How I Built a Local Directory Website in 48 Hours With No-Code Tools (Step-by-Step)

In this video, I’ll walk you through how I designed, built, and automated a local directory website from scratch in just 48 hours—so you can do it too! Whether it’s running, baking, or connecting local businesses, building a directory is simple, valuable, and packed with growth potential.

What You’ll Learn:
1️⃣ Why You Should Build a Business Directory: Discover the value of helping your community, building trust, and unlocking new business opportunities.
2️⃣ The Best No-Code Tools to Use: Learn how tools like Webflow, Airtable, and Whalesync make the process easy.
3️⃣ Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Directory Website: From designing to launching, I’ll break down the key pages and features you need.
4️⃣ Organizing and Syncing Your Data: See how to manage your data with Airtable and automate updates with Whalesync.
5️⃣ Populating Your Directory with High-Quality Information: Find and add the best data to make your directory stand out.
6️⃣ Adding Powerful Search and Filters: Use tools like Finsweet to make your site intuitive and user-friendly.
7️⃣ How to Monetize Your Directory: Explore strategies like partnerships, affiliate links, and paid services to generate income.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have everything you need to create your own directory website, whether it’s a business or a passion project.

Let’s get started! 🚀

Related:

Links & Resources:

Timestamps:
0:00 - The Running Directory: What it is and why I built it.
0:22 - How The Directory Website Works
1:47 - Building the Website with Webflow: Overview of key pages and how to use Webflow CMS.
4:36 - Using Relume Components: How Relume accelerates website design.
6:16 - Setting Up Airtable as a Database: How to structure your data for seamless updates.
8:46 - Syncing Data with Whalesync: Automating updates between Airtable and Webflow.
14:21 - Populating the Directory with High-Quality Data: Using Airtable Web Clipper and enrichment workflows.
17:31 - Search and Filtering with Finsweet CMS Filter: Adding powerful search functionality to your directory.
21:42 - Cost of Running the Directory, Monetization Strategy and Final Thoughts

[Norell]

Congrats to your new passion and thank you for this content

[thebritishindian]

Simply learning about that Airtable extension which helps to automatically save logos from social media accounts was a killer time-saver! Thanks so much for making this tutorial.

[zfoundermode]

Perfect timing, thank you so much for this tutorial, really useful and easy to understand (even through at times it goes a little too fast for a beginer)!

[alexdabek]

This is amazing I've been trying to learn how to build stuff like this. How do you plan to keep the database updated over time? For example if clubs change their hours or something like that.

[rahulawtaney]

Thanks Connor.. great guide.. couple of questions regarding the actual directory:

1. does your website have static pages for the next level of details?
2. if yes, then are these created automatically?
3. is there a limit to the number of such listing pages with web flow?

[seanyoo]

Hey great content! I initially was going to go for wordpress or even next.js custom code, but I think this is really compelling. My question is, how is the SEO performance on this using no code? Any tips on it?

[matthewbusel]

amazing guide! can't wait to use TRD :)

[HirwaMugabe]

Hey Connor, thanks for the detailed video. Really love your process of creating directories. I'm also curious to know what tool you use to record your video, it looks sleek.

[DanielBardsley-ht]

Great video, thanks! When you populate the CMS fields within Webflow CMS, do you then export them > upload them to Airtable for it to convert them? *I am not a techie so slogging around Webflow and Airtable at the moment

[UZOCHIAPA]

Great video. Curious, why do you need airtable and Whalesync? Just inject the data into webflow CMS

[Woetje]

Hey Connor, thanks for the video. I am curious why you are using Whalesync and not CMS Bridge by Finsweet because it’s cheaper. Are there any disadvantages using CMS Bridge?

[nathann]

So how can a run club or individual create and manage listings?

[Lofimastervibes]

Thank you for the awesome detailed video, how do get data for your directory, i want to create a directory but i don't wan to scrape others people data i don't want voilate other company policy, please how can i get data for my rectory without scraping

[aijokker]

One month later, does it work? Does it bring any visitors?

[nikachachua]

yes but can you pls show us step by step how to build it, I'm completely new for this

[tancdiscovery]

Have you looked at the legal aspect of having a directory site? Privacy, use of copyrighted material such as logo's, site screengrabs etc?