Understanding Category Use in Directories

The Business Directory feature in Locable is one of many tools we offer to highlight your Local Connections™.

Learn more about how to use Business Directories to support your Local Connections™.

The free Engage Plan includes great options for cross-promotion while the Coordinate Plan offers advanced options and unlocks Tiered Directories.

Setting Categories in Directory Settings

Once you have created your directory, you can adjust the Directory Settings at any time. To do this, go to Embeddable Resources > Local Business Directories and then click 'Manage' to access the Directory Settings. Here, you'll be able to adjust the settings for the selected directory.

To create Categories within a single directory, click on 'Add New Category':

Then add a name for your Category. Continue to click 'Add New Category' and input names until all of your Categories have been created:

After creating your categories, you can adjust their display order in the directory. Simply click and drag the icon to the left of the category name to rearrange them as needed.

Once the updates are saved, you will need to assign a Category to each business included as a Source in the Directory.

Best Practices for Using Categories in Your Directory

Categories help visitors quickly find businesses and organizations in your directory. A clear, well-organized category structure also improves the user experience and helps search engines better understand the businesses listed on your site.

1. Prioritize SEO and a Clear Site Structure

Search engines rely on your website’s structure to understand its content. When directories contain too many categories, especially dozens of highly specific ones, it can make the site harder to navigate and dilute the value of each category.

Using a smaller set of clear, descriptive categories helps create a stronger directory that is easier for both visitors and search engines to understand.

2. Keep Categories Broad and Manageable

Avoid creating too many highly specific categories. A shorter list of broader categories makes the directory easier to browse and helps ensure each category contains enough businesses to be useful.

As your directory grows, you may find it helpful to group similar categories together to keep the structure simple and organized.

3. Use Clear, Familiar Names

Choose category names that most people will recognize, such as Restaurants, Retail, or Professional Services. Avoid overly technical or uncommon terms that visitors may not think to search for.

4. Group Similar Businesses Together

If several categories represent closely related services, consider combining them into a broader category. This helps keep the directory simple and easier to navigate.

5. Consider Consolidating Categories

If your directory contains a large number of categories, it may be helpful to group related industries into broader categories. Many successful directories work best with approximately 15 to 25 primary categories that represent the major sectors of the local business community.

For example, several related categories such as Accountants, Financial Advisors, and Insurance Agents could be grouped under Financial & Insurance Services

Similarly, categories like Boutique Shops, Clothing Stores, and Gift Shops could be grouped under Retail & Shopping.

Using broader groupings helps simplify navigation, strengthens category pages for search engines, and makes it easier for visitors to find the businesses they are looking for.

6. Review Categories Periodically

Over time, directories can accumulate unused, duplicate, or overly specific categories. Periodically reviewing and consolidating categories helps maintain a better user experience and a stronger, more organized site structure for search engines.