The Independent Business Directory FAQ’s

About The Independent Business Directory

What is The Independent Business Directory?

The Independent Business Directory is an online business directory that helps you find suppliers of products and services in your local area, day or night. Unlike most search engines, The Independent Business Directory gives you relevant results and because we keep in touch with local businesses, our information is up-to-date and relevant. The listings on The Independent Business Directory provide you with more than just a business name and address, many of the businesses listed include lots of additional information like facilities, opening times, payment methods, maps, directions, website links, photos, videos and special offers.

Who owns The Independent Business Directory?

The Independent Business Directory is part of the Scoot Network. Scoot is a registered trademark of Enable Media Limited, incorporated in England and Wales with its registered office at 16th Floor, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP. Company registration number 5178759. VAT number: GB 896 1121 14. Enable Media is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Touch Local Ltd.

Finding a Local Business

How do I use The Independent Business Directory?

First, search for a business in a chosen location

From The Independent Business Directory home page, simply enter the name of the business you want to search for in the ‘company name box’. Alternatively search by business category (e.g. plumber, hairdresser, shoes, Tesco, etc.) in the ‘by category’ box and the location (i.e. Leeds, W1, TS18 3TU, Lake District, South East, etc) in the ‘area’ box. Click ‘Search’ to get your results.

What results will you get?

The results will provide you with more than just a business name and address. Many of the businesses listed include lots of additional information like business categories, facilities, opening times, payment methods, maps, directions, website links, photos, videos and special offers.

Your results will display 20 to a page with the details of each business shown in an easy-to-view tabbed format. Just click through the tabs to see different types of information or, alternatively, click the ‘More’ link at the foot of the listing to see all the information we have about that business displayed on one page. You can also click directly on the businesses name to be taken straight to their dedicated listing.

Do I have to pay to use The Independent Business Directory?

You can use The Independent Business Directory on the Internet at http://directory.independent.co.uk/ anytime for free.

What sort of information can I find on The Independent Business Directory?

The listings on The Independent Business Directory provide you with more than just a business name and address. Many of the businesses listed include lots of additional information like facilities, opening times, payment methods, maps, directions, website links, photos, videos and special offers.

How many results will I get for my search?

The Independent Business Directory will return unlimited results displayed 20 to a page.

In what order do the results appear?

The Independent Business Directory will return results that match all or some of your search criteria. Exact matches will appear towards the top with those that satisfy only some of your criteria lower down the list. Highlighted listings may appear at the top of the search results. These are listings for The Independent Business Directory advertising customers who have paid for their listing to appear higher in the results and to give you extra information such as detailed descriptions, photos, videos and special offers. Only advertisers that exactly match your criteria will appear at the top. No advertisers will appear in the results unless they match all or some of your criteria.

How can I use The Independent Business Directory to find special offers or discounts vouchers for local businesses?

To make it easier for you to find special offers on The Independent Business Directory, we have special offers detailed on The Independent Business Directory home page that enables you to browse special offers and discount vouchers. Each special offer has a link back to the business’ information page on The Independent Business Directory where you can see full details including addresses, telephone numbers, descriptions, websites, maps, directions, photos and even videos. You can also print the coupon for presentation in store.

Do businesses pay to advertise on The Independent Business Directory?

Every business in the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, The Channel Islands) can have a free listing on The Independent Business Directory. However, we invite businesses to pay an advertising fee to add more detail to their listing, such as business descriptions, photos, logos, videos, etc, and for their businesses to appear higher in the list of search results. We do not allow advertisers to appear in business categories or buy search tags that are inappropriate for their business activity, thus ensuring that no advertisers will appear in the results unless they are relevant to your search. Advertisers are identifiable as they appear larger in the search results and have a grey box around them. Some businesses also pay for banner advertisements which you will see at the top of the results pages.

Is The Independent Business Directory W3C compliant?

We are committed to ensuring that The Independent Business Directory website is accessible to all and that we comply with guidelines set out by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) as outlined at Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 1.0 (WCAG 1.0). Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 1.0 (WCAG 1.0).

The Independent Business Directory on the Move

Can I use The Independent Business Directory on my mobile phone or PDA?

You can visit The Independent Business Directory via the web at http://directory.independent.co.uk

Advertising on The Independent Business Directory

How can I promote my business on The Independent Business Directory?

With more than 80% of the UK adult population now online, advertising on the Internet is a great way to promote and generate leads for your business. By advertising on The Independent Business Directory, you can highlight your listing to make it stand out from the competition, achieve a higher ranking in the search results, add search tags that describe your business, products or services and under which you would like your listing to be found, upload photos, images and videos, add multiple locations, social media links and include special offers. For further information, call us on 09050 905005*.

Some of the business listings on The Independent Business Directory are highlighted: how do I highlight my business listing?

You can highlight your listing to make it stand out from the competition by taking advantage of our cost-effective advertising solutions. By purchasing a Priority Listing, your entry will be prominently highlighted and guaranteed a position towards the top of the results as well as gaining other benefits like additional search tags, company logo and weblinks. Please note, however, that no listings will appear in the results unless they match the user's search criteria. This ensures that the user finds the information they want quickly and accurately, and you get genuine leads. For further information, call us on 09050 905005*.

Can I make my business appear higher up in the search results?

You can make your business listing appear higher in the search results by taking advantage of one of our cost-effective advertising solutions. Purchasing a Priority Listing on The Independent Business Directory will ensure that your listing appears towards the top of the results, just so long as your business is relevant to the user's search. For further information, call us on 09050 905005*.

What are search tags?

Search tags are powerful key words or phrases that describe your business, products or services and under which you would like your business to be found. A search tag can describe your business activity, a product, service or brand that you provide. Search tags will enable your business to appear higher in the search results and are available to advertisers only. For further information, call us on 09050 905005*.

What are location tags?

Every business listed on The Independent Business Directory will appear under the locations indicated in their business address. The locations can be a district, town/city, full or partial postcode, county, geographical area (e.g. North West) or, where appropriate, a national park (e.g. Lake District). This gives your business every chance of being found for the locations entered by The Independent Business Directory users. If you are an Independent Business Directory advertising customer and your business operates in multiple geographical areas, you can purchase specific locations in addition to or instead of your main business address. For further information, call us on 09050 905005*.

How do I add photos to my business listing?

You can add photos to your business listing if you are an Independent Business Directory Dashboard user. Just go to the Scoot Dashboard and log in with your email address and password to gain access to your account. From the menu, click Edit Your Details and then choose the Images tab to upload photos and images. From your account, you can also make other changes to your listing such as amending your business description or search tags, or promoting your business further by adding special offers to attract customers to you. Always remember to click the purple tab and save your changes before you log out.

How do I add special offers to my listing?

Businesses with free listings can add up to two special offers. If you are an Independent Business Directory advertising customer you can add an unlimited number of special offers with a Priority Listing. Just go to the Scoot Dashboard and log in with your email address and password to gain access to your account. Choose the Offers tab to add or amend your offer details, which can include both text and a photo/image (thumbnail image) or you can upload pre-existing coupon artwork (voucher image). You can specify the terms of the offer and include promotional codes, if required, and request the user to print off the coupon for presentation at your business premises. Always remember to click the purple tab and save your changes before leaving this section of the website.

How do I add a video to my business listing?

You can add a video to your business listing if you are an Independent Business Directory advertising customer with a Priority Listing. If you have a pre-existing video, you can host it on YouTube or another reputable video hosting website and we will place a link to it within your business listing on The Independent Business Directory for a nominal additional charge. You cannot add your video link from your online account: please email Customer Services or call them on 09050 905005*.

Can I buy banner advertising on The Independent Business Directory?

Banner advertising is available in a number of formats. Local Banners appear at the top of the search results and appear only to users searching for your products or services in your local area to ensure they are shown only to your target audience. National Banners also appear at the top of the search results, but appear in all areas to users searching for your products or services. Banner adverts are limited in number and served on a rotation basis. For further information, call us on 09050 905005*.

What are my login details?

When you become a member, we will provide you with secure login details that enables you to log on to your The Independent Business Directory account to add to or amend your business details. You can change your business description, contact details, search tags, business facilities, photos/images and special offers all from your easy-to-use dashboard. You can log on by visiting The Scoot Dashboard. Alternatively, just search for your business listing and click the 'Update this listing' link at the foot. You will then be asked to insert your email address and password. Any changes you make to your listing will appear live on the website almost immediately. To protect the integrity of our data, you cannot change your business name, parts of the address or category online. If you want to change any of these details, please send an email to our Data Department or call Customer Services on 09050 905005*.

What do I do if I forget my login details?

If you can't remember your login details, go to The Scoot Dashboard, click 'Forgotten Password?'. Using the email address you signed up with, we will send your password details by email. If you experience any difficulties, email Customer Services or call them on 09050 905005* and they will be pleased to help you.

Can I change my login details?

Your user name is an email address you signed up to The Independent Business Directory Network with. When you become an Independent Business Directory customer, we will issue you with a secure password to access your account. You can amend your password by signing into The Scoot Dashboard, click the Edit profile tab in the top right and you will be able to change your password there. Remember to click the purple button to apply the changes. If you experience any difficulties, email Customer Services or call them on 09050 905005* and they will be pleased to help you.

Listing Your Business on The Independent Business Directory

How do I add my business to The Independent Business Directory?

If you can't find your business listed on The Independent Business Directory, you can add it free of charge. Simply visit the add listing page here. Once you submit your details, we will check them and, for security purposes, contact you by telephone for verification before displaying your free listing on the website. This process usually takes 2-3 days to complete.

How do I change my business details?

From your business listing, click 'Update this listing'. You will then be presented with a series of tabbed pages containing the details of your listing for you to amend. Always click on the purple tab to save and submit your changes. Once you submit your details, we will check them and, for security purposes, contact you by telephone for verification before displaying the changes on the website. This process usually takes 2-3 days to complete. If you are an Independent Business Directory advertising customer, click 'Update this listing' and log in with your user ID and password. Any changes or additions you make to your listing will become live straight away.

I’ve added my business to The Independent Business Directory – why can’t I find it?

Your listing won't appear straight away. Once you submit your details, we will check them and, for security purposes, contact you by telephone for verification before displaying your listing on the website. This process usually takes a few days to complete.

Can my business be listed more than once?

If you are a single business operating from a single address, your business can only be listed once on The Independent Business Directory. If your business genuinely operates out of more than one address, e.g. multiple retail outlets or multiple office locations, then these can be included. Follow this link to add your business free of charge.

How do I delete a business from The Independent Business Directory?

To protect the integrity of our data, this cannot be done online. If, for some reason, you wish your business details to be deleted from The Independent Business Directory, please send an email to our Data Team or call Customer Services on 09050 905005*.

What do I do if my business appears under the wrong category?

Each business on the database will appear under at least one business category which we consider to be the category that best describes their main business activity. We also ensure that each category features a limited number of synonyms that ensure the user easily finds the type of business they are looking for. For example, businesses listed under the category 'Public House', will also be found for the search term 'pub'. Additional categories are available to businesses that purchase additional priority listings.

To protect the integrity of our data, you cannot change your category online. So, if you need to amend your business category, please send an email to our Data Team or call Customer Services on 09050 905005*.

Can my business be listed under more than one category?

We understand, however, that some organisations with multiple business activities should appear under more than one category. Therefore, to ensure that our users as well as listed businesses get the best possible experience from The Independent Business Directory, we give businesses the opportunity to purchase additional priority listings so they can appear under multiple categories.

To protect the integrity of our data, you cannot amend your category online. So, if you think your business should appear under more than one category, please send an email to our Data Team or call Customer Services on 09050 905005*.

In what search locations will my business appear?

Every business listed on The Independent Business Directory will appear under the locations indicated in their business address. The locations can be a district, town/city, full or partial postcode, county, geographical area (e.g. North West) or, where appropriate, a national park (e.g. Lake District). This gives your business every chance of being found for the locations entered by the users. If you are an Independent Business Directory advertising customer and your business operates in multiple geographical areas, you can purchase specific locations in addition to your main business address. For further information, call us on 09050 905005*.

Can I change the location of my business on the map?

You can change the location of your business on the map by clicking the 'Update this listing' link from your listing and selecting the Details tab. Just click and hold the marker, then drag it to the correct place on the map and release. For security reasons, no changes made to your listing will appear live on the website until they have been verified with you by telephone. If you are an Independent Business Directory advertising customer, just log in and follow the process above. When you save and submit your map change, it will appear on the site straight away.

Can I link my Social Media Accounts to my business listing?

You can include Social media links to your The Independent Business Directory profile free of charge. These include links for Facebook, Twitter, Google +, LinkedIn etc. Just search for your business and click the ‘Update this listing’ link at the bottom of your listing. Go to the ‘Contact’ tab and add your details where indicated. Remember to click on the purple tab and save your changes before leaving this area of The Independent Business Directory website. Your Social Media Profiles will then appear in a box on the right hand side within the 'Contact' tab of your listing.

The Independent Business Directory Data

Where does The Independent Business Directory get its information from?

As well as collecting its own information by staying in touch with local businesses, The Independent Business Directory uses data produced in whole or in part by 118 Data Resource Limited (Market Location).

Will you use my email address for marketing purposes?

From time to time, we should like to send you information by email about new Independent Business Directory features, products and services. If you receive unwanted email from us, please click the 'unsubscribe' link contained within the email and we will ensure that we no longer communicate with you by this method. For further information, please view our Privacy Policy.

* Connection charge £2.044 (incl VAT) Plus per minute charge £0.102 (incl VAT)