Joomla Directory Component SOBI 2
I talked a little last week about Joomla. I have been doing more work this week on various Joomla sites for clients and myself and thought I would let you know about my favourite Joomla directory component SOBI 2. Sigsiu Online Business Index 2 (SOBI 2) is an addon to Joomla that makes it possible to run and manage a directory in your Joomla website. The core Joomla system offers a link component it is limited. SOBI 2 on the other hand has many features that makes it stand out from other directory components. You can use it strictly as a web directory or as a directory to physical locations, like golf courses. It has built in integration with Google Maps (API key from Google is required) and it has addition plugins available just for SOBI 2.
Some of the plugins to SOBI 2 include a rating and review and gallery plugin. They make it possible for you to create and run a complete rating and review directory where people can submit listings, submit reviews and upload photos. Even if you don’t run the community builder component SOBI 2 can allow people to build entire web pages about their listing.
You also have the option of making certain features of the listing paid for or free. You could make listings free but charge for links to the websites. You have the option to decide all of this when you setup and manage the component.
The biggest downsides I have found with the SOBI 2 component is there is no way to import an existing database. I have managed to import a directory onto SOBI 2 but then managing the imported entries can be difficult. Doing it one by one when they are submitted is much easier.
Overall SOBI 2 is my favourite Joomla directory component. If you are thinking of adding in a directory to your Joomla website take a look at SOBI 2. It might be just what you are looking for.
Comments
Bincom ICT Solutiona
Sobi2 is an extremely useful component. Even before the comp became stable, I have been using it . I just wanted to add my props for Sobi2.
AC
Hi, we recently installed this directory in our site run in Joomla. I am not a programmer but I asked my programmer to be able to publish content from the the Joomla side but link it with a category in the Sobi side. When a visitor searches a category in the directory, the search results should be displayed on a page that is created from the joomla side and preassigned to this category. The reason, I would like to be able to do this is for organic SEO. I would like to create many pages in Joomla based on popular key words and be able to optimize it but also use these pages as a search results page for the category relevant to that page. Please let me know if this is possible. Please also contact me if you provide consulting service in developing a directory in Joomla and sigsui. Thanks.
LGR
I think I understand what you are trying to do, but I don't think it is possible without some custom work. If you want me to take a closer look let me know through the contact page and send me the URL so I can see your site. Hard to say more without looking at it I think.
sapna
hi, itz indeed a very useful module. Even I am Working with this. But I need to customize it a bit. What I am trying to do is, when I get the search result, I just want all those to be shown on Google map. I am not getting how do I proceed to do this?? plz help me??
LGR
I think you are looking for this SOBI2 add on module. http://tinyurl.com/d2rasz It is not free though it is a commercial add on but sometimes it is faster and easier to pay some cash to get what you need that to code it yourself. Not to expensive only $30.00.