Listing Templates: Designing Powerful and Flexible Listing Pages in eDirectory

Introduction

Creating engaging and well-structured listing pages is essential for delivering a great user experience and showcasing the value of your directory website. To help you achieve this, eDirectory provides a powerful feature called Listing Templates.

Listing Templates allow you to fully customize the layout, structure, and content of your listing detail pages using a flexible widget-based system — no coding required.

With an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you can:

• Create professional listing layouts
• Organize content into tabs
• Display different information for different business types
• Build niche-specific listing experiences
• Customize layouts visually

Whether you are building a restaurant directory, medical directory, real estate platform, or local business guide, Listing Templates give you complete control over how your listings appear.

What Is a Listing Template?

A Listing Template is a customizable layout that defines how listing detail pages are displayed on your site.

Using widgets, you can design pages that display:

• Business information
• Photos and videos
• Reviews
• Contact information
• Social media feeds
• Promotional content
• Advertising banners
• Custom sections unique to your niche

Listing Templates use the same widget logic available in the Page Editor, making them easy to manage even without technical knowledge.

What You Can Do With Listing Templates

With Listing Templates, you can:

• Create one-column or two-column layouts
• Organize information using tabs
• Use up to 37 different widgets
• Create multiple templates for different business types
• Display dynamic content only when information exists
• Build highly customized listing experiences

Accessing Listing Templates

When your eDirectory website is created, a default listing template named Listing is automatically added to your site.

To access your listing templates:

1. Navigate to: Content → Listings → Listing Templates
2. Click Edit on the template you want to customize.

Creating Multiple Listing Templates

You are not limited to a single template.

By clicking Add Listing Template, you can create templates tailored to different business categories, such as:

• Restaurants
• Dentists
• Doctors
• Hotels
• Lawyers
• Real Estate Agencies

Each template can have:

• Different layouts
• Different widgets
• Different tabs
• Different category restrictions

This allows you to create highly specialized listing experiences for different niches.

Template Settings Explained

Template Title

The Template Title identifies the template both internally and, in some cases, to your users.

Examples:

• Restaurants
• Medical Professionals
• Hotels
• Automotive Businesses

Categories

The Categories setting determines which categories can use the template.

You can:

• Restrict the template to specific categories
• Allow all categories

Example

If you create a Restaurant template, you may want to limit available categories to:

• Restaurants
• Cafes
• Bars
• Bakeries

This keeps the submission process cleaner and more intuitive for users.

Site Manager Area:

In this example, the Site Manager configured the Restaurant listing template so that users can only access and select the parent category “Food and Dining” along with its associated subcategories automatically linked to it.

Sponsor End:

On the Restaurant listing template, users will only see the parent category “Food and Dining” and its corresponding subcategories, such as “Bagel Shops,” “Coffee Shops,” and “Restaurants.”

Summary Cards (Search Results Appearance)

Summary Cards control how listings appear on search result pages.

eDirectory includes 11 different summary card layouts with variations such as:

• Circular images
• Square images
• Different content alignments
• Different information displays

These layouts are important because they define the first impression users have when browsing your directory.

Site Manager Area:

User End:

Detail View Header

The Detail View Header controls the top section of the listing detail page.

By default, a standard header layout is applied, but you can customize it by:

1. Clicking Add a Widget

2. Selecting a different header layout

eDirectory provides 9 different header designs.

Site Manager Area:

User End:

Using Tabs in Listing Templates

Tabs help organize content and improve navigation on listing detail pages.

Instead of displaying everything in a single long page, you can separate information into sections such as:

• Overview
• Photos
• Reviews
• Videos
• Contact Information

Managing Tabs

• Add a tab: Click the “+” button.

• Rename a tab: Click on the tab name and edit the text

• Add widgets: Add relevant widgets by clicking on the “Add a widget button”

• Delete a tab: Click the “×” icon

  
  

  

Dynamic Tab Display

Tabs in eDirectory are dynamic. If a tab has no content, it will automatically be hidden from the front end.

Example

If no videos are added to a listing:

• The Videos tab will not appear.

This helps keep listing pages clean and user-friendly.

Understanding How Widgets Work

Widgets are the building blocks of Listing Templates.

Each widget serves a specific purpose and can display:

• Existing listing information
• New custom fields
• Media content
• Reviews
• Social feeds
• Banners
• Related content

Two Types of Widgets

Widgets in eDirectory work in two different ways.

Understanding this distinction is extremely important when building listing templates.

1. Widgets That Pull Information From Existing Listing Fields

These widgets display information that already exists in the standard listing form.

They do not create new fields.

Complete list of widgets:

• Summary Description
• Long Description
• About
• Additional file
• Hours
• Contact Information
• Photo Gallery
• Video
• Reviews
• Features
• Associated deals
• Associated classifieds
• Related listings
• Banner widgets (It pulls from the banner module)
• Hours
• Contact information
• Summary Description
• Summary Description Plus Photo
• Facebook Feed
• Location
• Social Buttons
• Twitter (X), Facebook and Tik Tok Feed
• Badges

These widgets simply display existing data in different layouts.

2. Widgets That Create New Custom Fields

Some widgets generate entirely new fields in the listing form.

When these widgets are added:

1. New fields appear in the listing submission form
2. Sponsors can fill out the information
3. The information is automatically displayed on the listing detail page

Complete list of widgets:

• Description
• Check List
• Call to Action
• More details
• Range
• Specialties
• Products and Services 
• Linked Listings
• Additional image

These widgets allow you to create highly customized listing experiences without coding.

Widget Options Explained (Complete Guide)

Widgets are the building blocks of your Listing Template. Each widget serves a specific purpose and can be placed in Column 1, Column 2, or both, depending on the layout rules of the system.

Below is a complete breakdown of all available widgets, including their functionality and placement availability.

📊 Widget Placement Overview (Quick Reference)

Core Content Widgets

About Widget

Placement: Column 1 Only

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Displays:

• Summary Description
• Long Description
• First gallery image

This is one of the main content widgets used to showcase listing information.

Data Source

This widget pulls information from existing listing fields.

Description Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Creates New Custom Field

Requires Listing Level Assignment: Yes

What This Widget Does

Creates a customizable text section inside the listing page.

This widget is useful for:

• Additional business information
• Policies
• FAQs
• Custom business sections
• Industry-specific content

Data Source

This widget creates a brand-new field inside the listing form.

Listing Level Configuration

After adding this widget:

1. Navigate to Settings → Products & Plans → Manage Products
2. Expand the template dropdown
3. Locate the Description widget
4. Select which listing levels should have access to it

If the widget is not enabled for a listing level, sponsors using that level will not see the field.

Long Description Widget

Placement: Column 1 Only

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Displays the complete long description of the listing.

Data Source

Pulls information from the existing Long Description field.

Summary Description Widget

Placement: Column 1 Only

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Displays a shorter summary version of the listing description.

Data Source

Pulls information from the existing Summary Description field.

Summary Description Plus Photo Widget

Placement: Column 1 Only

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Displays the Summary Description together with a listing image.

Data Source

Pulls information from:

• Summary Description
• Listing Image

More Details Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Creates New Custom Field

Requires Listing Level Assignment: Yes

What This Widget Does

Allows you to create smaller structured informational fields grouped into a single section.

This widget is commonly used for:

• Amenities
• Business details
• Policies
• Specifications

Data Source

Creates custom fields inside the listing form.

Listing Level Configuration

This widget must be enabled for the listing levels that should have access to the custom fields.

Media Widgets

Photo Gallery Widget

Placement: Column 1 Only

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Displays all uploaded listing images.

Data Source

Pulls information from the Image Gallery field.

Video Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Embeds videos into the listing page.

Data Source

Pulls information from the Video URL field.

Additional File Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Displays downloadable files such as PDFs or documents.

Data Source

Pulls information from the existing uploaded file field.

Additional Image Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Creates New Custom Field

Requires Listing Level Assignment: Yes

What This Widget Does

The Additional Image widget allows listing owners to upload extra images directly through the listing submission form. These images can be displayed within the listing detail page to provide additional visual content beyond the standard image gallery.

This widget is ideal for showcasing:

• Product photos
• Team images
• Menus or brochures
• Certifications
•  Additional business visuals

Data Source

This widget creates a new custom image upload field inside the listing form. Images uploaded by the listing owner are automatically displayed on the frontend through the widget.

Listing Level Configuration

After adding this widget to a Listing Template, it must be enabled for the listing levels that should have access to the field.

Engagement & Trust Widgets

Reviews (Paginated) Widget

Placement: Column 1 Only

Field Type: Uses the reviews users post under a listing

What This Widget Does

Displays all listing reviews with pagination controls.

Data Source

Pulls information from the Reviews system.

Recent Reviews Widget

Placement: Column 1 Only

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Highlights the latest reviews submitted for the listing.

Data Source

Pulls information from the Reviews system.

Check List Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Creates New Custom Field

Requires Listing Level Assignment: Yes

What This Widget Does

Allows sponsors to select predefined checklist items.

Data Source

Creates checklist fields inside the listing form.

Listing Level Configuration

This widget must be enabled for the listing levels that should have access to it.

Features Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Displays features or amenities associated with the listing.

Data Source

Pulls information from existing Features data.

Badges Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Displays badges or recognitions assigned to the listing.

Data Source

Pulls information from the assigned badges in the user’s listing form.

Business Information Widgets

Hours Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Displays business hours of operation.

Data Source

Pulls information from the Hours field.

Location Widget

Placement: Column 2 Only

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Displays the business location and map.

Data Source

Pulls information from Address and Map fields.

Contact Information Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Displays:

• Phone number
• Email address
• Physical address

Data Source

Pulls information from Contact Information fields.

Products and Services Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Creates New Custom Field

Requires Listing Level Assignment: Yes

What This Widget Does

Allows businesses to create structured lists of products or services.

Data Source

Creates custom Products and Services fields under a tab in the listing form top.

Listing Level Configuration

After adding this widget, enable it for the listing levels that should display Products and Services.

Specialties Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Creates New Custom Field

Requires Listing Level Assignment: Yes

What This Widget Does

Allows businesses to highlight specialties or areas of expertise.

Data Source

Creates a Specialty dropdown field that allows users to select a single option from the available dropdown menu choices.

Listing Level Configuration

This widget must be enabled for the desired listing levels.

Range Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Creates New Custom Field

Requires Listing Level Assignment: Yes

What This Widget Does

Allows businesses to define ranges such as pricing or service levels.

Data Source

Creates custom Range fields.

Listing Level Configuration

This widget must be enabled for the listing levels that should use the Range field.

Monetization & Promotion Widgets

Call to Action Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Creates New Custom Field

Requires Listing Level Assignment: Yes

What This Widget Does

Adds customizable action buttons linked to URLs.

Examples:

• Book Now
• Order Online
• Request Quote
• Schedule Appointment

Data Source

Creates a custom field that allows the listing owner to enter a URL associated with the button destination.

Listing Level Configuration

After adding this widget, select which listing levels should have access to the Call to Action fields.

Associated Content Widgets

Placement: Column 1 Only

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

Available Widgets

• Associated Deals Widget
• Associated Classifieds Widget

What These Widgets Do

These widgets display content associated with the listing, helping showcase related deals and classified listings connected to the account.

Data Source

These widgets display Deals and Classifieds that are specifically associated with the listing through the related association fields.

For example, if the Classified  field “Associate with a Listing” is filled by selecting a specific listing, that Classified will automatically appear in the widget on the corresponding listing detail page. The same behavior applies to Deals associated with that listing.

Advertisement Banner Widgets

Field Type: Uses Existing Banners in the site.

Available Widgets & Placement:

• Sponsored Links Widget — Column 1 & Column 2
• Billboard Banner — Column 1 only
• Large Mobile Banner — Column 1 & Column 2
• Square Banner — Column 1 & Column 2
• Wide Skyscraper Banner — Column 2 only
• Half Page Banner — Column 2 only

What These Widgets Do

These widgets display rotating advertisement banners throughout the listing detail page in various banner formats and placements. The banners shown are not necessarily associated with the current listing, as the system dynamically rotates through the active banners available on the site. This setup is commonly recommended for lower-tier listing levels, as it provides an incentive for users to upgrade to premium levels that can remove third-party advertisements from their listing pages.

Data Source

Pulls information from the Banner Module under Content >Banners, where all advertisement banners configured on the site are managed and stored.

Social & External Content Widgets

Social Media Feed Widgets

Placement: Column 2 Only

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

Available Widgets

• Facebook Feed Widget
• X (Twitter) Feed Widget
• TikTok Feed Widget

What These Widgets Do

These widgets display social media content directly within the listing detail page, allowing visitors to view posts, updates, and media from the listing’s connected social media profiles.

Data Source

Pulls information from the corresponding social media fields configured for the listing, including the Facebook Page URL, X/Twitter profile, and TikTok profile fields.

Social Buttons Widget

Placement: Column 2 Only

Field Type: Uses Existing Listing Fields

What This Widget Does

Displays social media icons linking to business profiles.

Data Source

Pulls information from Social Media URL fields.

Discovery & Navigation Widgets

Related Listings Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Does not create a new custom field

Requires Listing Level Assignment: Yes

What This Widget Does

Displays related listings based on the categories and/or location of the listing currently being viewed.

Data Source

This widget automatically compares the listing currently being displayed with other listings registered on the site. Based on this comparison, it identifies listings that share the same categories and/or location, according to the widget configuration, and then displays those related results.

You can configure the widget to display related listings by:

• Categories only
• Location only
• Both categories and location combined

This widget does not create new custom fields. It simply uses the existing information from the current listing to dynamically compare it with other listings on the site.

Linked Listings Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

Field Type: Creates New Custom Field

Requires Listing Level Assignment: Yes

What This Widget Does

Displays listings that were manually linked by the listing owner within the listing form.

Users can only link listings that already exist under their own account. For example, if a user owns multiple listings on the site, they can connect/link those listings together so they are displayed as related linked listings on the frontend.

Data Source

Creates a custom field under a tab in the top section of the listing form, allowing users to select and link their existing listings associated with their account.

Separator Widget

Placement: Column 1 & Column 2

What This Widget Does

Adds a visual divider between sections of the page.

Data Source

This widget does not use or create fields.

Conclusion

Listing Templates are one of the most powerful customization tools available in eDirectory.

By combining:

• Flexible layouts
• Dynamic tabs
• Drag-and-drop widgets
• Existing listing fields
• Custom generated fields

you can create highly professional and niche-specific listing experiences without coding knowledge.

Understanding:

• which widgets use existing information
• which widgets create new fields
• and how to assign those fields to listing levels

will help you build cleaner, more organized, and more effective listing pages for both sponsors and visitors.

Take time to experiment with different widget combinations and layouts to create listing pages that are visually engaging, informative, and optimized for conversions.

Happy designing! 🎉