Last updated: October 15, 2025
Categories are the foundation of how customers find your business on DirConnect. Properly categorizing your business ensures you appear in relevant searches and reach the right audience. This guide explains how categories work and how to optimize them.
Why Categories Matter
When a user searches for "Plumber in Chicago" or filters by "Home Services," DirConnect uses your categories to match their query. Incorrect or vague categories can result in:
- Lower Visibility: Your business won't show up in targeted searches.
- Wrong Audience: Users may find you but realize you don't offer the service they need.
- Missed Opportunities: You might be excluded from specific category-based promotions.
How to Select Categories
- Go to Dashboard > My Business > Edit Listing.
- Scroll to the "Category" section.
- Type to search for a category or browse the dropdown menu.
- Select the Primary Category that best describes your core service.
- Optional: Add up to 3 Secondary Categories for complementary services.
- Click Save Changes.
Available Categories
Below is a reference table of the most common categories on DirConnect. You can search these in the dashboard.
| Category Name | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants & Dining | Places serving food and beverages. | Cafes, Fast Food, Fine Dining, Bars |
| Home Services | Residential repair and maintenance. | Plumbers, Electricians, Landscaping |
| Health & Wellness | Medical, dental, and wellness services. | Clinics, Dentists, Gyms, Yoga Studios |
| Retail & Shopping | Physical and online stores. | Clothing, Electronics, Grocery, Florists |
| Professional Services | B2B and expert consultancies. | Lawyers, Accountants, Real Estate |
| Automotive | Vehicle-related services. | Mechanics, Car Wash, Dealerships |
| Education | Learning institutions and tutors. | Daycares, Language Schools, Tutors |
Best Practices
- Be Specific: If "Italian Restaurant" is available, choose it over just "Restaurant" if that's your main focus.
- Match Customer Intent: Think about how your customers describe your business. If they say "I need a dog groomer," ensure "Pet Grooming" is selected.
- Review Periodically: As your business evolves, update your categories to reflect new services you offer.
- Don't Overload: Stick to the 1 Primary + 3 Secondary limit to keep your profile focused and accurate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! If you believe your business type is missing from the directory, you can submit a category request via our Contact Support form. We review new category requests weekly.
You can change your categories as often as needed. Changes take effect immediately and may take up to 24 hours to propagate fully across our search index.
Categories help users find you, but ranking is determined by a combination of factors including reviews, proximity, completeness of listing, and engagement. Correct categories ensure you are eligible to rank for relevant searches.
The Primary Category is the main identity of your business. It carries the most weight in search algorithms. Secondary Categories allow you to capture additional traffic for related services but have less influence on ranking.