How to Create a Directory Website of AI Tools like Futurepedia with WordPress for Free
TLDRThis tutorial guides you through creating a directory website for AI tools using WordPress, the Listing Hive theme, and Hive Press plugin—all free resources. It covers installing the theme and plugin, extending functionality with extensions like reviews and tags, customizing categories and listing fields, and building a homepage with WordPress blocks. The tutorial also touches on monetization strategies like paid listings, featured listings, and membership plans, offering a comprehensive guide to launching a profitable AI tools directory.
Takeaways
- 😀 The tutorial is about creating an AI tools directory website using WordPress, similar to Futurepedia.
- 🛠️ It uses the Listing Hive directory theme and Hive Press, a free and powerful directory plugin.
- 🔧 To extend functionality, the tutorial suggests installing High Press extensions like Reviews, Favorites, Tags, and Social Login.
- 📂 Custom tool categories can be created in the Listings category section to simplify navigation.
- 📝 Custom listing fields, like a pricing model, can be added to provide detailed information about each tool.
- 🔍 These custom fields can be made filterable and sortable to enhance user search capabilities.
- 🏠 A homepage for the directory can be created using WordPress's native page builder and various blocks.
- 🎨 The look and feel of the website can be customized using the customizer tool, including site identity, colors, header image, and menus.
- 📈 Monetization models like paid listings, featured listings, claim listings, and memberships are discussed for potential business use.
- 🛒 WooCommerce and specific High Press extensions are required to implement the monetization features discussed.
Q & A
What is the purpose of creating an AI tools directory website?
-An AI tools directory website serves as a platform that lists and provides information about various AI software, allowing users to explore and discover new tools and find the right ones for their projects.
Which WordPress theme and plugin are recommended for creating an AI tools directory?
-The recommended WordPress theme is Listing Hive, and the plugin is Hive Press, which is a free and powerful directory plugin that handles most of the website's features.
How can one extend the functionality of the directory using Hive Press extensions?
-One can extend the directory's functionality by visiting the Hive Press extensions page and installing compatible extensions such as Reviews, Favorites, Tags, or Social Login, which add additional features to the directory.
How does one add tool categories in the directory for better navigation?
-To add tool categories, one should go to the Listings category section in the WordPress dashboard, name the category, describe it if necessary, upload a category image, and set up parent categories if needed for a hierarchy.
What is a custom listing field and how is it created?
-A custom listing field is a user-defined attribute that helps users obtain specific information about each tool. It is created by going to the Listings attributes add new page, writing the field name, marking it as editable if users should fill it in, and choosing the field type, such as select.
How can custom fields be made filterable and sortable for search functionality?
-Custom fields can be made filterable and sortable by marking them as such in the search section, which allows website visitors to filter and sort tools based on the selected criteria, like the pricing model.
What is the process of creating an icatch homepage for the directory?
-To create an icatch homepage, one should use the WordPress native page builder to add blocks and customize the page. This includes adding a header text, using the plus icon to add different blocks like a listing search form and listing categories block, and customizing blocks using the settings column.
How can the look and feel of the website be customized further?
-The look and feel of the website can be further customized by clicking on the customize button, which allows adjustments in sections like site identity, colors, header image, menus, widgets, homepage settings, fonts, and additional CSS.
What are the two ways to add a tool to the directory and how is it done?
-There are two ways to add a tool to the directory: via the front end as a user by clicking on the add listing button and filling out the submission form, or via the back end as an admin directly in the WordPress dashboard.
What monetization models can be applied to an AI tools directory website?
-Monetization models for an AI tools directory include paid listings, where users pay to add new tools to the directory, claim listings, where tool owners pay to claim and manage their listings, and membership plans, which restrict access to certain content and require users to purchase a plan for full access.
Outlines
🛠️ Building an AI Tools Directory with WordPress
This paragraph introduces the concept of creating an AI tools directory using WordPress. It emphasizes the need for such a platform due to the proliferation of AI tools and the necessity to organize them. The tutorial suggests using the Listing Hive directory theme and the Hive Press plugin, which is free and capable of handling most of the website's features. The process begins with installing the theme and plugin, followed by extending the directory's functionality with additional High Press extensions such as reviews, favorites, tags, and social login. The paragraph also covers creating custom categories and listing fields to enhance the user experience by allowing them to filter and sort tools based on specific criteria like pricing models.
🎨 Customizing the Directory with High Press Templates
The second paragraph delves into the customization of the AI tools directory. It explains how to create a homepage using WordPress's native page builder and the Listing Hive theme. The process includes adding various blocks to the page, such as a listing search form and listing categories block, and customizing these blocks using the settings column. The paragraph also guides through setting the homepage and blog page in the WordPress dashboard, and further customization of the site's appearance through the customizer, including site identity, colors, header image, menus, widgets, fonts, and additional CSS. The focus is on enhancing the visual appeal and user navigation of the directory.
💰 Monetizing the AI Directory with WooCommerce and High Press Extensions
The final paragraph discusses monetization strategies for the AI tools directory. It outlines several High Press extensions that can be used in conjunction with WooCommerce to generate revenue. These include the Paid Listings extension, which allows for the creation of listing packages that can be sold at different prices, and the Claim Listings extension, which enables charging AI tool owners to claim and manage their listings. Additionally, the Memberships extension is introduced as a way to create membership plans that restrict access to certain content, requiring users to purchase a plan for full access. The paragraph provides a brief guide on setting up these extensions and creating the necessary WooCommerce products to facilitate the monetization process.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)
💡Directory Website
💡WordPress
💡Listing Hive
💡Hive Press
💡Extensions
💡Custom Fields
💡Page Builder
💡Monetization Models
💡WooCommerce
💡Templates
Highlights
Creating an AI tools directory is necessary to organize the vast array of AI software available.
WordPress can be used to build an AI tools directory with the help of the Listing Hive theme and Hive Press plugin.
Listing Hive is a free directory theme that can be installed and activated through the WordPress dashboard.
Hive Press is a free and powerful directory plugin that extends the functionality of WordPress.
High Press extensions can add features like reviews, favorites, tags, and social login to the directory.
Custom tool categories can be created in the Listings category section to simplify navigation.
Custom listing fields can be added to provide detailed information about each AI tool.
Custom fields can be made editable, filterable, and sortable to enhance user experience.
WordPress's native page builder can be used to create an attractive homepage for the directory.
The customizer allows for adjusting the site's logo, colors, header image, and menus.
Widgets can be added to display additional content in various areas of the site.
High Press templates can be used to customize the look of individual pages like the listing page.
The directory can be monetized through paid listings, where users pay to add their AI tools.
Featured listings can be offered as an additional service for a fee.
The claim listings extension allows charging AI tool owners for claiming their tool listings.
The membership extension can restrict access, requiring users to purchase a plan to view more tools.
Hive Press and Listing Hive are free, easy to use, and efficient for building directory websites.