Having accurate location information is vital for enhancing the user experience and search functionality of your eDirectory website. Properly configured location settings allow your listings to provide precise addresses and enable features like visitor location detection and nearby results. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of configuring location settings in your eDirectory website, ensuring that your users can easily find the information they need.


Configuring Location Settings: Step by Step


Step 1: Accessing Language & Geography Settings


  • Log in to your eDirectory admin panel.
  • Open the "Settings" tab.
  • Click on the "Language & Geography" option.



Step 2: Enabling Visitor Location Detection and Nearby Results


  Visitor Location Detection:

  • If you wish to enable Visitor Location Detection, which automatically fills the "Where" field in the search form based on your visitors' locations, check the corresponding box.
  • Click "Save Changes" to apply the setting.

 Enable Nearby Results:

  • If you plan to use the "Enable Nearby Results" feature, which displays listings based on proximity to the user, you need to enter a Google API Key.
  • Follow this link for instructions on how to activate Google Maps and obtain the API Key: How to activate Google Maps and Nearby Results APIs



Step 3: Choosing Locations for Use and Configuring Location Hierarchy 


Below the Visitor Location Detection & Nearby Results options, you will find the "Choose the Locations You Want to Use" section. Here, you can select the specific geographical levels you want to utilize in your eDirectory website. In order to ensure effective navigation and user-friendly experience, eDirectory follows a specific location hierarchy model. Configure your location hierarchy as follows:


Level 1- Country: This represents the highest level of geographical categorization.

Level 2- Region: A subdivision of the country

Level 3- State: Additional divisions within a region.

Level 4- City: The location within a state.

Level 5-Neighborhood: A smaller locality within a city.



This hierarchical structure streamlines the user journey, enabling users to logically move from broader to more specific location options.


Note: It's important to note that upon the purchase of your eDirectory website, the "Country," "State," and "City" location levels are enabled by default under the "Settings → Language & Geography" page.


Location fields


Location: The location hierarchy level.

Enable: Check or uncheck this box to enable or disable the location level.


Note: It's important to note that disabling the locations is simple, it is possible to just uncheck this option. However, if the site already has listings, and you would like to enable a location that is disabled, it is necessary to delete all listings, events, and classifieds from the site, because it will not allow you to enable a location if you have content on the site to avoid data breakage. It is recommended to configure the locations before populating the site.


Display Name: Customize the label of the location field. On the first field, type the singular form and on the second field, type the plural form. If you are going to use the default settings, no further action is needed here. The display name will be displayed to the users when they are adding a listing to the site on the location fields as demonstrated below:



Default: Lock on a default location to guide customer selection, or leave as "No default" for freedom of choice. On the example below, the site has five countries loaded to the site, and if the site manager wants to set one of them as a default, it means that the users will only see the default location to add on their listings, and will not be able to see the other options. 



On this example, the site manager set "United States" as default, and the "Show Default" checkbox is automatically selected to display only United States locations to users adding listings to the site. 


When adding a listing, the user will not be able to select another country, it will be locked on "United States" only, and they will be able to select state and city. 


Show Default: Automatically checked when a default location is selected, ensuring a seamless user experience.


Featured: When checked, the location will be displayed on the front page, so that users can see the locations on the "Browse by location widget, and click on them to see a list with all the listings within that specific location. For example, if the "City" is checked as featured, the "Browse by location" widget will display the cities for users to click on and see the list of listings within that specific city. 




Browse by location widget:



Check the article Browse by Category and Location Widgets for more details on how the "Browse by location" widget works on eDirectotry.


After configuring your location settings, it is important to load the location data to your site, please, check the article How do I add Additional Locations to my site? for all the details on how to do this. 


In conclusion, setting up accurate location settings is a critical step in optimizing your eDirectory website's functionality. By following this step-by-step guide, you can ensure that your listings feature accurate addresses and provide users with a seamless experience when searching for businesses, services, or places of interest. Remember, accurate location settings not only benefit your users but also contribute to the credibility and success of your online directory.