When people feel sick, the first thing they do is search online for a doctor. But finding the right one isn’t always easy. The information is scattered across different websites, and it’s hard to compare doctors based on their specialties, experience, or availability. This is where a doctor directory website can help.
It puts all the information in one place. Patients can search for doctors based on what they need, and doctors get a platform to reach more people.
If you’re thinking about creating a doctor directory website, you might think it’s complicated. Setting up the site, adding doctor profiles, managing appointments – it sounds like a lot of work. But it’s actually pretty simple.
With WordPress and the aDirectory plugin, you don’t need to know how to code. You just need the right tools and a few easy steps to get your website up and running.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to do it. Let’s get started!
Why Should You Create a Doctor Directory Website?
People are always looking for doctors online. They want quick, reliable information to help them choose the right healthcare professional. A doctor directory website makes this easy by putting all the important details in one place.
But it’s not just helpful for patients. It can also be a great opportunity for you.
1. High Demand for Doctor Listings
Healthcare is something everyone needs, and people often search online before booking an appointment. A doctor directory website meets this demand by helping people find doctors based on their location, specialty, and services. It’s a useful tool that can attract a lot of visitors.
2. Multiple Ways to Earn Money
You can turn your website into a source of income. Here’s how:
- Paid Listings: Charge doctors or clinics to be featured at the top of search results.
- Ads: Run ads for healthcare-related services on your site.
- Appointment Commissions: Take a small fee for every appointment booked through your platform.
3. Helps Local Healthcare Providers
Many small clinics and independent doctors struggle to get noticed online. Your directory can give them a platform to reach more patients, especially in local communities. It helps doctors grow their practice while making it easier for people to find trusted healthcare providers.
4. Low Setup Costs
You don’t need a big budget to start a doctor directory website. With tools like WordPress and the aDirectory plugin, you can create a professional website without hiring developers. You can also add advanced features using plugins without spending a lot.
5. People Want Convenience
Patients prefer websites where they can find all the information they need. Doctor profiles, reviews, clinic locations, and booking options should be easy to access. A well-organized doctor directory saves them time, which means they’re more likely to come back to your site.
Creating a doctor directory website isn’t just a good idea. It’s a smart way to build a platform that helps people and generates income.
Also Read: What is Directory Listing for Business
How to Create a Doctor Directory Website in WordPress
Creating a doctor directory website in WordPress is simple. With the right tools, you can set up a professional site without any technical hassle.
WordPress makes it easy to customize your website, and directory plugins like aDirectory help you add features such as doctor profiles, search filters, and appointment options.
Here are the steps you need to follow to create a doctor directory website using WordPress:
- Choose a Domain Name and Hosting
- Install WordPress on Your Hosting Panel
- Pick a Doctor Directory-friendly Theme
- Install aDirectory – The Ultimate WordPress Directory Plugin
- Configure the Basic Settings of Your Directory Website
- Add Doctor Categories and Locations
- Create and Publish Doctor Listings
Now let’s get into the details!
Step 01: Choose a Domain Name and Hosting
To create your doctor directory website, the first step is to choose a domain name and hosting provider. Your domain name serves as the web address that people will use to access your site, so it’s important to make it:
- Short
- Memorable
- Relevant to healthcare or medical services.
For example, names like FindDoctorsNow.com or LocalDoctorHub.com are great options.
Next, pick a reliable hosting provider. A good hosting provider ensures that your site loads fast, can handle high traffic, and remains online without issues. Look for hosting features like:
- Strong uptime guarantees
- Excellent customer support
- Scalability options
Some popular hosting services for WordPress are SiteGround, Bluehost, and Cloudways. Many hosting providers also offer one-click WordPress installation to make the setup process even easier.
Step 02: Install WordPress on Your Hosting Panel
To install WordPress on your hosting account, follow these steps:
a) Access Your Hosting Control Panel
Login to your hosting account, and navigate to the control panel (cPanel) provided by your hosting provider. You can typically access cPanel by entering your domain name followed by “/cpanel” in your web browser’s address bar.
b) Locate the WordPress Installer
Once you’re in cPanel, look for the “Softaculous Apps Installer” or “WordPress Installer” icon. This tool simplifies the process of installing WordPress by automating most of the steps.
c) Select WordPress for Installation
Click on the WordPress icon to launch the installation wizard. You’ll be prompted to choose the domain where you want to install WordPress if you have multiple domains associated with your hosting account.
d) Configure Installation Settings
Fill in the required information, such as the site name, site description, admin username, and password. Make sure to choose a strong password to secure your WordPress admin area.
e) Complete the Installation
Review your settings, double-check everything, and click the “Install” button to begin the installation process. The installer will automatically create the necessary database and configure WordPress for you.
Once the installation is complete, you’ll receive a confirmation message with a link to your WordPress dashboard.
Step 03: Pick a Doctor Directory-friendly Theme
Choosing the right theme for your doctor directory website is key. A good theme makes your site look professional and run smoothly. It also provides a great experience for your visitors.
Look for a theme that –
- Works well on mobile devices
- Loads quickly
- Can be easily customized.
Here’s what to check for when picking a theme:
- Directory Layout: The theme should have a simple layout that helps users navigate easily and find doctors.
- Customization Options: You should be able to change the colors, fonts, and add your logo without needing to code.
- Search and Filter Functions: A good theme has search and filter options built in, so users can easily find doctors by location, specialty, or availability.
- Plugin Compatibility: Make sure the theme works well with directory plugins like aDirectory to enhance your site’s functionality.
To help you find the best theme for a doctor directory website, we have done the research part and come up with the DocList theme. It’s a doctor listing WordPress theme.
Now let us guide you on how you can install this theme to your WordPress website:
- First, purchase the theme and download it from your account. However, if you are using the aDirectory premium version, you will get this theme in the package. That means you don’t need to buy this theme separately.
- Then log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Appearance -> Themes -> Add New Theme -> Upload Theme.
- Then upload the theme from your computer and hit the “Install Now” button to install the theme.
- Finally, activate the theme to complete the full procedures.
Step 04: Install aDirectory – The Ultimate WordPress Directory Plugin
Now that your WordPress site is set up and your theme is in place, it’s time to add the core functionality with a directory plugin. aDirectory is an excellent choice for creating a doctor directory website.
It’s user-friendly, highly customizable, and packed with features designed specifically for directories.
Now let us show you how to install this plugin!
- To install the aDirectory plugin, navigate to your WordPress dashboard -> Plugins -> Add New Plugin, and type the plugin name – aDirectory in the search box.
- Install and activate the aDirectory plugin from the search result.
However, if you want to use the premium version of the aDirectory plugin, buy a plan, and navigate to your account. There you’ll find the downloadable package.
After downloading the package, go to your WordPress dashboard -> Plugins -> Add New Plugin -> Upload Plugin, and then upload the zip file.
After that, install and activate the plugin to use it on your website.
Also Read: Introducing aDirectory – The Ultimate WordPress Directory Plugin
Step 05: Configure the Basic Settings of Your Directory Website
Once you’ve set up your directory plugin and theme, it’s time to configure the basic settings of your directory website.
- To configure the basic settings, go to your WordPress dashboard -> aDirectory -> Settings & Builder.
- Then click on the “Settings” tab. There you’ll find the settings to configure.
On this interface, there are:
- Listing Default Expire Date: Defines how long a listing remains active. Keep your directory content fresh and relevant.
- Listings Per Page: Sets the number of listings displayed on each page. Improves usability and ensures faster loading times.
- Default Preview Image: Assigns a placeholder image for listings without pictures. Helps maintain a uniform appearance.
- Hide Email Agent Page: Disables email visibility on agent pages. Protects privacy and reduces spam risks.
- Select Currency: Allows you to choose a currency for transactions. Aligns payment options with your audience’s preferences.
When you’re done with the configurations, don’t forget to hit the “Save Change” button to save all the changes.
Step 06: Add Doctor Categories, Tags, and Locations
Organizing your doctor directory is an essential step to make it user-friendly. Adding categories, tags, and locations helps visitors easily find the doctors they’re looking for.
a) Create Categories
Categories help you group doctors based on their specialties. For example, you can create categories like:
- General Physicians
- Dentists
- Pediatricians
- Cardiologists
- Dermatologists
To create a category, follow these steps:
- First, go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to aDirectory -> Categories.
- Click Add New Category and:
- Enter a name.
- Enter slug.
- Add a description (optional but helpful for SEO).
- Assign a parent category if needed.
- Insert Image.
- Finally, hit the “Add New Category” button to add the category.
You will see the category list on the right sidebar if you can successfully create a category.
b) Create Tags
Tags allow you to add extra details to doctor profiles. They work like labels that highlight specific services or features. For example:
- Telemedicine
- Accepts Insurance
- 24/7 Service
- Home Visits
- Emergency Care
To create new tags for your doctor directory website, follow these steps:
- Navigate to aDirectory -> Tags in the dashboard.
- Click Add New Tag and provide a name.
- Save the tag and apply it to relevant listings during their creation.
When users search for doctors, these tags help them find exactly what they’re looking for.
c) Create Locations
Adding locations allows users to find doctors based on where they are. You can create location filters based on cities, regions, or neighborhoods. For example:
- New York City
- Downtown Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Houston
Here are the steps to add a location to your directory website:
- To add a location, go to aDirectory -> Locations.
- Click Add New Location and:
- Enter the name of the location (e.g., “New York City”).
- Add a parent location if it’s part of a larger area (e.g., “USA”).
- Save your location and assign it to listings as needed.
Step 07: Create and Publish Doctor Listings
Once your doctor directory website is set up, it’s time to add doctor listings. This is the core of your site, where visitors can browse and find the doctors they’re looking for.
a) Create Listings from the Backend
To create a doctor listing, go to your WordPress dashboard and open the aDirectory plugin. Click on “Add New Listing” to start.
Fill in all the important details like the doctor name, description, address, contact information, room types, and pricing. You can also add high-quality images to make the listing more attractive.
Don’t forget to assign the listing to the right category, tags, and location. This helps users find the doctor easily when they search or filter results. Once you’ve added all the information, click “Publish” to make the listing live on your website.
Repeat this process to add more doctors. If you plan to allow doctors to submit their own listings, aDirectory offers frontend submission forms.
This way, doctors can create and manage their listings directly from your website without accessing the WordPress dashboard.
Let’s find out how to do that!
b) Create Listings from the Frontend
With aDirectory, you can easily enable frontend listing submissions. To let doctors sign up to your directory website, first, you need to enable this feature on your site.
Navigate to your WordPress dashboard -> Settings -> General, and scroll down a bit, there you’ll find the option “Membership”. Tick this box to enable anyone can register.
Now anyone will be able to register on your directory website.
After signing up as a doctor, click on the “+Add Listing” button and you’ll be redirected to a new interface.
This is your dashboard. From this interface, click on the “Add Listing” option.
Now you need to insert the information for doctor’s name, description, location, contact details, pricing, and photos.
Once a doctor submits a listing, you can choose to review and approve it manually or set it to publish automatically.
Bonus: How You Can Monetize Your Doctor Directory Website
A doctor directory website isn’t just helpful for patients and doctors, it can also be a great way to earn money. Once your website is up and running, you can monetize it in different ways. Here are some of the best options:
I. Paid Listings
Doctors and clinics can pay to have their profiles featured at the top of search results. You can offer:
- Basic Listings (Free): Doctors get a simple profile with limited features.
- Premium Listings (Paid): Doctors can add more details, images, contact options, or appear in top search results.
This model works well because doctors want more visibility, and patients prefer seeing trusted professionals at the top.
II. Featured Listings
You can charge extra for doctors who want to highlight their profiles. Featured listings appear on the homepage or at the top of search results, making them more noticeable. You can offer:
- Weekly or Monthly Featured Spots
- Category-Based Featured Listings (e.g., top-rated cardiologists)
III. Appointment Booking Fees
If your website includes an appointment booking system, you can charge a small commission for every booking made through your platform. This works well if your site gets a lot of traffic and patients actively book doctors online.
IV. Advertisements
Running ads is another way to earn money. You can:
- Use Google AdSense to display automated ads.
- Offer direct ad placements to hospitals, clinics, or medical suppliers.
- Charge banner ad fees for businesses that want to advertise on your site.
Ads can be placed in the sidebar, homepage, or between doctor listings.
V. Membership Plans for Patients
You can offer a paid membership for patients who want extra features like:
- Access to exclusive doctor reviews
- Priority appointment bookings
- Discounts on medical services
This works best if your directory includes high-demand doctors or clinics.
VI. Sell Medical Services or Products
If you want to expand, you can partner with pharmacies, diagnostic centers, or health insurance providers to sell services through your website. For example:
- Online consultations with specialists
- Lab test bookings
- Discounted health checkup packages
VII. Affiliate Marketing
You can earn commissions by promoting medical products or services from trusted brands. For example:
- Health insurance plans
- Telemedicine services
- Medical equipment for home use
Whenever someone buys through your referral link, you earn a percentage of the sale.
There are plenty of ways to make money with a doctor directory website. You can start with paid listings and featured profiles, then expand into ads, bookings, and affiliate marketing as your site grows.
Choose the methods that fit your audience and website traffic.
Also Read: Top Directory Submission Sites in 2025
Over to You
Creating a doctor directory website might seem like a big task, but it’s actually pretty simple when you have the right tools. With WordPress and the aDirectory plugin, you can build a fully functional website without any coding.
A well-organized doctor directory helps patients find the right healthcare professionals while giving doctors a platform to reach more people. Plus, it can be a great source of income if you monetize it through paid listings, ads, appointment bookings, or affiliate marketing.
Now that you know exactly how to set up your site, it’s time to take action. Start building your doctor directory today and create a platform that connects patients with the right doctors!
