When someone searches for a business like yours, Google checks more than your website. It also looks at what other websites say about you, especially business directories. Each listing that shows your business name, address and phone number is called a citation, and consistent citations across trusted sites help Google feel confident about where you are and what you do.
You don’t need hundreds of them. You need the right ones, filled in properly, with exactly the same details everywhere. This guide covers where to start, which UK directories are worth your time, and how to avoid the common mistakes.
Start with the big four
If you only do four listings, make it these. They feed the maps and assistants your customers use every day.
| Listing | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | The most important listing you’ll ever create. It controls how you appear in Google Maps and the local results at the top of Google. |
| Apple Business Connect | Controls how you appear in Apple Maps, Siri and on iPhones, which many of your customers use every day. |
| Bing Places | Feeds Bing, Microsoft’s maps and several AI assistants that use Bing’s data. You can import your details straight from Google. |
| A business page with your address, hours and reviews. Many people check Facebook before they ring. |
The main UK directories
Once the big four are done, work through these. Most offer a free listing; ignore the paid upgrades unless you have a clear reason to pay.
| Directory | Good for |
|---|---|
| Yell | Long-established UK directory; free basic listing. |
| Thomson Local | Free listing; well known with UK consumers. |
| FreeIndex | Strong for service businesses; allows reviews. |
| Yelp | Reviews platform; most useful for hospitality and retail. |
| Scoot | UK directory network that feeds other sites. |
| 192.com (Central Index) | One submission feeds several directories, including the Mirror’s business directory. |
| Hotfrog | Free UK listing. |
| Cylex | Free UK listing. |
| Brownbook | Free global directory. |
| Foursquare | Location data used by many apps behind the scenes. |
| Nextdoor | Neighbourhood recommendations; good for trades and local services. |
| Houzz | For builders, designers and home improvement trades. |
| Kompass | Useful if you sell to other businesses. |
| HERE | Map data used in many car sat navs. |
| TomTom | Map data for TomTom devices and other navigation apps. |
How to get your listings right
- Use exactly the same details everywhere. Your business name, address and phone number should match your Google Business Profile character for character. “Unit 4, High St” on one site and “4 High Street” on another looks like two different businesses to a computer.
- Use your real business name. Don’t add keywords or locations to it. That breaks Google’s guidelines and can get your profile suspended.
- Choose the most accurate category. Pick the main thing you do, not everything you could do.
- Write a proper description. Say what you do, who for and where, in plain English. A few sentences is enough.
- Add your website, opening hours and a photo or logo. Complete listings are more useful to customers and look more trustworthy.
- Keep a record. Note every directory, the login and the date you listed in a spreadsheet. When you move premises or change your number, you’ll know exactly what to update.
Mistakes to avoid
- Duplicate listings. Before creating a listing, search the directory for your business. If one already exists, claim it rather than adding a second.
- Old addresses and numbers. If you’ve moved, out-of-date listings send customers to the wrong place and confuse Google. Update or remove them.
- Paying for packages you don’t need. Directories often call shortly after you list, offering premium placement. For most small businesses, the free listing does the job.
- Listing on irrelevant sites. A handful of trusted, relevant directories beats dozens of low-quality ones.
More directories
If you’ve covered everything above and want to go further, these are also options. Directories change hands and close down regularly, so check each one looks active before you sign up.
- justlanded.com
- botw.org.uk
- ailoq.com
- storeboard.com
- lacartes.com
- infobel.com
- tupalo.com
- cybo.com
- trepup.com
- uk.showmelocal.com
- yellow.place
- callupcontact.com
- allinlondon.co.uk
- europages.co.uk
- n49.com
- expressbusinessdirectory.com
- gb.enrollbusiness.com
- 2findlocal.com
- askmap.net
- findtheneedle.co.uk
- whodoyou.com
- misterwhat.co.uk
- opening-times.co.uk
- approvedbusiness.co.uk
- uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk
- mylocalservices.co.uk
- fyple.co.uk
- tuugo.co.uk
- opendi.co.uk
Want this done for you?
Getting your listings consistent is one of the most effective things you can do for local search, but it’s fiddly and time-consuming. If you’d rather hand it over, I can tidy up your listings alongside my Google Business Profile optimisation. Get in touch and tell me where you’re listed now.