Getting the most out of Thanet Directory
Whether you are looking for a local business or you own one, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Finding a Business
Search by name or keyword
Use the search bar on the homepage or at the top of the directory. Type a business name, type of service, or keyword (e.g. "plumber", "pizza", "dog grooming") and results will appear instantly.
Browse by category
Click any category tile on the homepage (Restaurants, Tradespeople, Health & Beauty, etc.) to see all businesses in that group across Thanet.
Browse by town
Use our town-specific pages for Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Birchington to explore businesses in a specific area.
Explore the map
The interactive map on the homepage shows all businesses as colour-coded pins matching their category. Featured businesses appear with a larger, gold-bordered pin. Use the sidebar to filter by category or switch to "Featured only" to see premium listings.
Claiming Your Business Listing
Find your listing
Search for your business name in the directory. Many Thanet businesses are already listed — if yours appears, go to its page. If it is not listed yet, go to the Claim / Add a listing page.
Click "Claim this listing"
On your business page, click the "Claim this listing" button. You will need to create a free account (or log in) first. Fill in the claim form with your contact details and a brief note confirming your ownership.
Wait for approval
Our team reviews all claims, usually within 24 hours. You will receive an email once your claim is approved. After approval, the listing is linked to your account and you can start editing it.
Adding a new business
If your business is not in the directory at all, use the "Add your business" form on the Claim page. Provide the name, address, category and a brief description and we will create and verify the listing.
Managing Your Listing
Access your dashboard
Log in and click your name in the top-right corner, then "Dashboard". Here you will see all businesses linked to your account, each with its current plan status and a link to edit.
Edit basic details
From the dashboard, click "Edit listing" next to the business you want to update. You can change the name, description, phone, email, website, address and town at any time on any plan.
Add photos
Free listings can add 1 photo. Standard plan allows up to 3 photos per business. Featured plan allows up to 10. Photos appear in a gallery at the top of your listing page.
Opening hours and social links
Opening hours and social media links (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn) are available on Standard and Featured plans. Enter them in the edit form and they will appear on your listing page.
Edit buttons on your listing
When you are logged in and viewing your own business page, a blue owner bar appears at the top with quick links to edit your listing and return to your dashboard. You will also see a small edit icon next to the Contact section.
Subscriptions & Plans
Subscription is per account, not per listing
Your subscription covers all the businesses linked to your account; you do not need separate plans for each one.
Standard plan: up to 3 businesses
At £4.99/month, the Standard plan unlocks premium features for your first 3 claimed businesses (ranked by claim date, oldest first). Additional businesses beyond 3 remain on free features until you upgrade to Featured.
Featured plan: all businesses included
At £9.99/month, the Featured plan applies to every business linked to your account with no limit. All listings get the featured badge, homepage carousel slot, top search placement and map highlight.
Upgrading and downgrading
Go to your dashboard and click "Manage subscription". Upgrades take effect immediately. If you downgrade or cancel, the changes apply at the end of your current billing period; you keep access until then.
Cancelling
Cancel any time from your dashboard with no penalties or fees. Your listing returns to the free tier at the end of the billing month.
Being Featured
What featured gets you
Featured listings appear in the rotating carousel on the Thanet Directory homepage, at the top of category and town search results, and carry a gold Featured badge on your listing and in directory cards.
Map highlight
Featured businesses have a larger, gold-bordered pin on the homepage map and appear on top of standard pins so they are not hidden by overlapping markers.
Homepage carousel
All featured businesses rotate through the carousel on the homepage automatically. Every business gets equal air time: the order is randomised on each page load so no one is always first.
Customer Enquiries
Sending an enquiry
On any business listing page, use the "Send an Enquiry" form to contact the business. Your message is forwarded directly to the business owner's email address.
Receiving enquiries as a business owner
Enquiries sent through your listing are forwarded to your registered email on Standard and Featured plans. On the free plan, the enquiry form is visible to customers but messages are only accessible via your dashboard.
Viewing enquiries on your dashboard
Your dashboard shows recent enquiries across all your businesses. This section is available on Standard and Featured plans.
Ready to get started?
Add or claim your business listing for free, no payment needed.