Directory listings are the unglamorous end of local marketing. Nobody enjoys filling in the same form ten times. But search engines cross-reference your name, address and phone number (NAP) across the web, and when those details agree everywhere, it supports your local visibility. When they conflict — or simply are not there — you are quietly harder to find.
Here is the honest 2026 list for a UK business: six directories worth doing for everyone, four UK-specific ones, and one bonus. Everything except Checkatrade is free.
Before you start: prepare one master copy
The single biggest time-saver is deciding your details once, then pasting them everywhere. Prepare:
- Your business name, address and phone number in one exact format
- Your website address
- A short description (under 160 characters) for tight fields
- A longer description (around 120 words) for full profiles
- A square logo and a wide cover photo
Do not improvise a new description at each form — that is how inconsistencies creep in.
1. Google Business Profile
Global — do this firstThe most important listing by a distance. It powers Google Maps, the local three-pack, and the knowledge panel when someone searches your name. If you have not claimed it, go to google.com/business and search for your business — it may already exist and just need claiming.
Verification is usually by postcard, phone or video. Once verified, fill in every field you can: categories, opening hours, photos, and a description. Keep your name, address and phone exactly as they appear on your website.
2. Bing Places
GlobalThe fastest listing you will ever do: Bing Places lets you sign in and import your Google Business Profile rather than typing everything again. It powers Bing search and Windows results — a smaller audience than Google, but a five-minute job.
3. Apple Business Connect
GlobalThis is how you appear on Apple Maps and in Siri suggestions — which matters more than people assume, since iPhone users who ask for directions are routed through Apple Maps by default. You will need an Apple ID. Upload a square logo and a cover photo; the place card looks noticeably better with them.
4. Facebook Business Page
GlobalCreate a Page, not a personal profile. Even if you never post, a completed Page acts as a directory listing: fill in the About section, add your website link, phone number and opening hours. Many customers will search for you on Facebook before they search anywhere else.
5. Yelp
GlobalSearch for your business first — Yelp often creates listings automatically, and yours may just need claiming at biz.yelp.com. The free listing is what matters; you can safely ignore the advertising upsell calls that tend to follow.
6. Trustpilot
GlobalClaim the free business account at business.trustpilot.com. It suits service and online businesses best, and Trustpilot pages often rank on Google for "[your business name] reviews" — better that page exists and you manage it.
7. Yell
UKThe UK’s biggest directory, descended from the Yellow Pages. The free listing at yell.com/free-listing is enough — you do not need the paid packages. This is a good place to use your longer business description, since Yell profiles give you the room.
8. Thomson Local
UKA long-running UK directory. Look for the free "add your business" option. You do not need a fancy profile here — consistent name, address and phone details are the point.
9. FreeIndex
UKA free UK directory with decent search visibility. It also supports customer reviews, so once your listing is live it is worth pointing a few happy customers here too.
10. Checkatrade (trades only)
UKFor builders, plumbers, electricians, roofers and other trades. Unlike everything else on this list it is a paid membership with vetting — expect to provide insurance documents and ID. Whether it is worth it depends on your trade and area; if your competitors are all on there, it is at least worth pricing up.
11. Your industry directory
BonusAlmost every industry has its own directory or association listing — a trade body, your local chamber of commerce, or a niche review site. Search "[your trade] directory UK" and pick the most established one. One good industry listing beats five obscure ones.
Three mistakes to avoid
- Inconsistent NAP details. "Unit 4, High St" on one directory and "4 High Street" on another reads as two different places. One format, everywhere.
- Paying for prominence you don’t need. Most directories will call you about premium packages. The free listing carries almost all the value for a small business.
- Doing it once and never checking. Moved premises or changed number? Update every listing, starting with Google. Stale listings are worse than missing ones — they actively send customers to the wrong place.
A shortcut through the tedium
If you use WeWidget, the Pro plan now includes Get Found, which prepares this whole job for you: it writes your tagline and both descriptions from your real Google reviews, puts your name, address, phone and website in one place with copy-to-clipboard, and tracks your progress through every directory on this list with deep links and field tips.
To be clear about what it does not do: it does not submit listings for you — you keep control of every account, and no passwords change hands. It just removes the boring preparation. Pro is £9/month with a 30-day free trial, no card needed.
The one-line version
Prepare your details once, work through Google, Bing, Apple, Facebook, Yelp and Trustpilot, add the UK directories, keep everything identical, and update it all when anything changes. An afternoon of admin, then it quietly works for you.