How to Build a Directory Website With AI

Before you open the builder, write down the smallest useful version of the site.

For most directory websites, that means:

• a homepage that explains the niche
• a listing page with cards
• search and a few filters
• a detail page for each item
• a submission or contact page if people can suggest listings
• basic navigation and footer pages

Also define the data structure. A directory is mostly a collection of records, so be specific about fields. Example fields:

• name
• category
• city or region
• short description
• website URL
• image
• pricing tier
• tags
• contact email

Then decide who can do what:

• visitors can browse and search
• editors can add or update listings
• businesses can submit their own listing

If the first version is only a curated directory, you may not need sign-in yet. If people need accounts, saved items, or listing submissions, plan for that before you build.

The first prompt matters because it sets the structure, tech choices, and tone of the project. In Moremade, you describe the site in plain language and the AI agent writes the source code, then shows a live preview.

A good first prompt should cover:

• the type of directory
• the pages you need
• the main fields for each listing
• the visual style
• whether content is static for now or connected to data later
• any mobile requirements

Keep it concrete. Do not ask for everything at once if you are still deciding the workflow.

Build a React + Tailwind directory website for independent coffee shops in Lisbon. Include a homepage, a browse page with searchable listing cards, filters for neighbourhood and price, and a detail page for each shop. Each listing should show name, photo, short description, address, opening hours, website, and tags like wifi or brunch. Use a clean editorial layout with simple navigation and a mobile-friendly card grid. Start with sample data. Add a submit-a-shop page with a form layout, but no backend yet.

After the first build, inspect the live preview like you would review a front-end draft from a teammate. Check page hierarchy, spacing, filter behaviour, card readability, and whether the detail page exposes the right information.

Moremade lets you change things by chatting, and it also has a visual inspector and code view. Use short, specific requests instead of rewriting the whole brief.

Three useful follow-up prompts:

• "Change the listing cards so the image is 4:3, move tags under the description, and make the website link a secondary button."
• "Add a sticky filter bar on the browse page with search, neighbourhood, and price filters. On mobile, collapse filters into a drawer."
• "Rewrite the homepage hero and intro copy to sound more neutral and practical. Add a section explaining how shops are selected."

This stage usually takes a few rounds. Focus on one kind of change at a time:

• layout and navigation
• filter logic and card content
• copy and labels
• mobile spacing
• accessibility details such as button text and contrast

If one page works well, ask the builder to reuse that pattern across the rest of the site.

A lot of directories can launch with sample or curated content first. Add backend pieces only when there is a real need.

Use Supabase if you need:

• a database for listings
• admin or user sign-in
• file storage for images
• user-submitted listings

Example cases:

• a local business directory where editors add records in a database
• a member directory where users log in to manage their profile
• a directory with a submission workflow

Use Stripe if the directory charges for something, such as:

• paid listing submissions
• sponsored placements
• subscription access to premium data

Keep the scope tight. If your first version is just public browsing, do not add account systems or payments yet. Moremade includes connectors for Supabase and Stripe, so you can wire those in when the product model is clear.

A common pattern is:

• build the public browsing experience first
• connect Supabase for listings and admin editing
• add Stripe later if there is a paid submission flow

Directory sites often look acceptable on desktop and awkward on phones. The usual problems are long cards, cramped filters, and detail pages with too many sections stacked badly.

Review these points in the preview:

• search bar width and tap targets
• whether filters collapse properly
• image cropping in cards
• readability of addresses, tags, and metadata
• spacing around buttons and forms
• whether the detail page keeps the most useful info near the top

If needed, ask for precise mobile changes such as:

• reducing card text to two lines
• moving secondary metadata below the fold
• turning filter chips into a horizontal scroll row
• making the call-to-action button full width on small screens

This is also a good point to use the visual inspector to click an element and adjust it directly.

When the structure and content are stable enough, publish it. Moremade can publish in one click to a free yourname.moremade.ai subdomain. If you are on a paid plan, you can connect a custom domain. Domains can also be bought inside Moremade.

A practical way to launch is:

• publish first on the free subdomain
• test links, forms, and page titles
• share it with a few people for feedback
• connect the custom domain once the site is ready

If you want to keep a copy outside the platform, export the full source as a ZIP or push it to GitHub. Websites are real React + Tailwind code, so you are not stuck with a proprietary format.

Most problems come from unclear structure, not from the builder itself.

Avoid these mistakes:

• Too many filters too early. Start with the two or three fields people actually use to narrow choices.
• No data model. If listing fields are vague, every page becomes inconsistent.
• Mixing curation and submissions without rules. Decide whether listings are editorial, user-submitted, or both.
• Adding sign-in before it is necessary. Public directories often work fine without accounts at launch.
• Writing one giant prompt for every feature. Build the core flow first, then refine in small steps.
• Ignoring mobile review. Most directory browsing happens on phones.
• Launching without ownership planning. Export the code or push to GitHub if you want a clean handoff later.

Version history helps here. If one round of changes makes the site worse, revert and try a narrower instruction.