Review App feature spotlight: Zip code searches
June 3rd, 2008One cool feature we included in Review App is the ability to search for listings based on a zip code radius. Users can enter a zip code and Review App will return listings located within a specified distance from the search zip code. Zip code search functions are typically reserved for complex, expensive web software but we decided zip code searches are too powerful and useful to leave out of Review App.
You can add a zip code field to your listings by selecting ‘US Zip Code’ from the ‘Field Type’ drop-down menu in the admin control panel. We’ve also included the necessary zip code data table with almost 80K postal codes so you don’t even need to purchase this data separately. On your category pages you’ll see a zip code search box that allows users to restrict search results to a given area.
We implemented a zip code search on singletracks.com several years ago and we even posted the pseudo-code for building your own zip code radius function on this blog. The singletracks zip code search function is fairly unique because our users don’t actually enter zip codes for trails (since most don’t know the actual zip code anyway). Users are simply asked to specify the city and state for new trail submissions and our software automatically looks up the appropriate zip based on the location information entered. Once a zip code has been associated with a given trail that trail will show up in zip code searches - for example, trails within 25 miles of 30030 (Decatur, GA). The zip code field in our trail data table is neither input or output but works behind the scenes to help mountain bikers find local trails.
Review App can provide the same functionality with the ability to keep listing field inputs and/or outputs hidden. Your users will love the ability to zero-in on applicable search results geographically while zip code and city filters can add yet another dimension to your natural search marketing strategy.
