Information and imports
List fields, categories, record sources and ownership. Identify duplicates, missing values and content needing review. Existing volume alone does not explain the cleanup effort.
Resources / Scope and cost
Estimate the operating work as well as the directory.
A useful first scope names the listing type, visitor task and publishing responsibility.
Discovery and account rules
Describe search, filter and location behavior, plus who can create, claim or edit a listing. Complex coverage areas and multiple listing types add decisions and tests.
Moderation and commercial features
Define review queues, disputes, status labels and any paid placement or subscription. Include the staff tools and exception handling required to operate them.
Choose a first release.
One representative listing type can establish the submission-to-search workflow. Include hosting, upkeep, record exports and staff handoff when comparing options.