[Question] UK Business Address For Citations/Directory Listings

Hi everyone

I've been doing a lot of research but can't quite find the right answer so though I'd ask if someone could point me in the right direction and offer me some advice.

I need business addresses in UK cities for citations/directory listings.

These addresses will be used for local seo purposes so I can rank for terms/niches in certain cities on sites like yell.com.

I've found addresses and services etc. but can't find out if you are able to use them online. There seems to be many services out there from virtual offices, business addresses, registered offices etc. I'm at a loss as to what I need.

I don't want to go down the black hat route of using a fake business address I want this to be legit as possible.

Any suggestions/recommendations of services I could use would be much appreciated.

Looking for something cheap.

Thanks in advance for replies.

In the same shoes as you. Following.

Maybe just get a virtual office address / virtual mail box from a legit company?

I saw on an abandoned IM blog by a "nomadic" person recommendations for such things in a tools & resources list, just checked and for UK it's UK Postbox. But the list of recommendations is a few years old. Maybe there are better alternatives now.

I see that their address/locations site page offers PO box locations for multiple cities and multiple Prime Street Addresses, it seems that's what you need?
Or at least now you know what to google for - you can just use the keywords they use to name their services on that page...

Another idea: ask your question on UK-specific business forums.

What kind of businesses are we talking about?

If I look for local services businesses on Yell (plumber/electrician/builder/roofer etc), then 90% of the time no address is displayed. Unless there is some kind of verification, I think you could put in any address for certain businesses if the address isn't to be displayed.

Sephrata said:

What kind of businesses are we talking about?

If I look for local services businesses on Yell (plumber/electrician/builder/roofer etc), then 90% of the time no address is displayed. Unless there is some kind of verification, I think you could put in any address for certain businesses if the address isn't to be displayed.

Click to expand...

Just did some searching on yell and all of them are displaying address even if they are not verified.

Local home services is what I need. So yeah, plumbers, electrician, roofing etc.

I did some more digging yesterday and found some virtual offices that would work but some are fairly expensive.

Can you show me an example page of a plumber?

One I just looked at now does not have an address (or at least I can see) - https://www.yell.com/biz/apt-property-solutions-ltd-leicester-9117029/

Sephrata said:

Can you show me an example page of a plumber?

One I just looked at now does not have an address (or at least I can see) - https://www.yell.com/biz/apt-property-solutions-ltd-leicester-9117029/

Click to expand...

Oh, that's interesting. Here's what I found non claimed with an address showing and a number of reviews.

https://www.yell.com/biz/hamish-the-plumber-exeter-7213133/

It seems like the business owner has made the page (the descriptions suggest so) but not verified.

I think you are possibly able then to hide address. I've been searching everywhere but can't find an option to do so. I even logged into I listing I remember I had on Yell. There is an options to change details (address, name) but not sure how to go about totally hiding it.

Also on registering a listing they ask for address. I guess the only option, if I don't go down the virtual office route, is to use a made up address and hide it.

Have you tried calling Yell? I cannot find any information on their website about being listed, but hiding your address.

The other option is to create a fake listing and see how Yell deal with it. My bet is they only telephone verify your business, rather than sending something out to the address.

Sephrata said:

Have you tried calling Yell? I cannot find any information on their website about being listed, but hiding your address.

The other option is to create a fake listing and see how Yell deal with it. My bet is they only telephone verify your business, rather than sending something out to the address.

Click to expand...

I got a feeling it's just telephone also. I didn't get a postcard when I setup my other legit listing.

I'll try calling them.