How to Create a WordPress User Directory

Looking for a WordPress user directory plugin? We’ll show you how to create a WordPress user directory with this easy-to-use tool.

Approximate read-time: 6 minutes

Want to create a WordPress user directory? You’ll need a WordPress user directory plugin.

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to create a user directory in wordpress using a powerful plugin 10 years in the making - the Formidable Directory Plugin. This is a WordPress directory plugin that makes building a user directory simple.

If you recognize the name Formidable, great! Formidable Forms is a WordPress form builder that users have been creating directory sites with for years. After putting together many tutorials, the team at Formidable decided to take it one step further by building a dedicated plugin.

First, we’ll run through some user directory basics. Then we’ll show you how the plugin works in action. Ready? Let’s jump in.

What’s in a user directory plugin?

Wondering what a user directory usually includes? Have a look:

• User registration features
• Drag and drop form builder
• User profile page generator
• User directory listings page
• Advanced Search features

To build a worthwhile user directory, you’ll need to above features. Luckily, Formidable’s directory software includes all of them! When you install the Formidable directory plugin, you get everything you need to register users and list them in your directory.

And actually, when you get the Formidable directory plugin, you are really getting two plugins in one. Formidable Forms, one of the top form builders available for WordPress, and, the Formidable directory plugin.

Check out our directory pricing page and you'll see you can choose from two plans: Business or Elite. You’ll see all the features listed there as well - it’s quite generous! In fact, you could build much more than just a user directory using Formidable.

You could even build an entire membership website using Formidable! It doesn’t take much imagination to change a user profile into a member profile. Actually, all it takes is a paid user registration form (or free, if membership doesn’t cost anything).

But wait... there’s more!

Here’s something really cool about the Formidable directory plugin. You can use it to build three different kinds of directory websites:

• User directories
• business directories
• team/staff directories

And you can do that all from the same user-friendly plugin. No need to buy extra add-ons!

What about a membership plugin?

If you want to go beyond a simple user directory, you might think you need a member directory plugin. And depending on the scope of your membership directory, that might be true.

We’ve actually written an article dedicated to the question, “Do I need a membership plugin?” It’s a fair question, so if you aren’t sure, check out that article.

Or, stay right here and we’ll take you on a tour of how our user directory plugin works. Who knows? You might be able to create the perfect WordPress member directory site with it!

Getting started with your business directory listings site

To get started with a Formidable user directory on your WordPress website, you just need to follow these steps:

1. Install and activate the Formidable directory plugin
2. Install and activate the directory add-on
3. Follow the business directory setup wizard
4. Check the autogenerated forms & pages

1. Install and activate the Formidable directory plugin

Have you installed a plugin on any of your WordPress sites? Then this part will be easy.

First, visit our directory plugin pricing page and purchase the plugin. Remember, when you get a Formidable directory plugin subscription, you get Formidable Forms + the directory add-on.

If you do run into trouble with the installation process, check out this guide. Or just connect with our support team, they can help you with WordPress plugins and a whole lot more.

2. Install and activate the directory add-on

At this stage, you should be back on your WordPress site looking at a screen with this image:

If not, click on Formidable → Add-ons and then find the one labeled Directory. Install and activate that one.

3. Follow the user directory setup wizard

After that, you should be seeing the directory setup wizard. If you aren't, you can go to Formidable → Global Settings → Directory to launch the directory setup wizard as well.

To build the forms, views, and pages for your user directory, click on the User/Member Directory option. You can then choose your page titles for your listing submission page and your directory listing page.

You’ll also need to install and activate another required add-on: the User Registration add-on. Besides registration, this will let your users log in from the front-end.

The setup wizard will trigger you to install this, but if you miss it, you can go to Formidable → Add-ons and install it from there.

A few of the user registration components are installed along with the user directory, but just in case you want to learn more about it, here are some useful posts:

• Add a Registration Form in WordPress
• Create a Login and Registration Page in WordPress
• Create a Custom Login Form in WordPress

4. Check the autogenerated forms & pages

Last step! All you need to do here is check the autogenerated pages that were just created. They are saved as drafts by default.

Click on the View Page button to be taken to your user directory listing page. You’ll see what your member lists will look like thanks to a few demo users that are added during the install process.

What's next?

So there you have it. Just by following the installation guide, you end up with the main components you need for your user directory. Not that hard, was it?

So, what’s next? The customization options are never-ending. With all the custom fields in Formidable, you can build a lot of cool stuff on your site! Anything you create can be added to any page or post with ease.

And the best place to find out how to take your Formidable site even higher? The Formidable blog of course! Be sure to stay tuned for more WordPress tips and tutorials.

Ready to build your business directory? Try Formidable risk-free for 14-days with our 100% money-back guarantee. Get started with the Formidable Directory.