For Visitors
How to browse, search, follow, review, and contact businesses.
Browse the Directory
Section titled “Browse the Directory”Find the directory through a link such as “Businesses” or “Business Directory” in the site navigation. Switch layouts with the view toggle:
| View | Best for |
|---|---|
| Grid | Quick visual scanning |
| List | Detailed information |
| Map | Finding nearby businesses |
Each card shows the business photo, name, category, rating, and (if enabled) location and open/closed status. Click a business to open its full profile, with tabs such as Home, About, Services, Reviews, and its contact details and hours. Scroll to the bottom for pagination.
Search and Filter
Section titled “Search and Filter”- Search box - type a business name, description keyword, owner name, or location, then press Enter.
- Category - choose a category to narrow the listing.
- Location - enter a city or area, where location filtering is enabled.
- Rating - show only businesses at or above a chosen star rating.
Filters combine, for example category Restaurants plus a 4-star minimum. Use Clear or Reset to start over. In map view, pan the map and click markers to see businesses in that area. If a search returns nothing, broaden your terms, remove filters, or check the spelling.
Follow a Business
Section titled “Follow a Business”- Open the business profile page
- Click Follow
The button changes to Following. After you follow, the business’s updates appear in your activity feed, and you can reach it quickly from your profile. To stop, click Following or Unfollow, or manage follows from the Following tab on your profile. If the Follow button is missing, you may need to log in, or the site may have restricted the feature.
Write a Review
Section titled “Write a Review”- Open the business page and click the Reviews tab
- Click Write a Review
- Choose a star rating (some sites show extra rating criteria such as Quality, Service, and Value)
- Write your feedback
- Click Submit Review
Some sites allow guest reviews with your name and email, and a review may need admin approval before it appears. Be specific and fair, avoid personal information, and do not post fake reviews.
Contact a Business
Section titled “Contact a Business”Contact options depend on what the business added, shown on its Contact or About tab:
- Phone - tap to call on mobile.
- Email - opens your email app with the address filled in.
- Website - opens in a new tab.
- Address - view the location and get map directions.
- Message - if the action button or messaging is enabled, send a private message the business can reply to.
- Social media - click the social icons to visit their profiles.
Check the business hours before contacting so you reach them when they are open.
Business Tabs on Member Profiles
Section titled “Business Tabs on Member Profiles”Every member profile gains a Business tab (the label can vary by site) with two views:
| View | Shows |
|---|---|
| My Business | Businesses the member owns |
| Following | Businesses the member follows |
On your own profile these give you quick access to manage your businesses and the ones you follow, with counts beside each. On another member’s profile you can browse their published businesses and discover businesses they follow. Owned businesses are public once published; draft businesses are visible only to their owner.