Best out of the box directory software?

[highwayfive]

I want to build a niche directory based on a one service area and wondered if anyone has any experience of the best out of the box directory software to use?

I would want to have free listings and paid for listing.

The CMS would need to be SEO friendly

Thanks in advance

[EwanFisher]

With people now paying to have links removed from directory's I wouldn't wast my time.....

[matbennett]

Good niche directories are still useful to both site owners and the public.  There is nothing wrong with the format of a directory, it is the use of that format that has been causing problems.

I'm not a big fan of much off the shelf software for this sort of thing (I'd either build from scratch or build using drupal).  People I know who use them mostly complain about limitations of the software.  However phplinks directory seems to be a very common choice . However if you were building with that I would suggest spending extra time to make sure that it stands out as a quality directory and doesn't look like another spammy one.

[highwayfive]

Its not just for SEO but as non spammy resource within the niche that doesn't currently have one. Not all directories are bad !

[Mr.Rangen]

http://directorypress.net/

[Mr.Rangen]

Such a rare occurrence. You're not going to sway Highwayfive to not put up a niche dir by throwing this out there.

[Mr.Rangen]

I would and have built from scratch as well.

Social components can really make directories pop these days, and not many are utilizing the open graph as they should be.

[matbennett]

I didn't get on with directorypress.  I just couldn't see the point in building a directory on top of wordpress when it then overtakes any wordpress like functionality.

I'd agree with Brent that it is worth a look - I know others who like it. However for me it was just a convoluted way to go about things with a not great end result.