Built a custom business directory management system for TheHomeTrust.com — a curated collection of high-end design and renovation professionals. The plugin allows administrators to create, edit, and organize business profiles with detailed information, locations, and SEO-friendly category listings.
Overview
TheHomeTrust.com connects premium home design, renovation, and decor companies with discerning homeowners through an exclusive online directory.
This custom business directory for WordPress was developed to manage The Home Trust’s network of luxury home design and renovation companies, providing an SEO-friendly, location-driven search experience.
To support that vision, I built a Custom Business Directory — a WordPress plugin designed from the ground up to manage detailed company records, generate dedicated profile pages, and power a location-based search experience for site visitors.
Key Features
- Centralized Business Management:
A custom WordPress admin panel built for speed and clarity, allowing administrators to add or update company profiles, contact info, and service categories in seconds. - Automated Profile Pages:
Each directory entry automatically generates a fully formatted public page showcasing company details, images, and verified links to websites and social media. - Location-Aware Search:
Visitors can browse businesses by state, city, or service category.
Example: A homeowner looking for a contractor in Illinois can drill down to Chicago and view all verified listings in that area. - Multi-Location Support:
Each business record can include multiple brick-and-mortar locations with separate phone numbers, regions, and contact details — all editable from one dashboard. - SEO-Driven Categorization:
Company services and specialties are structured for rich internal linking and search optimization, improving overall visibility for directory listings. - Custom Admin Experience:
A lightweight, AJAX-powered interface for creating and managing over 90 businesses and 300+ locations.
Includes live validation, record locking, and responsive layouts that feel native to WordPress.
Result
The Home Trust gained a scalable, user-friendly directory system that replaced a manual, error-prone process.
Administrators can now manage hundreds of listings quickly while the site presents a polished, searchable showcase of elite home-industry professionals.
Tech Stack
- Custom database schema for business records and locations
- WordPress (custom plugin)
- PHP + MySQL
- jQuery + AJAX
- Divi theme integration