Directory map with marker clustering

How the directory map groups nearby listings into clusters, opens popups that link to listings, and how listings get their map position.

The directory map plots your listings as pins, groups busy areas into numbered clusters, and links each pin to its full listing. It is for site owners who want visitors to browse by place as well as by list.

Switching to Map view, opening a cluster, and following a pin popup through to the listing.

Before you start

  • Listings only appear on the map if they have a map position (latitude and longitude). See “How listings get a position” below.
  • Clustering is on by default. You can switch it off at Settings > Maps > Clustering.
  • For the split list-and-map layout, see the separate Split-screen map view guide. This page covers clusters, zoom, popups and geocoding.

How to use it

  1. Open your directory page and find the view switch above the results (List, Split, Map).
  2. Click Map. The map loads and frames every mapped result.
  3. Look for numbered circles. Each one is a cluster, and the number is how many listings sit inside it.
  4. Click a cluster, or zoom with the map controls or scroll wheel. The cluster breaks into smaller clusters and then single pins.
  5. Click a pin. A popup shows the business name, its city, and its star rating with review count when it has reviews.
  6. Click View listing → in the popup to open the full listing page.
Directory map with clusters List Split Map 14 9 6 1 2 Map data by OpenStreetMap contributors (default tiles)
Numbered circles are clusters. Single pins show a number too, matching the result order. The tile style depends on your map provider.
Listing popup on a map pin Example Cafe Milton Keynes ★ 4.6 (32) View listing → 1
The popup title, city, rating and link, as built by the directory script. Featured listings use an amber pin instead of the primary colour.
Settings Maps: Clustering and Geocoding Clustering Group nearby pins into numbered clusters on busy maps Applies when a map shows more than 25 listings. Turn off to always show every pin. Geocoding Find each listing’s map position from its address when it is saved Turn off if you enter coordinates by hand or import them, to avoid lookups with your map provider.
Both options are ticked by default.

How listings get a position

When a listing is saved, the plugin builds one address from the street, city, state, postcode and country fields. It sends that address to your map provider and stores the returned latitude and longitude on the listing. Results are cached for 30 days, so repeat lookups are not sent again.

The lookup runs only when an address exists and has changed, or when there are no coordinates yet. Coordinates you enter or import by hand are left alone. The default provider is OpenStreetMap (Nominatim). Google, Mapbox, MapTiler and HERE are also supported through the Maps settings.

Good to know

  • Clustering starts only when the map has more than 25 mapped listings. Below that, every listing shows as its own numbered pin.
  • The directory loads 20 results at a time, so use Load more to add more listings to the map.
  • Listings with no coordinates are not plotted. If none of the results have a position, the map shows “No mapped listings in this result set.”
  • Listings with no address, or an address the provider cannot find, stay unmapped until you fix the address or enter coordinates.
  • After you pan or zoom, a “search this area” control lets visitors reload results for the visible area.

FAQ

Why do I see single pins instead of clusters?

Clusters appear only when more than 25 listings are mapped. Load more results, or check that Settings > Maps > Clustering is ticked.

Why is a listing missing from the map?

It has no latitude and longitude. Check its address is complete and re-save it so the position is looked up again.

Can I stop the automatic lookups?

Yes. Untick Geocoding in Settings > Maps. Enter or import coordinates yourself instead.

Where does the popup link go?

To the full listing page for that business.

In section: Core Features Updated September 29, 2026
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