Local Area Niche Directory: WFReview Tutorial
| by trigatch4 on February 18th, 2009 |
There is no doubt that local area search represents a huge opportunity for web developers. An increasing number of people are using search engines like Google to find local businesses and websites serving as resources for these web searchers are often MIA. Heae that? It’s opportunity knocking.
Creating a local area guide seems like a daunting task with data entry serving as one of the main nightmares on the road thought about being travelled but ultimately abandoned. Luckily there are tools out there to help us – you just have to know which tools to use. In this case we’re going to use an amazing plugin for Wordpress called WFReview. This plugin acts as a review plugin for Wordpress and when applied to our Local Area Guide concept using a Yellow Pages Scraper (we’ll get to that) we can create a local area guide with thousands of listings in about an hour. And if you don’t believe me…. just watch as we build Baltimore-Lawyers.org from start to finish in this WFReview Tutorial:
Part 1: Concept And Basics
Things you need and need to know:
- You need WFReview
- You need a Keyword Research Tool like Wordze
- You need to buy a Domain Name
- You need to get Web Hosting
- You need a Yellowpages Scraper Tool (link?)
- Search for domain names at Domain-Tools
- I did not PLAN for the sirens to go off as soon as I said “Baltimore”… home of “The Wire” baby – there is a reason our BBall team was named the Baltimore Bullets. Unfortunately they all shot each other and had to move the team to Washington (take a joke).
Part 2: Installing Wordpress
- Install Wordpress using Fantastico or Manually – I prefer the latter.
- You’ll need an FTP Client like Filezilla.
- Plugins Used: WFReview and All-In-One SEO Pack
- Theme Used: Limau Orange
Part 3: WFReview and YellowPages Scraper:
You need a YellowPages Scraper. I would lend out the URL of mine but the chances that it would be abused are a bit too high. If I know you and/or you’re a frequent commenter and can be trusted, hit me up and I’ll give you access to mine on BuildAndEarn. Otherwise, hit up WickedFire and search around for one to buy – it shouldn’t cost more than $20-$30. If someone is selling a YellowPages scraper hit me up and I’ll link to your site as a resource for this tutorial.
Part 4: Importing To Wordpress with WFReview:
Part 5: Customizing WordPress
At first I wanted to show every step of customizing the theme but it proved to be way too much back and forth randomness and irritation for a screencast. Instead I just give a brief overview of what I want to change and Step 6 shows the changes. If this is a part you really, really wanted/needed to see let me know in the comments and I’ll see if we can work something out:
Part 6: Final Product & Monetization
Summarized: WFReview is awesome. Buy it and prosper.
Building and Earning vs. Spamming and Earning
Some folks (bleached whitehats) might think this devious… meanwhile blackhats are laughing at the thought. But I think if you look at this site as is – from a neutral standpoint – it offers immediate value with the opportunity for a lot of long-term potential. Someone searching for a lawyer by name could likely find their address and phone number through this website. People are searching for this information and at the moment they have NO good resources. Baltimore-Lawyers.org provides a starting point.
If this website were in my long-term plans I may have done things a bit differently. They practice area of lawyers plays a huge roll and this whole realm is neglected. However, re-evaluating its probably a good idea I left it out. Most lawyers and legal groups span a bunch of practice areas – why not apply lawyers to specialty areas only if they purchase a premium listing and/or category listing? All lawyers are simply listed in the general “lawyers” category and are added to specific practice categories if and when they purchase a premium listing. This will not only further the usefulness of the website but also add value to sponsors.
The issue of “rating” lawyers is somewhat of an issue because you can’t validate the reviewer was an actual client… but isn’t that the case with most review sites? Dealing with this issue now is getting WAY ahead of yourself – one. step. at. a. time. Right now we’ve got a killer website thanks to WFReview and we can apply this concept to a bunch of categories/industries in various locations.
I’ll keep you guys and gals updated on the progress of the site but I can’t promise I’ll be working on it frequently. Perhaps checking in now and then until I decide it either deserves more attention and not. Until then we have more important things to worry about…. like building more sites and more content and more resources that will help other people… while helping us earn!
WFReview & Improvements
There are certainly some things about WFReview I’d like to see added and/or improved. For example, API integration with Google Maps would be wonderful. Lets keep in mind this thing wasn’t designed specifically for local area guides… we are merely using it this way. Furthermore, the developer of WFReview is committed to continually developing the product to meet the needs of the WFReview community. And the larger the community the more rapid the development.
If you liked this article/tutorial I hope you’ll do one or both of the following:
Thanks and I’m eager to hear your comments/thoughts/opinions!
1. trigatch4 wrote on February 18, 2009
Audio is horrific. Video is less than desirable. I realize this… suggestions on optimizing each greatly appreciated. I suppose I could start by getting a mic from post-1927.
2. rileypool wrote on February 18, 2009
Here’s a good scraping script. http://www.scrapingpages.com/
3. brainblogclinic wrote on February 19, 2009
Hi
I have to say, that is real good information you put out there. The tutorial was easy to follow and you explained it well. I may have been lost at 1 or 2 spots (only because I couldn’t see the video), but for the most part you were very thorough with your explanations.
I have been searching for that exact tool to build out several local business services and WFReview makes it all the more easier for that to happen.
Ironically, I also used that exact template design for my current WP blog and have no idea how to delete that ‘Text Ads’ box on the homepage. I searched everywhere for the code. Where did you find it? Was it easy to remove? It is a mind bender!
One last thing, do you do any small blog modifications – nothing extensive. I have a blog, but would like to modify the header to add some menu buttons. Probably basic stuff, I am just not the wordpress guru I wish I was.
You can drop me an email at info@brainblogclinic dot com.
Again, great work and keep up the tutorials videos. I know I was not the only person who was captivated by them.
Best to all of you!
Daniel
P.S. you’re correct, being mic’d up will definitely make the sound more crisp and clear.
4. jason wrote on February 23, 2009
Hey, can you tell me how you moved the comments/ratings to the right side of the business listing? I have been trying to figure that out and haven’t gotten anywhere! Thanks!
Jason
5. trigatch4 wrote on February 23, 2009
In single.php I put this:
I also made changed the width of the post area div. I had some trouble with this at first too… tried putting in tables and whatnot and at some point i got here and just said screw it good enough.
Just play around with floating right and whatnot.
6. trigatch4 wrote on February 23, 2009
heh, you can’t see the part where i float it. you basically want to do style=”float:right” and put the above code – which is for the review part – and in the div floated right
7. jason wrote on February 23, 2009
Cool, thanks…fast reply…also, how do I get the posts off the front page so that I can put a general ‘about me’ on the index.php?
Thanks,
jason
8. jason wrote on February 23, 2009
Still having trouble with the comment issue. mind emailing me part of the code on that page? jason at jasonwhitfield dot com
If not that’s cool…
Jason
9. trigatch4 wrote on February 23, 2009
In the “Settings” area you need to go to “Reading” settings and set a Page as your front page. The Page.php template will then be used as your homepage and whatever content from the page you wrote/set as front will be used.
10. SaltAireMo wrote on March 14, 2009
Great tutorial. I had no problem following it. Matter of fact we are downloading a scraper right now and will use your link to buy the wfReview software.
One thing you might want to know. When i registered and then logged in with the password, I had access to your dashboard. Is that what you intended?
thanks for a great idea and tutorial.
11. SaltAireMo wrote on March 14, 2009
nevermind on the “one thing you might …” in my earlier comment. I went back to dashboard and realized it is just for setting up profile. I am really new to wordpress. Missing my old html at the moment.
12. Andrew wrote on March 21, 2009
I can’t find where in single.php you are inserting this:
I too am trying to get the ratings to be next to the post, rather than below it. Also, what tweaks did you make to the width of the post area? Any help you can provide would be much appreciated. Thanks!
13. Andrew wrote on March 21, 2009
My first post didn’t display the code that you mentioned in comment #5, but that is what I was trying to reference.
14. atoreese wrote on April 3, 2009
Yo your newer/older links are jacked. Keep having to use site: search to find shit on your rocking site. Thanks for this tut. Going to buy through your link as soon as v2 comes out. Nick said it should be soon.
Looking forward to becoming a reg reader.
15. marty wrote on May 20, 2009
I’ve been visiting your site for a while now, but I have to tell you this is the BEST information you have shared so far! Keep it up man.
I want to get a copy of the review plugin (with your link of course), but I need a scraper to get the data from yellow pages.
Do you have a link to any that you could send me? I’d really appreciate it.
Keep it up bro.
16. ashworth102680 wrote on December 1, 2009
Having been burned several times recently on scripts that supposedly (correctly) scrape YellowPages.com, I’d be eternally grateful for a copy of yours. I’ll pay if I must.
Badass tutorial. Keep it up. I’ve subscribed and will continue to follow your blog. Good stuff.
17. graycode wrote on April 14, 2010
This post is freakin awesome! I really appreciate you going to the trouble to make a series of videos about it, on top of the various written posts you’ve made.
I’m putting my database together now for a niche in my city, and have an awesome domain that gets good search traffic – just having some issues with various scripts for scraping, like ashworth102680 above me.
I’d be happy to purchase from you. Please let me know.