Directories Establish Publications as Industry References

If a publication serves a particular market segment, its users will often need to contact related groups of suppliers. For example, users of business publications may need to contact suppliers of accountancy services, office supplies and IT consultancy. Such publications can enhance the reference value they provide to readers, and also generate additional revenues, by offering service provider directories of relevant suppliers.

System 7 provides a highly sophisticated service provider modules for publications. These enable publishers to add multi-category service provider directories to their publications that offer serveral different types of listing. Typically, bronze listings are offered for free, with silver, gold and platinum being offered at increasing tariffs.

Depending upon the type of listing, entries are displayed in different visual formats and at different positions within the order of service provider entries. For example, service provider entries can be sorted alphabetically, or optionally by proximity to a particular postal or zip code, but platinum entries always appear at the top with a logo, and therefore suit national organisations with many regional offices.

System 7 makes it possible to operate service provider directories using a variety of commercial and non-commercial models. The module provides an administration interface that can be used to manually enter or moderate new entries. The system can also be connected to online payment systems so that customers can add new entries without intervention.