In early 2025, Haketi identified a crucial need in the local market: a single, comprehensive, and free-to-use directory for all Louisiana businesses. The BizLouisiana project was launched to fill this gap. The goal was to build a powerful, user-friendly platform that would not only help consumers find local businesses but also provide entrepreneurs and companies with a free, high-visibility platform to promote their services. The project involved creating a scalable directory with a robust search function, an intuitive submission process, and engaging content features.
BizLouisiana
Project Overview
The Client
BizLouisiana is a Haketi-owned platform and a free online business directory dedicated to the state of Louisiana. Launched in 2025, its mission is to support the local economy by making it easier for consumers to discover and connect with Louisiana-based businesses. The platform is a community resource for both the public and the state’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Challenge
Building a successful directory from the ground up requires solving significant technical and user-experience challenges.
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Scalability and Performance: The platform needed to be capable of handling thousands of business listings and a high volume of user traffic without compromising speed or performance.
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Intuitive Search and Discovery: The core function of a directory is its search. The challenge was to create a powerful search experience that allows users to easily find businesses by name, category, or location.
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Effortless Submission Process: To encourage businesses to sign up, the listing submission process had to be incredibly simple, fast, and completely free. Any friction would deter participation.
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Building a User Base: As a new platform, the immediate challenge after launch was to attract both businesses to list their services and consumers to use the directory.
The Solution
Haketi developed BizLouisiana as a showcase of our expertise in creating large-scale, community-focused web platforms.
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Robust Directory Framework: We built the site on a powerful and scalable framework designed to handle a massive database of listings. The architecture ensures that the site remains fast and reliable as it grows.
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Advanced Search Functionality: We implemented a smart, user-friendly search system. Users can quickly find what they’re looking for, with results filterable by category and location, making the discovery process highly efficient.
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Simplified Frontend Submissions: We created a seamless, step-by-step submission form that allows business owners to create a detailed listing in minutes. This free and easy process has been key to the directory’s rapid adoption by the business community.
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Content and Community Features: To make the directory a true resource, we integrated a blog to share business tips and local news. This content marketing strategy helps attract and retain users while building the site’s authority.
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Monetization-Ready: While currently free, the platform was built with future monetization features in mind, such as options for featured listings or display advertising, ensuring long-term sustainability.
The Results
Launched in 2025, BizLouisiana has already achieved remarkable success and validated the need for such a platform.
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Rapid User Adoption: Within months of its launch, the directory is already attracting thousands of users per month, demonstrating its immediate value to the community.
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Strong Business Participation: The free and easy submission process has led to a fast-growing database of diverse Louisiana businesses, making the directory increasingly comprehensive.
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A Valuable Community Asset: BizLouisiana has become a go-to resource for finding local businesses and a powerful free marketing tool for Louisiana entrepreneurs.
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Demonstrated Platform Expertise: The project serves as a powerful testament to Haketi’s ability to conceive, build, and successfully launch large, data-driven web applications.
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