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Setup Membership Type Directories & Categories

Updated
The Goal: Associate a directory, directory display settings and directory categories to a membership type, so members of that type are assigned to the right directory listing automatically.

Before You Begin:

  • Membership types may associate to a particular Understanding Directories and to a set of Understanding Directory Display Settings.
  • Directory display settings control what information about a business or individual is displayed if you choose to publish a directory of members to your website. You may, perhaps, have different levels of listings based on membership type — a basic level might include just a business name and a logo, whereas an enhanced listing may include photo galleries, videos, maps and so on.
  • If a directory is tied to a membership type, the member will automatically be assigned to this directory. Decide which directory each type should feed before you start.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Go to Memberships, click Settings and select Membership Types. The page opens as Membership Settings.
  2. A list of the membership types currently set up in your system is displayed.
    Full Membership Types page showing the grid, with the Directories/Categories column boxed
  3. In the Directories/Categories column, click the link — for example 1 Directory, 1 Directory / 1 Category or <No Directories/Categories> — for the membership type to which you wish to associate directories and categories. The window opens as Edit Membership Benefits - <membership type>.
    The Edit Membership Benefits window for a membership type, showing the Directory Listing and Directory Categories areas
  4. Configure the Directory Listing options:
    • Click the blue plus sign to add a directory, and directory display settings, to this membership type. Each click adds another Directory / Directory Display pair; the grey minus sign at the end of a row removes it.
    • Select the Directory you want the members of this membership type to be included on.
    • Select the Directory Display that is automatically assigned to the member with this membership type. See Understanding the Directory Display Options for further information on directory display settings.
      Close crop of the Directory Listing row (Directory and Directory Display) with the blue add button boxed
  5. Configure the Directory Categories options:
    • Display Directory Categories: Check the box to display directory categories, allowing applicants to choose their category or categories on the membership application. The fields below only appear once this box is checked.
    • Choose the Category List you want your members to choose from.
    • Use Minimum Required and Maximum Allowed to set how many categories each applicant is able to select.
      Directory Categories area with the Display Directory Categories checkbox, Category List, Minimum Required and Maximum Allowed fields boxed
  6. Click Done.

Common Pitfalls

  • Setting the directory but not the display: The Directory decides which listing the member lands on; the Directory Display decides how much of their information shows. Set both, or an enhanced-tier member can end up with a basic listing.
  • Leaving Display Directory Categories unchecked: If the box is clear, applicants are never offered a category choice on the membership application — even when a Category List is selected.
  • Minimum Required set too high: A Minimum Required higher than the number of categories an applicant realistically fits will block them from completing the application.

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