The Directoryz field guide

Listing data

Make every listing useful enough to support a real decision.

13 practical guides1 topic

Find a guide13 guides shown

Choose required fields for a directory listing

Required fields should support the visitor's first decision.

A field name alone may not tell contributors what belongs in it.

Unknown, not applicable, and unavailable are different states.

A description should explain what the listing offers and who can use it.

Source provenance makes future correction possible.

A review date should indicate that someone checked the listing, not merely that a file was rebuilt.

Visitors need to know what happens when they contact a provider.

An image should identify the listing or show something relevant to the decision.

Pricing often depends on scope, plan, or usage.

A provider can serve places where it has no office.

A listing needs a stable identifier even when its name or website changes.

Status labels should describe a real editorial or operational state.

A completed example can teach contributors more than a long form instruction.