Innovative Use of WordPress: The WordPress Link Directory
This will be the first in a series of posts devoted to highlighting new and interesting ways people are using WordPress. I already have at least 3 amazing uses of WordPress lined up that you probably have never seen before and are sure to spark your interest. So stay tuned, subscribe to our feed and be on the look out for more innovative uses of WordPress.
Innovative Use of WordPress: JustTweetIt.com
WordPress as a link directory! Who would have thought?
The JustTweetIt.com Twitter Directory went above and beyond simply turning WordPress into a link directory. The site features a beautiful design and alot of great content in traditional blog posts. So, you can’t do this over-night, but I’ll give you a quick explanation of just how they did it.
By the way, DotSauce is on Twitter!
How Did They Do That?
The concept is quite simple… turn your comments system into link submission! With a few tweaks and word-swaps (change any mention of “comment” to “submit link”) within the template files, specifically the comment system, comment display, single post and single page, you can have a fully functional link directory.
Once those modifications are done, any page can be created to represent a “Category.” Enable comments on your “Category” page and the link submissions can start coming in!
What’s Your Script Got that WordPress Doesn’t?
If you think about it… WordPress already has most of the features you want for any link directory; moderation, Akismet spam filter, and even membership logins, but I’ll save more on that for the next installment.
Yet Another WordPress Link Directory
The concept is starting to spread, another example of WordPress as a link directory just launched this past month and living up to it’s name. DirectoryForDesigners.com is a social media directory for, you guessed it, designers of all types.
What do you think about using WordPress as a link directory? Know of any other innovative uses of WordPress? We’d love to hear your thoughts… please leave a comment below.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Do you use/know of any good plugins to do it? I’ve found a couple, just wondering if you recommend any…
November 12th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Brilliant idea - and gives me a lot of good ideas, as many of my sites use Wordpress.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Looks very interesting I shall really need to look into using WordPress.
Regards,
Robbie
Founder
RegFeeNames.com
November 12th, 2008 at 9:33 am
great idea! this is what i was looking for.. but do you have the detailed way on how to do this? like the php codes to install or something like that…
November 12th, 2008 at 11:57 am
My company works a lot with WordPress for businesses wanting something other than a blog - so I’, really looking forward to more on this series.
There is an excellent plugin you can use in you WordPress Link Directory - available on at the WordPress site here: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-link-directory/ - the plugin demo seems down at the moment but its a pretty easy install.
One FYI - before using any caching plugins on WordPress, check your hosting terms and conditions. I highly recommend WP Super-Cache - because some WordPress plugins can be real CPU hogs (for example, see http://justcreativedesign.com/2008/01/21/banned-from-own-website/).
As for importing a lot of data from elsewhere to jumpstart, I would suggest getting a programmer to load up the database directly (well, of course I would suggest that - its what we do lol).
November 12th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Seems like a very good idea. very novel. Who would have thought that wordpress could be used as a directory.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I found this today via Domaining.com
WP articles are among my favorite…
I’m not a techie girl - and I can use all the help I find…
Right now I am trying to figure out where to go - to be able to add items in my right side bar…
example: http://www.DropGrabs.com/WhatsNew
where do I look in the admin to be able to put something in there ??
~DomainBELL (Patricia)
November 13th, 2008 at 12:47 am
If you want to do it manually you first need to make sure that the files are writable - at least 666.
You go to your admin, then design, then theme editor. The exact file name will differ depending on your theme but look for sidebar, right sidebar, something like that then you can go and paste whatever you want directly in.
I have been using Wordpress for years so I still do it the old school way, you can use the widgets if you like as well I just don’t feel like it offers as much customization ability.
Gregg
November 14th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Thanks.
I do have a few Website’s, who has CMS Wordpress.
I really going to try this out.
November 16th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Seems interesting. I’d like to know if there is the ability to add a payment feature to it? Looks to me like its free on the two websites mentioned and that wouldn’t work for me.
BTW….You’ll have to excuse me if I have asked a dumb question. I’m not that familiar with how Wordpress works.
November 19th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Is is no doubt a great idea! This is exactly what i was looking for.. but do you have the detailed way on how to do this? like the php codes to install or something like that…
November 19th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I have 4 websites, my newest website is Wordpress…the back admin is very simple to use…one of my other websites is Oscommerce which is very difficult & hard to use (DONT USE THIS)
So far I am very happy with Wordpress!!
November 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Innovative indeed! This is a breakthrough. Who knows what’s next? I’m also one of the many people who are very much happy using WordPress. Nice post!
November 26th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I use blogspot on my personal blog - I have considered swapping over to Wordpress, just may have to with all the new uses coming out althogh doubt I’d use it as a directory
December 1st, 2008 at 8:33 am
I just submitted to the listing. It’s a great idea!
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Absolutely brilliant idea. I need to create 1 such directory for my own use.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Thank You for the insight. I have several blogs, but wordpress is still the most impressive so far.
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:15 pm
I actually just build something like this but appealing to a different audience. Using wordpress I was able to build a full review directory where affiliate marketers can post their reviews and appeal to buyers who are searching on google, etc.
Check it out>> http://www.Reviewoso.com
Wordpress can pretty much be built to do anything, we are working on amazing new applications due by the end of Dec.
Dan
dDevelop.com
December 11th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Great article and informativ. I have this bookmarked. Thanks
December 15th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
[…] I read a cool article on http://www.dotsuce.com about creating a link directory by hacking the Word press comments feature. I think that I might use that to create a blog directory for politicsandprophets.com. The link to the article is here. […]
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:37 pm
I have been thinking of this for quite some time. I wanted to use my wordpress blog as a link directory of some sort. I was however thinking of some plugins or pre built themes that could have the tweaks. I guess it can be done quite easily without any specific skins or tools.
January 4th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
@Dan,
Nice website. How did you succeed to display a listing (i.e. no posts) on the front page of reviewoso.com?