Business directory submission list for UK trades

Step 0: prepare your details once

Put this in a note on your phone before you start. Copy-paste it every time so your details stay identical:

Business name:   ................................
Trade:           ................................
Town:            ................................
Postcode area:   ................................
Mobile:          ................................
Email:           ................................
Website:         ................................
Categories (5):  ................................
Service areas:   ................................
Short bio (60w): ................................
Google reviews:  ................................

Priority 1 — map and search platforms

1. Google Business Profile — google.com/business. The most valuable listing you'll ever create. Full walkthrough here.
2. Bing Places — bingplaces.com. Can import straight from your Google profile.
3. Apple Business Connect — businessconnect.apple.com. Gets you onto Apple Maps.

Priority 2 — UK general directories

1. Yell — yell.com (free basic listing).
2. Thomson Local — thomsonlocal.com.
3. FreeIndex — freeindex.co.uk (strong for reviews).
4. Scoot — scoot.co.uk.
5. Hotfrog UK — hotfrog.co.uk.
6. Cylex UK — cylex-uk.co.uk.
7. Yelp UK — biz.yelp.co.uk.
8. Brownbook — brownbook.net.
9. 118-style business directories — quick citation wins.

Priority 3 — trade and scheme directories

1. Job Snapper directory — free, trade-specific, no commission, direct contact.
2. Gas Safe Register — gas engineers, "find an engineer" search.
3. NICEIC / NAPIT / ELECSA — electricians.
4. TrustMark — trustmark.org.uk, government-endorsed.
5. FMB — builders. CIPHE — plumbers. PDA — decorators.
6. Which? Trusted Traders and Checkatrade — paid, but assess them on real returns rather than reputation alone.

Priority 4 — local and social

1. Your town's community website and local Facebook groups.
2. Chamber of commerce or business improvement district listings.
3. Nextdoor business page.
4. Supplier "find a fitter" pages — Worcester Bosch, Vaillant, Baxi and similar accredited installer searches.

Track what you submit

Keep a simple spreadsheet: directory, date submitted, login email, status, and whether you've verified it. Verification postcards and emails get missed otherwise — and an unverified listing does nothing.

Then check the results

After a month, search your trade plus your town incognito. You should see your name appearing in more places. Add reviews steadily and refresh photos twice a year, and the listings keep working without further effort.