Amazing functionality! But needs a facelift

  • webfolkster

    (@webfolkster)


    8 years, 3 months ago

    I GIVE 4.25 Stars GeoDirectory is hands down the absolutely best directory plugin I have ever used and I currently have over 30 directory based sites.

    The reason for only 4.25 stars?

    #1 Too many add-ons required to get similar functionality available in one fell swoop with other directory themes/plugins.

    #2 Design – GeoDirectory styling hasn’t changed much and it is far behind other similar products. You can always tell when you stumble upon the GeoDirectory plugin because it’s the same everywhere, only the theme changes and the only way the look maintains any design consistency is if GeoDirectory themes are used.

    #3 Price – I am on the $85 every 6 months plan in order to get the much needed available add-ons that many themes offer prepackaged at no additional cost. I can buy 4 comparable new new themes a year for that price.

    #4 Modernization – even though the plug-in is set-up to work with various themes – GeoDirectory Framework theme seems to be the only theme I am able to get to work satisfactory without tons of customization and multiple support tickets.

    The good stuff…

    With all the add-ons installed on a GeoDirectory theme, it is hands down light years ahead of 95% of other themes. BuddyPress integration is flawless and the custom post types add on makes it easy to create any type of directory you want from real estate to automobiles and an event based site that recurs and more. The ability to import from social (add-on) makes for quick and easy importing of place/event details and descriptions. The reviews manager add-on is very similar to Yelp, which is very good. The ability to control every minute detail of listing packages is incredible amazing too, making it simple and easy to monetize a site.

    How to get 5 Stars?

    #1 Focus on the user experience from both the business and consumer side. Improving design, structure and functionality of GeoDirectory themes to be modernly comparable to some of the more modern directory themes out there. Improve drastically on design, look and feel. Reduce the number of clicks required to get the information needed.

    #2 In the GeoDirectory based themes include all the standard directory based functionality; i.e. places, events, payment gateways, claim listing, multiple locations, advanced maps, marker clusters, multiple header and home page types including video. There are currently 3-4 themes that I uses that includes all of GeoDirectories functionality including the add ons for on $45-$59 (However, buddypress can’t be integrated but information on users accounts is available via something similar to a twitter card)

    #3 Reduce the number off add-ons by including them in the core plugin as one fell swoop and being able to simply tick on or off certain functionality.

    #4 Reduce the price

    #5 Provide for a Cordova / PhoneGap project to easily create native companion iOS and Android App so that the CMS is seamless as possible across all technologies. A number of themes offer this for no additional charge and even provide support for it.

    Conclusion:

    GeoDirectory, despite all the afore mentioned downsides is my go to technology when I need a highly functional and robust directory site. The only way I could get it any better is if I had my own team of developers. Although it is substantially more expensive it is ultimately worth it because the support is very good as well.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Plugin Author Stiofan

    (@stiofansisland)

    8 years, 3 months ago

    Hello Webfolkster,

    Firstly thanks for the feedback, it is very much appreciated, i do think it’s a bit harsh though and i’ll try to explain why below 🙂

    The reason for only 3 1/2 stars?

    #1 This was really the point of GeoDirectory, when starting GD we looked at the competition and so many were bloated out with so much stuff that was rarely used, so our answer was to do things very modularly, you install what you need. This is also good for 3rd party developers, if they for instance make a better marker cluster addon, it’s easy for you to swap to their version. This is by design and not something we would change, it feels bad to get marked down for it.

    #2 Again this is by design, we tried to keep things rather plain in terms of styling for that exact reason, if we over style something it will fit that one theme but will look out of place in any other theme, so we keep it simple, users can then style things how they want. Plugins rarely over style, its the job of the theme, look at the big players such as Easy digital downloads or woocommerce, look at their basic plugins, all styling is very plain. (We do have many new themes coming out soon which have their own styling)

    #3 Pricing is subjective to the customer, you can buy a nice looking theme for $50 with not much complex functionality and it’s not designed to make you money over and over, when you start moving on to complex web-applications such as GD, Easy Digital Downloads, WooCommerce or any of what we would consider competition, we are by far the cheapest!

    #4 It’s true things don’t always look 100% with all themes, but not all themes follow the same structures, we have custom sidebars, custom top sections and bottom sections to achieve this we have to move outside the box a little. If you ask for theme compatibility it usually takes us 5-10 minutes to do and the settings can be exported and shared with others so they can import the settings. We have just released a new free theme and have several styled child themes coming in the next few weeks: https://wordpress.org/themes/directory-starter/

    How to get 5 Stars?

    #1 We will be improving design, but through themes not through the plugin, we know there is a lack of good styling themes for GD so we are building them 🙂

    #2 This is the opposite of what we are trying to achieve, we are going for modular, there should be a separation of design(theme) and functionality (plugins). As for $45 directory themes, they often look good but lack functionality or the ability to manage even thousands of listings, we build things to handle millions of listings.

    #3 Again this is the opposite of what we are trying to do, all our code is built for developers, we want 3rd part devs to be able to build modularly and be able to swap out things. We don’t want a huge bulky core plugin, we want users to be able to install and run what they want/need, you might be someone that uses most of the features but not everyone does.

    #4 Again, this is subjective, $150 a year for some is less than one directory listing sale, others it might be 2-3, is that worth it to you? We have reviews of people raving about how cheap we are, in the scheme of plugins that make you money, we are very cheap, please look at EDD or WooCommerce for comparisons. (maybe you are not aware)

    #5 I could write a phonegap app for a blog website in a few days, a directory is far more complicated, we are taking out time with it to get things right 🙂

    Again i thank you for your feedback, it’s hard to know what customers are thinking and to be able to provide explanations to what you are thinking is a great thing. We know we might not have styling like some directory themes but hopefully i have explained why and our own upcoming themes will show the potential of things.

    Feel free to reply again, i would hope that my explanations might deserve a bump in rating but that might be wishful thinking 🙂

    Thanks,

    Stiofan

    Thread Starter webfolkster

    (@webfolkster)

    8 years, 3 months ago

    Stiofan:

    I didn’t mean to be harsh. That wasn’t my intent. An honest and blunt review of my experience is what I gave. It’s simply my opinion and doesn’t make me right. However, I should have just given 4 stars and would be happy to change it to that, because it is deserved.

    If everybody just says, “Great Theme!” and then gives you 4 or 5 stars, that tells me nothing and tells you nothing. As a result, GeoDirectory may just become complacent and not improve and get better in the face of so much competition. When I ask for a review and I always do, I am expecting information on how I can improve as a user of WordPress. I am no developer and far from it – I just follow instructions in all the documentation GeoDirectory provides. I believe GeoDirectory has the ability to be Bleeding edge not just cutting edge. I would like to see GeoDirectory lead the way and be what others want to duplicate and knock off because it is so powerful.

    I love the plugin – I just think you can make it even better! and I know you have the team in place to do it, that’s all. I signed up for another 6 months and will continue to do so and that should basically be the ultimate review. Right?

    Thanks for all your hard work on GeoDirectory and the awesome support provided when rarely needed.

    Topher “Webfolkster” Maguire

    Plugin Author Paolo

    (@paoltaia)

    8 years, 3 months ago

    Hi,

    we appreciate the feedback. We know we have huge room for improvements.

    We are also glad that the prevaling opinion is positive rather than negative.

    We are working really hard to make all the negative go away. It wont happen overnight, but I can assure you that we won’t stop until we get there.

    Thank you

    Plugin Author Stiofan

    (@stiofansisland)

    8 years, 3 months ago

    Hi Topher,

    I understand, still 4 stars is better than 3 🙂 (it should be easy to change). IF you have any other feedback, we are here to listen.

    Thanks,

    Stiofan

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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