Article Directory Softwares and Scripts

If you are looking for legitimate options to start an online business, then starting an article directory is really a good option.

Even if you are inexperienced in internet marketing and web promotion, starting an article directory will help over time as one develops the skill to manage a directory, those who are on a low budget can start with a free scripts which can be installed on any server, you only need a domain name and hosting which are both very cheap nowadays.

Most of these directory softwares can be used for link directory also which is yet another option for doing something online.

Starting a directory will not be able to make financial progress until it is well established and know, here too there are two options to choose from:-

1. Start adding each and every article/link with or without a fee and make little money from the traffic at the earliest.

2. Start now but only add articles and links of websites/online resources which fulfill the criteria and reject others politely, even if someone is willing to pay but fails to qualify. This will take time but will really help in future.

Article Dashboard is a free article directory script, which anyone can download from there site after providing details i.e. first name and email id. They'll send the download link in email.

Some features of Article-Dashboard are
1. Search Engine friendly URLs
2. PHP/MySQL based script
3. Creates category based RSS feeds automatically
4. Unlimited Categories, Authors, Pen Name per author.
5. Supports Article Rating, tell a friend, full comment
6. Ready to use Ezine formatting for Ezine, Website publishers

Plus a number of other features are available, Article Dashboard is one of the most popular article directory software that is in use.

This script is a zip file of 1.79 MB only, which will work in php and mysql. I was not able to find more on when the script was updated. You can visit Article Dashboard to get more details. Download Article Dashboard Directory Software

ArticleMS is a free article directory script based on PHP and MySQL. Latest version is 2.1 updated on 17 March 2010. The features of this script as listed by them are :

# It has Search Engine Friendly links
# It can handle large number of article submission as its has Mass Approval/Decline feature
# Easy to use template based design which can be easily customized
# Different level of permission for users
# Ready to use RSS feed (even search results are available in RSS)
# Email templates to notify authors when there articles are approved
# Visual Editor for submissions
# Spam protection with CAPTCHA

Free script contains a Powered by link at the bottom and can be removed with paid versions

1) License for 6 months only costs $ 29.95
2) Permanent Lifetime $80.

Both free and paid versions are available from Article Trader, you can get them from ArticleMS Branding Free Version

They also offer Article Distribution and Link Building Services at a very competitive price.

Learn more about Article MS Article Management System at there site or look at this online business articles directory created with free version of ArticleMS.

Article friendly is yet another popular PHP, MySQL based script which is designed for Linux Server (and can be used with Windows Server with modified version of PHP). This script is available for outright purchase only there is no free version of this software, its standard version costs $24.99 while pro version is available at $49.99. They accept payments via Paypal and Google only.

Basic requirement for installation of this script/software are:
1. PHP version 4+
2. One MySQL database
3. IonCube and Mod_Rewrite Enabled hosting.

Learn more at Article Friendly article publishing script for PHP and MySQL.

AJ-Square Article Directory is a company in the field of software development and promotion. They have a number of products for web marketers like AJ Auction Pro, AJ Classifieds, AJ Shopping Cart, AJ Email Marketers etc.

AJ Article is there license based software for Article Submission. It is based on PHP and MySQL There latest version is AJ Article 3.0 and requirements are:
1. Linux or Windows based Server
2. PHP 5.3 or later versions
3. MySql 2.3 or later
4. A Minimum 30 MB Space on Server
5. Supports Firefox 3.0 and Internet Explorer 6+

They have a license based pricing, individual level license costs $249 and provides 1 month technical support, additional charges for some services like 'powered by' link removal, enterprise license costs $2499 and includes a number of additional features and 3 months technical support.

More information is available from there site visit AJ Article Directory Software.

Article Directory Pro is a content management software which is designed for creating article directory on a server. It solicits articles from other people and posts them on the site with Google adsense on every single page. It can also import articles to display on the site.

Some features of Article Directory Pro are:

1. Version 2.5
2. PHP/HTML/MySQL based
3. Online HTML Editor
4. Unlimited 3 Level Support as Admin, Publisher and Author
5. Header, Footer and Sidebars can be easily customized
6. Provides RSS, XML feed
7. Unlimited Categories and Sub Categories
8. Published articles ready for emails
9. Article are ready to be printed
10. Search Engine Friendly

Article Directory Pro is a product of Grid Marketing and available for $67/- and is available at ClickBank. I personally do not think that it is one of the best product for installing article directory on a website.

eSyndiate is a feature rich directory software which is frequently updated its latest version is 2.3. Basic requirements for this software are:

1- PHP version 4.3 or above

2- MySQL version 4.0 or above

3- It is not platform dependent i.e. can be used with Unix/Linux or Windows based Server

4- Needs at least IIS 6.0, Apache 1.3 or above for mod_rewrite

5- Minimum storage space on server is 12MB

Price of eSyndicate Directory Software Package

Every package of eSyndicate Directory Software is accompanied with a lifetime technical support, free future upgrades.
1) Single domain license for $75 (additional license $49)

2) License for 5 domains $199

3) License for 10 domains $299

4) Unlimited domain license $499

They have also developed a number of plugins for this software similar to Wordpress plugins. Most of these plugins are free and can be downloaded from there sites. They constantly develop new plugins based on user demands.

Wordpress Article Directory Software is a script based on Wordpress open source platform. This is not a free script like most wordpress plugins. This is a paid software and single domain license is available for $49 includes complete package including theme and plugins, free future updates and forum based support.

They also offer a package at a little more investment for $99 which includes a number of wordpress themes plus

1. All Wordpress Plugins that are required for Article Directory

2. Additional plugin used by wordpressarticledirectory.com on there site

3. License to use Wordpress Directory Software on three domains (it is not for unlimited domains)

4. Free future updates

5. Email support in addition to forum support

6. Full resell rights to a course 'Article Marketing Made Easy'

7. Full resell rights to 126 ebooks (images listed on there site without any detail)

This is all that we get for $99 instead of $49 (may be cheaper is better) both versions include training documents and video tutorials. Take a look at Wordpress Article Directory Software by visiting there site or you can look at this Free Wordpress Article-Directory Plugin based natural health articles directory.

PHP Link Directory Script is another popular script for directories which is available in three forms, one is free (old version) and other two are paid versions, latest PhpLD Version is 4.0 which was released in September 2009.

This software seems to contain much more features then any other software or script listed above, it also seems to be more powerful then others as a number of web based directories are using this software in one form or another.

This script can be used to create both an article directory or a link directory, it can also validate back links, help in link exchange and is also able to integrate a Paypal button to sell spot for sponsored link spot.

Features available in its latest version can be classified under:

1. Administrator Features
2. User Features
3. Listing Features
4. SEO Features
5. Paypal Gateways Integration
6. Compatibility and Customization

Available Downloads

1. Free Directory Script : A previous version of PhpLD which is obsolete now (it is no more updated or supported) is available for free download and use (version 2.2.0 or 3.4.0), as per there terms a user must maintain a back link at the bottom of all pages and there logos. This free version can be easily updated to any paid version later.

2. Paid Version with back link : Latest version 4.0 is available for $30 (per domain) if a back link is maintained in the directory.

3. Full Paid Version : For those who do not wish to link back can purchase latest version of PHP Link Directory Script for Only $80.

More information about this software can be had from there site, they also have a number of useful articles and a knowledge-base. In order to download any version of this software, we must register at there site.

PHP Link Directory Software is one of the most popular software used by a number of directories (and also contains a number of useful features).

Most of us think that free softwares are either risky or they don't work at all. It takes a lot of time to try and test every free script software available online, although we can read reviews at several places (but unfortunately they are usually available for paid/promoted versions, which are often biased).

I have installed this free software on a Linux Server and now its running without any problem. It also offers a number of features like RSS/Feed, SEO friendly URLs, Captcha, etc. Initially it is difficult to understand its working and environment but if we move slowly we'll learn how to manage things with it. It can be fully customized.

Steps to Install this Software:

1. Upload the script to the folder (root of article directory)
2. Get details of MySql database (database name, user, password, location etc).
3. Open settings.php in a text editor and enter details carefully. There are many other options but leave them now.
4. Upload this file and install directory. (All the details are available with download and most queries/problems are already answered in there forum).
5. Promote Your Article Directory

I've noticed that this directory works fine without frequent problems as are seen with most database based softwares and scripts and is also stable with very low bounce rates, it does require some customization which are easy to learn.

It is easy to choose and install an article directory but it is very difficult to make it a successful article directory. In order to get it in search engines and article distribution directories and services, we have to put in lots of efforts.

There are some addon scripts which can automatically copy articles from other similar directories or we can add some articles every day manually. Nobody will like to submit articles to a directory which is empty or do not have enough articles. One basic optimization tip is to include meta tags in home page as well as in categories and articles, this will help in getting the directory indexed by a number of search engines and robots.

During the first promotion phase we should avoid monetizing of our directory with either contextual ads like Google Adsense or affiliate products. We can also use Google Adwords for Contents to promote in relevant sites.

Once we start getting some articles to our directory we can start adding some ways of making money slowly.

Open Journal System is a free open source software based on PHP and MySQL, developed under Public Knowledge Project. It can used to manage articles/academic journals.

Currently OJS Ver 2.3.7 is available for download.

Download OJS 2.3.7

Download OJS http://pkp.sfu.ca/ojs_download

Read FAQ http://pkp.sfu.ca/wiki/index.php/PKP_Frequently_Asked_Questions

Information on Wiki http://pkp.sfu.ca/