Geographic area

Geographic categories range from the largest, a continent; down to the smallest, a locality. See Geographic categories. Most Regional sites are listed according to the physical location(s) of the site's subject. Others are listed according to the geographic focusof the site, such as directories, membership organizations, governmental bodies, service agencies, businesses located in multiple areas, and those few types of business listed by service area.

Businesses or organizations with multiple physical locations are placed in the smallest geographic category needed to encompass all of their locations. See listings for multiple locations. A few types of sites are listed according to service area rather than physical location. See listing by service area. In certain circumstances, business and organizations are listed in a country-wide Regional category as well as a more localized Regional category. This is done only in non-US countries.

Topics

At any one time, a category may not have listings for all the topics that would be appropriate for it. For details about topics, and how they are arranged into subcategories, see Topical subcategories.

English Language

All sites in the Regional section must be in the English language. For sites in other languages, see the World section. Multilingual sites with English as one of the languages may be listed in both the Regional section and the World section.

• Continent
• Country
• Country Region
• State, Province, Dependent Area, Department, or equivalent
• State (or equivalent) Region
• Metro Area
• County, Borough, Parish, or equivalent
• Locality (a city, town, or community)

• Bands and disc jockeys - Normally listed at a county or metro area level, although they may be listed in wider-area category if there is evidence that they frequently serve the wider area.
• Contractors - Although the construction trades "come to you," they are typically listed according to their office location.
• Home health aides - Many editors will list sites such as home visiting nurse agencies at the county, metro, or region level, according to the apparent area served.
• Internet service providers - Some editors list ISPs by service area, but others list them in the locality of their office location.
• Limousines - These companies are typically listed according to the area they primarily serve.
• Newspapers and magazines - Some editors list ones with a specific regional focus according to the area they primarily serve. Other editors list them according to the physical location of their office(s). There is no universally accepted way of handling these sites.
• Radio and television stations - These businesses are typically listed according to the area they primarily serve.
• Travel - Travel agents and operators are most commonly listed in the locality of their physical presence. Tour operators may also be listed according to focus area of tours offered. The Travel Guidelines contain further information about placement of travel sites.
• Utilities - Providers of gas, electricity, water, and cable services are typically listed according to the area they primarily serve.
• Organizations - Trade associations, chambers of commerce, social clubs, social service providers, and similar entities are typically listed according to the area they serve.
• Governments and government agencies - are listed according to the area of their authority.

1. Most sites belong at the locality level, based on their physical address. Think carefully before submitting to any wider-area category, or to any locality other than the one where you are physically located. Do not, for instance, submit to a wider-area category just because most of your customers come from a wider area than your locality.
   
   These links show localities for various countries:

   Canada -- by province Finland France Germany

   Italy Japan Malaysia Norway Spain

   Sweden United Kingdom United States -- by state Serbia and Montenegro

2. The relationship of the website to the location must be clear. In most cases, it is preferable if this is shown by an address or local phone number.
3. For best results, examine existing listings and submit your site where sites similar to yours are listed. Remember that submitting to an incorrect category can greatly delay the consideration of your submission. Submitting the same site to many categories is frowned upon and can result in a submission being rejected altogether.
4. To improve the chance that your submission will be accepted with the wording you propose, take time to write a title and description consistent with Directory guidelines. To summarize:
   • The submitted title for a business or organization website should be the entity's official name.
   • Descriptions should be factual and free of hype or promotional language.
   • Use phrases and sentences, not lists of keywords.
   • Don't repeat the name of the title in the description.
   • Don't Capitalize Every Word. Avoid ALL CAPS.
   • Don't use ampersands (&) or exclamation marks (!). Don't use abbreviations or slang.
   • Describe the types of information found on the site, as well as the subject of the site.
   • Observe how existing listings are titled and described.

• Architecture - For sites about the area's architecture, not about the area's architectural firms. Architectural firms are listed in the Business and Economy category (in the sub-category, when available, titled Construction and Maintenance: Architects).
  
  
• Artists and Galleries - Does include art-selling venues such as regular weekend art shows in public parks.
  
  
• Clubs and Venues - Includes all venues catering to the performing arts -- from concert halls, to coffee houses, to clubs and bars specializing in live entertainment.
  
  
• Libraries - Includes public and private libraries. It includes those of colleges and universities, but not those of elementary and secondary schools.
  
  
• Museums - Includes museums devoted to a broad range of subjects, including history, science, technology, and nature, as well as arts and culture.
  
  
• Bands and Artists - The band and musical artists must be actively performing. Providers of these services are listed geographically in the category that best fits their primary service area.
  
  
• DJs - Includes karaoke jockeys. Providers of these services are listed geographically in the category that best fits their primary service area.

• Advertising and Marketing - Includes agencies, consultants, services, and signage companies, but does not include photography and video production. Photography sites are listed in the Arts and Entertainment category. Video production sites are listed in the Business and Economy category (in the subcategory, when available, titled Industries: Entertainment: Audio and Video Production).
  
  
• Agriculture - For sites about the business of agriculture. A "Business and Economy: Agriculture" category is not to be confused with a "Science and Environment: Agriculture" category, which is for sites about the science and techniques of agriculture.
  
  
• Animals - Topics include breeders, kennels, livestock, pets, and veterinary services. Sites about animal welfare and animal shelters are not listed here, but are listed instead in the Society and Culture category (in the subcategory, when available, titled Animal Welfare).
  
  
• Beauty and Cosmetic Services - For websites about businesses whose primary focus is non-medical health and beauty services. Topics include beauty salons, make-up artists, tattoo studios, health spas, and massage therapists.
  
  
• Construction and Maintenance - Topics include architects, builders, janitorial services, and specialists in heating, air conditioning, and plumbing. Sites related to interior design and landscaping are not listed here, but are listed instead in the Business and Economy category (in the subcategory, when available, titled Home and Garden).
  
  
• Marine Sales and Services - Includes boat dealers, yacht brokers, marinas, and sellers of marine parts, accessories, and services. Businesses renting and chartering boats are listed in the Recreation and Sports category.
  
  
• Organizations - For groups promoting business in the area. Please note that a specific industry trade organization is often listed in the category for its industry.
  
  
• Services - For types of services not covered in other categories. Examples include appliance repair, child care, house-sitting, errand-running, piano tuning, and language translations.
  
  
• Shopping - For brick-and-mortar retail stores in the area. In addition, for countries other than the United States, a country-level category may also contain distance-shopping sites if the prices are quoted in the local currency and the products are shipped from that country.

• Specialized Instruction - Topics include driver's training, adult education programs, intensive foreign language schools, and programs offering instruction outside the traditional classroom.
  
  
• Vocational and Technical - For educational programs that are specifically career-related.

• Agriculture - For sites about the science and techniques of agriculture in the area. Sites about agricultural businesses are listed in the Business and Economy category.
• Forestry - For sites about the science and techniques of forestry in the area. Sites about forestry businesses are listed in the Business and Economy category.