1. Overview

Directorist has no admin dashboard today and a four step setup wizard that collects very little information. New users often abandon setup because it feels slow and does not reflect the AI capabilities they expect from modern SaaS. Existing users have no central page to check their directory, so they navigate scattered WordPress menus to find listings, reviews, and settings.

This document proposes two changes that ship together. First, an AI first setup wizard that replaces the four step flow with a single screen. Second, a new admin dashboard that gives users one page to see activity, take common actions, and get guided help during their first week.

Both ship together because they share one goal: shorten the distance between installing Directorist and running a working, monetized directory.

2. Problem statement

2.1 Current setup wizard

• The wizard collects only four inputs (type, map center, payment gateways, demo data). It produces a directory that is roughly 30 percent configured and leaves most setup work for later.
• The directory type list is fixed at ten options and forces users into mismatched niches. One option ("Post Your Need") is not even a directory type, it is a feature.
• The map center step asks users to make a decision they cannot meaningfully answer before understanding their directory.
• The payment step mixes "enable featured listings" with "choose gateway" under a marketing headline ("Yes! You can earn using Directorist Core for FREE"). The heading does not honestly describe what the section contains.
• The wizard produces no listing form fields, no categories, and no extension recommendations. Users must build these manually afterwards.

2.2 Missing dashboard

• Directorist has no admin dashboard. Site owners cannot see their directory's health on one page.
• New users get no guided path during their first week. They land in WordPress admin and must figure out next steps alone.
• Extensions are discovered only through a separate plugin store, never contextually based on what the user is building.

3. Goals and non-goals

3.1 Goals

• Reduce setup time from around 15 minutes to under 2 minutes for non-technical users.
• Increase setup completion rate from roughly 55 percent to 90 percent or higher.
• Give admins one page to monitor their directory and take daily actions.