Almost everyone knows a business owner who is brilliant at what they do and invisible online: the tailor with a loyal following who has no page, the mechanic everyone recommends by word of mouth, the home baker working from a phone. Helping them get listed is one of the kindest and most practical things you can do. It costs nothing, takes minutes and can bring them customers they never reached before.
Why listing a friend's business helps everyone
- Your friend gets found by customers who never heard of them.
- The directory becomes more useful to everyone searching, because it covers more real businesses.
- The local economy benefits when small businesses grow.
First, talk to them
Before you create anything, ask your friend. A listing represents their business, so they should agree to it and give you the correct details. Ask for:
- The exact business name.
- The category and emirate.
- A phone or WhatsApp number they answer.
- A business email they can open, because the verification code goes there.
Why the owner must verify
A listing is only fully trusted when the owner confirms it. After you submit the quick listing, a six-digit code is emailed to the business address. Your friend, or you with their permission while sitting together, enters the code to verify. This protects the owner from someone else claiming their name, and it gives the page the Owner Verified badge.
Please only list businesses you are authorised to list, and never enter details you are unsure about. If your friend prefers to do it themselves, simply send them the link to the quick listing page.
A simple 15-minute plan to do it together
- Minutes 1 to 3: create the quick listing with the five details.
- Minutes 4 to 6: enter the verification code from their email.
- Minutes 7 to 10: write a clear description using the four-sentence formula in our description guide.
- Minutes 11 to 13: add three products or services with prices and a photo.
- Minutes 14 to 15: add one offer and share the page link on WhatsApp.
Help them get their first customers
A page is only a start. Encourage your friend to:
- Share the page link in their WhatsApp status and groups.
- Ask two happy customers to write honest reviews.
- Reply to every message quickly, even with a short answer.
- Post a simple offer to give new visitors a reason to act.
Is this the same as a referral?
Yes, in spirit. Helping someone you trust get found is the most natural form of recommendation. If you own a business too, you can later connect with them through the Business Network and see whether your products suit each other.
Key takeaways
- Always get your friend's permission and correct details first.
- The owner verifies by entering the code sent to the business email.
- A complete page with products and an offer works far better than a bare entry.
- Share the link and collect honest reviews to build trust.
Know someone who should be listed? Start their free listing or send them the link today.