Each of these is a backlink, a listing, or both: a public page with your business name, website and details on a site search engines and AI tools already trust. On its own a listing won't shoot you up the rankings, but together they're the records AI tools check you against when someone asks who to use.
Version 2.0 re-checked every link on 25 Sep 2026. 9 came off because they closed, went paid or broke, 14 are new, and 10 changed. The sheet's "What changed" tab has every one.
Government portals: real suppliers only
The government supplier registers are procurement registers first. Only register if your business genuinely supplies what they buy.
The sheet
45 free sources, every link checked
Every source with its link, whether it's free, the type of listing and why it matters for AI search, plus a Done column to tick off as you go. Make a copy and work top down.
Government and procurement
- Contracts Finder. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
- Find a Tender Service (FTS). A government procurement record: you become visible to public buyers, and contract awards you win are published on gov.uk
- Supplier Registration Service (Cabinet Office). A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
- Government Commercial Agency (was CCS) frameworks. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against (Yes (levy on sales only))
- G-Cloud / Digital Marketplace. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
- Public Contracts Scotland. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
- Sell2Wales. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
- eTendersNI / CPD Northern Ireland. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
Directories and citations
- Google Business Profile. The listing behind Google Maps, the local pack and Google's AI answers for local searches. Free (Google says listing on Google is free)
- Bing Places. Bing powers Copilot and is widely reported to feed ChatGPT search, so this listing is an AI lever as much as a Bing one
- Apple Business (was Apple Business Connect). Controls how you appear in Apple Maps, Siri and Spotlight, which is where iPhone users and Apple's assistant look you up
- Yell. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches (Yes (free tier))
- Thomson Local. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
- FreeIndex. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
- UK Small Business Directory. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
- Cylex UK. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
- 192.com. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
- Yelp UK. Third-party reviews are the kind of outside proof AI answers tend to draw on when they compare businesses
- Hotfrog UK. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
- Brownbook. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
PR and editorial
- Qwoted. Earns quotes and mentions in real publications: other people vouching for you, which is what AI answers lean on (Yes (free tier))
- Featured. Earns quotes and mentions in real publications: other people vouching for you, which is what AI answers lean on (Yes (free tier))
- SourceBottle. Earns quotes and mentions in real publications: other people vouching for you, which is what AI answers lean on
- MentionMatch (was Help a B2B Writer). Earns quotes and mentions in real publications: other people vouching for you, which is what AI answers lean on
Startup and tech
- Crunchbase. A company record AI tools often cite for founding date, founders and funding
- Product Hunt. A startup profile on a platform AI tools read when someone asks about new tools or companies
- F6S. A startup profile on a platform AI tools read when someone asks about new tools or companies
- Wellfound. A startup profile on a platform AI tools read when someone asks about new tools or companies
- Startups.co.uk directory. A startup profile on a platform AI tools read when someone asks about new tools or companies
- Clutch. Often cited by AI answers for "best agency" questions
- G2 / Capterra UK. Often cited by AI answers for "best software" questions
New in 2.0
- Companies House record. The official record of your company. Other listings should match it (Automatic for companies)
- D-U-N-S Number (Dun & Bradstreet UK). Feeds the facts search engines and AI assistants use to work out who your business is
- Google Merchant Center (free listings). Makes your products eligible to show in free shopping results, which AI shopping features draw on. Eligible, not guaranteed: Google says free listings don't guarantee your products are shown
- Microsoft Merchant Center (free listings). Makes your products eligible for free shopping results that AI shopping features draw on. Eligible, not guaranteed
- Wikidata. The open database behind Wikipedia infoboxes and many knowledge panels; AI tools use it to identify entities. Only if you meet its notability rules
- LinkedIn Company Page. A company record AI tools read for who you are and who works there
- Trustpilot. Trustpilot now sells itself on AI visibility; its review pages are often cited when AI compares businesses (Free plan)
- Nextdoor Business. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
- Foursquare (places database). A data aggregator: one submission feeds many downstream apps, maps and directories
- OpenStreetMap. A data aggregator: one submission feeds many downstream apps, maps and directories
- HERE Map Creator. HERE maps sit behind many car navigation systems and apps; one more place your business details should be right
- TomTom MapShare. TomTom map data feeds sat navs and apps; one more map to get right
- HARO (Help a Reporter Out). Earns quotes and mentions in real publications: other people vouching for you, which is what AI answers lean on
- Food Hygiene Rating record. A public, third-party inspection record for food businesses: outside proof customers and AI tools can check (Automatic for food businesses)
Paid, but worth knowing about
Not free, so they're not in the main list. Only worth it if they fit what you do.
- ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service. The main UK journalist request service; free alternatives are Qwoted, Featured, SourceBottle and MentionMatch (Paid subscription for sources, priced by category)
- British Chambers of Commerce (your local chamber). Accredited local chamber member directory (Paid membership)
- Federation of Small Businesses. Member benefits and support pages (Paid membership)
- Federation of Master Builders (Find a Builder). A trade-body listing customers use to check builders (Paid, vetted membership)
- Living Wage Foundation accreditation. A public accredited-employer listing and a real trust signal (From GBP 100 a year for under 10 staff)
- BetaList. Early-stage startup launch listing (All submissions now paid (refund if not selected))
How to use the list
- Start with the maps and entity rows (Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Apple Business, LinkedIn). They are the non-negotiables.
- Government supplier registers are procurement registers first. Only register if you genuinely supply what they buy.
- Use the same business name, address and phone everywhere. Every listing should match your Google Business Profile.
- A listing will not shoot you up the rankings on its own. It is one more public record that search engines and AI can check you against.
- Never buy links or use link farms. Fill every profile out properly or skip it.
More free backlinks and listings
