

Create Account

Click “Create Account” to submit the registration.
4

Confirm Email

Check email inbox for confirmation message and click the verification link.
5

Sign In

Return to the directory and sign in with the new credentials.
Encourage users to verify their email immediately to access all member features without delays.

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Dashboard Overview

The dashboard provides quick access to all key metrics and activities in your directory.

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Key Metrics at a Glance

Listings

Total number of listings the member has added to the directory

Favorites

Count of listings the member has bookmarked for later

Reviews

Reviews given to other listings or received on owned listings

Active Plans

Current subscription plans and their status

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Dashboard Activity Feed

The dashboard shows real-time activity:
Displays the member’s most recently added or updated listings with quick access to edit or manage them.
Shows both:
  • Reviews the member has given to other listings
  • Reviews received on the member’s own listings
Quick access to listings the member has recently bookmarked.
Information about the member’s most recent subscription plan, including status and renewal date.

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Quick Actions

Dashboard Navigation

Members can perform key actions directly from the dashboard:
  • Add New Listings: Submit new entries to the directory
  • Manage Existing Listings: Edit, update, or delete listings
  • Access Reviews: View and manage review activity
  • Billing Settings: Update payment methods and subscriptions
  • Sidebar Navigation: Access any feature directly from the sidebar menu

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Adding a New Listing

Members can submit listings directly through their dashboard. The directory owner can also add listings in bulk through other methods.

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Submission Methods

Members use the “Add New Listing” form in their dashboard to submit individual listings with all required information.Best for: Single listing submissions, detailed entries

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Website Auto-Extraction

Smart Content Generation

If the listing is linked to a website, users can leverage automatic content extraction to save time.How it works:
  1. Enter the website URL in the form
  2. Click “Continue with Website”
  3. Wait a few seconds for processing
  4. The system automatically extracts:
    • Listing title
    • Short description
    • Potentially other metadata
This feature significantly reduces submission time and improves data accuracy by pulling information directly from the source.

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Listing Form Structure

The listing form is organized into customizable tabs. Directory owners can show, hide, or add custom fields to match their specific needs.

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Business Information Tab

Contact phone number for the business or service.Display: Shows on listing page with click-to-call functionality on mobile
Business hours for each day of the week with open/closed status.Features:
  • Set hours for each day individually
  • Mark as closed for specific days
  • Live “Open Now” or “Closed” indicator on listing
Physical address and map integration.Display: Interactive map on listing page showing business location

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Media Tab

Add visual content to make listings more engaging and attractive.

Images

Upload up to 3 images showcasing the business, products, or servicesBest practices:
  • Use high-quality photos
  • Show different aspects
  • Optimize for web

Video

Add 1 YouTube video for rich media contentUse cases:
  • Business tours
  • Product demos
  • Customer testimonials
  • Promotional content

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Categories and Tags Tab

Organize listings for easy discovery and filtering.
1

Select Categories

Choose from your directory’s category structure (at least one required).Members can select multiple categories if the listing fits several classifications.
2

Add Tags

Apply relevant tags for additional filtering and discovery.Examples: “WiFi Available”, “Pet Friendly”, “Outdoor Seating”
Provide essential links and detailed information about the listing. The primary URL where visitors can learn more or take action. For products or services offering trials or demos.

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Detailed Description

Members write their own description from scratch.Best for: Custom messaging, unique voice, specific details
As a directory owner, you can customize the AI prompt from your client dashboard to control content length, tone, and style for all AI-generated descriptions.

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Pricing Section

Define the pricing model for the listing.
No cost to use the product or service.Display: Shows “Free” badge on listing card

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Coupon Codes

Add Special Offers

Members can include coupon codes to provide value to directory visitors.Benefits:
  • Attracts more attention
  • Encourages conversions
  • Tracks directory referrals
  • Provides visitor value

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Social & SEO Section

Optimize listings for discovery and social sharing. Connect all relevant social media profiles:
  • Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram
  • LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok
  • And more platforms

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SEO Manager

WordPress-Style SEO Tool

The SEO Manager works similarly to Yoast on WordPress, helping members optimize listings for better visibility.Features:
  • SEO title optimization
  • Meta description writing
  • Keyword suggestions
  • Readability analysis
  • Preview of search result appearance
Members can fine-tune how their listing appears in search engines and social shares.

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Listings Management

Members can view and manage all their submitted listings from one central location.

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Listing Overview Table

Each listing displays key information:

Featured Status

Indicates whether the listing has premium featured placementVisual indicator: Badge or highlight on featured listings

Listing Status

Current state of the listing in the approval workflowPossible statuses: Pending, Approved, Published, Rejected

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Understanding Listing Statuses

Initial state after submission
  • Listing awaits directory owner review
  • Not visible to public
  • Can be edited by submitter
Note: All new submissions start as Pending (unless added by owner)

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Approved vs Published

Key Difference

What’s the difference between Approved and Published?Approved listings have been reviewed and accepted by the directory owner but aren’t published yet. They can either be:
  • Published immediately by the owner
  • Scheduled for automatic publishing after a set number of days
This is often used for free plans, where users must wait (e.g., 30-60 days) before their listings go live.Published listings are live and visible to everyone on the directory immediately.
Monetization opportunity: To publish instantly, users can upgrade to a paid plan — this is one of the main ways to monetize your directory!

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Favorites

Bookmark Listings

The Favorites section allows members to save listings they’re interested in for quick access later.Features:
  • One-click bookmarking
  • Organized in member dashboard
  • Easy access to saved listings
  • No limit on favorites
Use cases:
  • Research and comparison
  • Wishlist creation
  • Future reference
  • Recommendation tracking

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Reviews

Members can view and manage their review activity from one place.
All reviews the member has written for other listingsActions available:
  • View review content
  • See which listings were reviewed
  • Track review dates
  • Edit or delete reviews (if permitted)

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Claim Listings

Claiming allows business owners to verify ownership and take control of their listings.
Important message to members: “Verify that you own these businesses to prevent others from claiming them.”

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Claiming Process

1

Search for Business

Use the search bar to find the listing you want to claim.
2

Select Listing

Choose the business from search results.
3

Choose Verification Method

Select from available verification options.
4

Complete Verification

Follow the specific steps for your chosen method.
5

Gain Control

Once verified, the listing appears under “My Verified Listings” with full management access.

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Verification Methods

Ownership confirmed by matching domainsHow it works:
  • Listing domain: mycompany.com
  • Account email must be: [email protected]
  • System automatically verifies domain match
Requirements:
  • Professional email address with company domain
  • Personal emails (Gmail, Yahoo) only work if listing uses those domains
Best for: Corporate websites, established businesses
After successful verification, listings appear under “My Verified Listings” with full editing and management capabilities.

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Settings

Members can manage their account, security, and preferences from the Settings section.

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Details Tab

Manage personal information displayed on the directoryOptions:
  • Update display name
  • Change profile information
  • Edit bio or description (if enabled)
Control profile picture appearanceActions:
  • Upload new avatar image
  • Delete current avatar
  • Preview changes before saving
The display name appears publicly on the directory alongside reviews, listings, and any other member-generated content.

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Email Section

Change Email Address

Update the email address associated with the account.Process:
  1. Enter new email address
  2. Click “Change Email”
  3. Verify new email address
  4. Confirmation of change

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Security Section

Protect your account with strong security measures.

Password Update

Change account password for securityRequirements:
  • Enter current password
  • Provide new password
  • Confirm new password
  • Click “Update Password”

Two-Factor Authentication

Enable extra security layerHow it works:
  • Requires email verification at each login
  • Sends verification code to email
  • Enter code to complete login
  • Enhanced account protection
Enable Two-Factor Authentication for enhanced security, especially if managing business listings or paid subscriptions.

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Plans and Billings

Manage active subscriptions and payment information.

Subscription Management

All subscribed plans appear here with detailed information:Displays:
  • Active subscription plans
  • Plan status (active, expired, cancelled)
  • Renewal dates
  • Payment history
  • Billing details
If no subscriptions: Message displays: “You are not subscribed to any listing plans.”
Available actions:
  • View plan details
  • Update payment methods
  • Cancel subscriptions
  • Upgrade or downgrade plans
  • View invoices and receipts

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Notification Settings

Control which email communications members receive.
Promotional content and special offers from the directory
Updates about new features, improvements, and directory changes
Important security notifications and account activity alerts (recommended to keep enabled)
Click “Update” to save notification preference changes.

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Account Deletion

Permanent Action: At the bottom of the Account section, members can permanently delete their accounts.Important considerations:
  • This action is irreversible
  • All listings may be affected (depending on directory settings)
  • Reviews and favorites will be removed
  • Subscription access ends immediately
  • No refunds for active subscriptions
Members should download any important data before deleting their accounts.

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Best Practices for Members

Complete Your Profile

Fill out all profile information for credibility and trust

Verify Your Listings

Claim and verify ownership to prevent others from claiming

Keep Information Updated

Regularly update listings with current information

Engage with Reviews

Respond to reviews when possible to show you’re active

Enable 2FA

Protect your account with two-factor authentication

Use Quality Media

Upload high-quality images and videos for better engagement

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Next Steps

Adding Listings

Learn more about listing submission controls and custom fields

Managing Listings

Understand how directory owners manage and moderate submissions

Tags & Monetization

Explore subscription plans and monetization strategies

Automation

Set up automated workflows for listings