The Ultimate Guide to UK Business Directories
Your guide to getting your business noticed by brand new customers. Your guide to getting your
The Ultimate Guide to UK Business Directories
Your guide to getting your business noticed by brand new customers.
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The Ultimate Guide to UK Business Directories
Your guide to getting your business noticed by brand new customers.
If your business isn’t listed in a directory yet, that needs to change. But what exactly is a business directory listing? How can it help your operations? And how do you get your business listed today?
Well, you’re in the right place to find out. Stick with us, and we’ll answer all of this and more!
What Are Business Directory Listings?
If you’re young enough not to suffer from lower back pain because you slept at a weird angle, then you may not remember the Yellow Pages. This massive book would sit next to your phone (landlines only back then) and list all of the businesses in your specific region.
As the digital age dawned, these books became outdated and appeared online instead. It’s the same concept; you list your business, services, and contact information in one centralised location. Then people looking for what you offer can easily find you and get in touch.
Types of Business Directories in the UK
Not all business directories are the same. Think of them in the same way you would traditional advertising. If you’re a plumber from Plymouth, advertising in a directory that covers the entire country won’t be the best choice. Instead, you’ll want to advertise on a more local directory to target your preferred audience.
On the flip side, if you’re a digital marketing agency that anyone in the UK can benefit from, just advertising in the region your office is based means you’re missing out on potential customers.
Below are the three main types of directories you should be aware of, as well as examples and an overview of their key benefits.
1. General Directories
General directories list businesses from various industries, providing wider exposure and accessibility to a broad audience. These are ideal for your business if your audience isn’t limited by geographical location. Examples of these include:
Yell.com:
One of the most popular general directories in the UK, offering free and premium listing options to improve visibility and credibility.
Scoot:
Scoot distributes business information to other major directories, increasing your overall reach.
Thomson Local:
A long-established directory with national coverage offering free and paid listings.
Benefits of General Directories
- Broad reach across industries.
- High domain authority improves SEO rankings.
- Integration with search engines like Google for enhanced discoverability.
2. Niche-Specific Directories
These directories cater to specific industries or services, making them ideal if you’re looking to target specialised audiences. Some prominent niche-specific directories include:
FreeIndex:
A popular platform for small businesses, allowing detailed profiles and customer reviews to enhance credibility.
Construction.co.uk:
Focuses on businesses in the construction industry, helping them connect with relevant customers.
Hotfrog UK:
Targets small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and improves online visibility through keyword optimisation.
Benefits of General Directories
- Targeted exposure to relevant audiences.
- Industry-specific customer reviews enhance trust.
- Helps businesses stand out within their niche.
3. National Directories
The opposite of local directories, these cover the entire UK. They often come with a higher domain authority, which makes them more trusted in the eyes of search engines and appear higher in search results. These include:
Cylex UK: Offers both free and premium listings and allows users to leave reviews about products or services.
The Best Of UK: Focuses on promoting local businesses nationally through curated listings.
4. Local Directories
Designed for small businesses aiming to attract customers within a specific region. Great for those whose customers are based in geographical regions (local restaurants, shops, tradespeople, etc). Examples include:
Get Surrey Directory: A directory associated with the local newspaper that allows businesses to submit free listings.
Liverpool Echo Directory: A local directory linked with the Liverpool Echo newspaper for regional exposure.
Choosing the right type of business directory depends on your specific goals. General directories provide broad exposure, niche-specific ones target specialised audiences, and local and national directories cater to different geographic needs.
Benefits of Being Listed in Business Directories
So now you know what business directories are, let’s find out how they can help your business.
Enhanced Online Visibility
Did you know that 63% of shopping begins online? Consumers use the internet to research products and services before purchasing. This is why a strong online presence is essential in the modern day.
Listing your business in an online directory can increase your likelihood of a location visit by up to 70%. Appearing in a directory alongside having a website and social media profiles is a great way to increase your online presence and reach more potential customers.
Improved Local SEO Rankings
This goes hand in hand with the previous point but deserves its own section. We won’t bore you with the details of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), but when carried out properly, it makes you appear higher in search engine rankings. The higher your ranking, the more likely you are for a customer to click on your site.
The top three sites on Google receive the following percentage of clicks:
1st: 39.8%
2nd: 18.7%
3rd: 10.2%
If your business appears on directories that have a high domain authority (a score based on how reputable the site is), this can help boost your SEO for local searches. Because they list your information, search engines recognise you as a local business, making you more relevant to the searcher. So if someone types in “plumber near me”, you’re more likely to appear if they’re in your area.
Increased Web Traffic and Potential Customers
An increased online presence and better SEO due to being listed in a directory will naturally come with increased web traffic. And the more people visiting your site, the higher the likelihood they become paying customers. Well, providing you have a properly optimised website, but that’s a chat for another time.
Directories act as referral sources as they include key information such as links to your website, phone number, and email address. This makes it easier for prospective customers to connect with your business. Some can even integrate directly with search engines like Google, expanding your reach even further!
Build Credibility and Trust
The credibility of your business can go a long way when it comes to making a sale, so much so that 83% of consumers say that they won’t deal with a business they don’t trust. Luckily, online directories are the perfect way to build credibility with new customers.
Larger platforms like Yell and Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) verify businesses before listing them. This brings a layer of trust to consumers, knowing everything is above board.
Access to Customer Reviews and Feedback
On the subject of credibility, customer reviews are one of the best ways to build yours. According to one recent study, 99.5% of people check out customer reviews to research online purchases. Think about it: when was the last time you bought something online and didn’t read the reviews, both good and bad, first?
Most directories will allow customers to leave reviews, making you a more credible and attractive option to potential customers.
Cost-Effective Marketing
Marketing is essential to any business’s success but can be expensive and time-consuming. Directories offer a low-cost, low-effort answer to this problem. Most directories will offer free basic listings while offering premium options at a cost that ranks you in higher positions on the directory rankings.
The best part? You don’t need to be a marketing genius or hire an agency to do it for you. It’s really that simple.
Reach Mobile Customers
Mobile devices (excluding tablets) generated 62.54% of global internet traffic at the end of 2024. Making sure your business is readily available to these customers is a massive advantage of directory listings. They’re already optimised for mobile users, and some will already be integrated with mapping apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps for added convenience.
Gain the Edge Over Your Competitors
Being listed in multiple reputable directories gives you an edge over direct competitors who are not using these platforms. When customers compare businesses online, if yours has a comprehensive directory profile and your competitor doesn’t, then there will only be one winner.
How to Choose the Right Directory For You
Not all directories are created equal, with some being more suited to your needs than others. Below are four hot tips from the team at Commercial Experts to help you decide which is best for you.
Domain Authority and Reputation
Domain authority is the score given to websites that search engines use to determine how trustworthy and reputable they are. The score is ranked out of 100, is determined by various factors, and allows websites to rank higher in search engines.
If you have a website, that too will have a score and can make all the difference in edging out your competitors. So take the examples below:
Trustpilot.com: DA 93
Globalcatalog.com: DA 50
Trustpilot has a near-perfect score of 93, while GlobalCatalog is only at 50.
50 isn’t anything to sniff at, but when Trustpilot offers a score of almost double, it makes sense to go with them. They’re more reputable, so customers there are more likely to trust you (especially if you have great reviews), and because their domain score is higher, they are more likely to find you than on GlobalCatalog.
You will also get something called a backlink. This is a link from one website that is pointing at yours. The higher the domain authority of the site that sends the link, the more valuable it is. This then boosts your website’s domain authority, which, as discussed, is integral to any website’s success.
Industry Experience
We spoke earlier about general and then more industry-specific directories. This could be the perfect choice if you opt for a directory that is more related to your industry (especially if it’s a niche one).
Appearing alongside reputable directories known within your industry will fill any potential customers with confidence about your reliability. They can also help those who know about your niche find you more easily. They will be aware of trusted industry-specific directories and will head there when looking for whatever you have on offer.
If you’re a newer business, this could be a great stepping stone in establishing your business and moving it to your target market.
Just to make things clear, we’re not saying that you should avoid more general directories. But using them alongside more industry-specific ones can help you reach a larger and more targeted audience for not a huge amount of effort.
Your Audience Demographics
While more general and extensive directories will have a much broader reach, advertising in local directories can be beneficial if you’re a regionally based business. Whether you run a restaurant, dental practice, or locksmith service, if your target audience is within a smaller geographic area, then local directories are absolutely essential.
This way, you will target your perfect audience. But make sure you choose the correct directory that advertises specifically in the region you want to target. If you’re a barber from Bournemouth, then there’s no point in advertising in the Liverpool Echo because nobody is travelling that far for a trim, no matter how good you are.
It also sends all the right signals to search engines for them to understand that you’re a local business. So when someone Googles “barber near me” in your area, you’re more likely to appear on their screens.
Free vs. Paid Listings
Like most things in life, with directories, you get what you pay for. Opting for paid listings grants you a range of extra benefits, including enhanced visibility, increased control over the content and appearance of your listing, priority placement and lead generation tools for better sales.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with free listings, especially if you’re on a budget. They still give you that credibility that comes with directories and make it easier for customers to find you. But a paid listing can offer you so much more if you can afford it.
Want to Explore the Top 5 Directory Listings for Your Business?
If you’re reading this guide and thinking ‘Great, but which is the best directory listing for my business?’ we’ve got the article for you.
Follow the link here to read our round-up of the top 5 business directories in the UK.
Step-by-Step Guide to Listing Your Business
Ok, so you’ve chosen your directory, and now it’s time to list your business. But what do you need to include? Well, don’t worry about that because we’ve got you covered with our step-by-step guide.
Step 1
Preparing Essential Business Information
First things first, get all the essential information about your business. What do you want prospective customers to know about you? Below are a few ideas to get together before setting up your profile.
1. Business Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP)
This might be obvious, but this is where you need to start. Ensure all your t’s are crossed and i’s are dotted because you don’t want to have an incorrect business name. How unprofessional would that look if you couldn’t even spell your business name?
Equally, if you have the wrong phone number, how can anyone contact you? What a waste of time (and money if you’re on a paid listing) this exercise will be.
Keeping this consistent across your website, social media profiles, and directories also helps SEO. If search engines see consistency among a few different sources, they’re more likely to recognise this as true and help your overall ranking. If there’s contrasting information, then it can confuse the search engine and send your website plummeting down the rankings.
If your name, location or contact information changes, make sure you change it on every website and profile you’re available on, or you risk damaging your website’s performance.
2. Website URL
Again, this might seem obvious, but you can never be too careful: List your correct website URL. If it’s false and someone clicks on it, they’ll be taken to a broken link or an incorrect website. If this happens, you can bet your bottom dollar that they won’t try to look for you a second time and will choose a direct competitor instead.
Double-check. Triple-check. Quadruple-check if you have to.
Oh, and make sure it contains the http:// or https://.
3. Business Description and Categories
This is where you channel your inner Don Draper and let the world know what you’re all about. Make it clear and concise, and select the correct categories and relevant keywords. If you’re a regional business, highlight this as well.
“We are an Italian restaurant that really likes to cook food from Rome, the capital of the country, and we love our wine selection because we have a load of bottles from the region and…” blah, blah, blah. Don’t harp on it; people will quickly lose interest and go elsewhere.
“We are an Italian restaurant specialising in Roman cuisine with an extensive regional wine list.” See how much better that is? Less is often more when it comes to this sort of thing.
Also, it may be tempting to use ChatGPT or whatever fancy new AI is out this week. And yeah, you could, but it will just churn out bland, generic rubbish, and do you really want that to be a customer’s first impression of your business?
4. Operating Hours
When are your hours of operation? If you’re an emergency plumber available 24/7, make sure you mention this so people know they can call you at 2 am when their kitchen sink has exploded. If you close early on Saturday and aren’t open on a Sunday, make it very clear, or you’ll have a bunch of bad reviews saying they showed up for a Sunday roast and nobody was there!
5. High-Quality Images and Logos
If you use poor-quality images with fewer pixels than one of those pictures of Bigfoot from the 90s, then people will hit that ‘back’ button in record time. Be proud of your work. Display it with the high-resolution images it deserves and give potential customers no reason to doubt its quality.
Step 2
Claiming or Creating Your Business Profile
Search for your business in the directory. It may already exist, especially if you’ve been around for a while; if it does, claim it. If you don’t exist, then create a new profile.
Step 3
Verifying Your Listing
Each directory will have its process, but you will need to verify that you are indeed the business you claim to be. Well, you can’t just have anyone claiming to be a local business and then completely tarnishing their online reputation, can you?
Step 4
Optimise Your Profile for Maximum Impact
Now, it’s time to tweak everything to make sure it’s perfect. Here are a few things to look out for:
1. Enhance User Experience: Include calls to action and confirm that all your information is correct and current.
2. Structured Data Markup (Schema): This is a bit technical, but including schema markup helps search engines better understand your business information.
3. Encourage Reviews: Ask customers to leave reviews and ratings on your directory listing. Responding to them quickly and addressing any concerns can help build your credibility in the eyes of the customer.
4. Use Keywords Strategically: Incorporate relevant keywords in your business description and services list to enhance visibility in local searches.
5. Maintain Consistency Across Platforms: Ensure your business information is consistent across all online platforms, including your website, social media profiles, and other directories.
How Can I Get Listed in a Directory?
Right then, that’s you all clued up on directories, and now there’s only one thing left to answer: how can you get listed on one? Well, at Commercial Experts, we’ve made it our mission to make this process as simple as possible for you.
All you have to do is answer the question below and answer a few simple questions about your business. Then, based on these responses, we’ll send a range of quotes from the UK’s leading directories, each of which will be tailored to your specific needs. Then it’s all down to you to decide which one to go with.
This is a completely free service with no strings attached. Don’t like what you see? No worries, walk away without spending a penny.
So what are you waiting for? Tap the button below and get comparing now!
FAQs
Are free business directory listings worth it?
Yes! Free listings still boost online visibility, SEO, and credibility. While paid options offer enhanced visibility and lead generation, a well-optimised free listing can still drive customers to your business.
How do I choose the right business directory?
Consider your industry, target audience, and directory reputation. If you’re a local business, prioritise local directories. If you serve a wider audience, general or niche-specific directories will provide better exposure.
Do business directories help with SEO?
Absolutely. Listings on high-authority directories provide valuable backlinks, reinforce NAP consistency, and improve local search rankings, making your business more visible in Google search results.
How can I get listed in an online business directory?
The easiest way? Tap on one of the links on this page! Answer a few quick questions, and we’ll match you with the best UK directories based on your business needs—no research, no hassle—just tailored quotes in seconds.
