1. Purpose

These Community Guidelines explain which business listings, media, descriptions, links, and other content are permitted on ContactTheBusiness.com and which content may be rejected, restricted, removed, suspended, or reported.

ContactTheBusiness.com is a B2B business visibility and discovery platform. The Platform is intended for business users, entrepreneurs, companies, self-employed professionals, freelancers, and authorised business representatives.

These Community Guidelines apply to all content submitted, uploaded, displayed, linked, published, edited, or otherwise provided through ContactTheBusiness.com, including:

• business names;
• business descriptions;
• business categories;
• business addresses;
• phone numbers;
• email addresses;
• websites;
• opening hours;
• service areas;
• keywords;
• logos;
• images and photos;
• videos and video thumbnails;
• featured banners;
• call-to-action buttons;
• social media links;
• menus, booking links, product links, event links, portfolio links, and external links;
• review replies, messages, comments, or other user-submitted content where available;
• metadata, titles, captions, alt text, or other descriptive information.

These Community Guidelines are separate from, but connected to, our General Terms and Conditions / Terms of Service. They apply in addition to the Terms and help explain how content moderation works on the Platform.

The processing of personal data is explained separately in our Privacy Policy. Operator information is available in our Imprint. Rules regarding copying, scraping, database rights, and copyright-related use of platform content are explained in our Data Copyright / Copyright Notice.

In case of conflict between these Community Guidelines and the General Terms and Conditions / Terms of Service, the Terms prevail.

2. Core Principles

All content submitted to ContactTheBusiness.com must be lawful, accurate, professional, relevant, and suitable for a B2B business listing platform.

Business users must ensure that their content:

• is truthful, lawful, and non-misleading;
• accurately represents the listed business;
• is relevant to the business being listed;
• does not infringe third-party rights;
• does not contain unlawful, harmful, fraudulent, abusive, or deceptive material;
• does not misuse the identity, name, logo, brand, address, licence, certification, or reputation of another person, business, organisation, or authority;
• does not mislead visitors about the business, its services, qualifications, prices, licences, availability, ownership, location, or official status;
• complies with applicable law, including advertising law, competition law, data protection law, copyright law, trademark law, professional rules, consumer protection rules where applicable to the business, and sector-specific legal requirements.

Approval of a business listing or content by ContactTheBusiness does not mean that we verify, certify, endorse, recommend, guarantee, or accept responsibility for the business, its content, its services, its products, or its legal compliance.

The business user remains fully responsible for all submitted content.

3. Business Listing Accuracy

Business listings must be accurate, current, and lawful.

The following are not permitted:

• fake businesses;
• non-existent businesses;
• impersonation of another business, person, brand, authority, or organisation;
• false business names;
• false business addresses;
• false phone numbers;
• false email addresses;
• false websites;
• false opening hours;
• false service areas;
• false category selection;
• false claims about experience, awards, licences, certifications, partnerships, official approvals, government connections, or professional qualifications;
• misleading use of words such as “official,” “certified,” “approved,” “authorised,” “licensed,” “partner,” “guaranteed,” or similar terms without a lawful and verifiable basis;
• misleading claims about prices, discounts, availability, delivery, booking, results, guarantees, or business performance;
• listings created without authority from the relevant business;
• duplicate, spam-like, irrelevant, or low-quality listings.

Business users must update their business listing if information changes or becomes inaccurate.

We may request evidence, clarification, correction, or verification if a business listing appears incomplete, misleading, unlawful, suspicious, or inconsistent.

4. Permitted Content

The following types of content are generally permitted when lawful, accurate, relevant, and professionally presented:

• genuine business descriptions;
• accurate contact information;
• business logos owned or lawfully used by the business;
• photos of business premises, teams, services, products, menus, portfolios, or work examples;
• videos that present the business, services, products, location, team, portfolio, customer-facing information, or brand identity;
• service descriptions;
• opening hours;
• service areas;
• booking links;
• website links;
• social media links;
• menus, portfolios, event pages, price lists, or product pages;
• business banners or promotional images;
• factual information about licences, certifications, awards, qualifications, memberships, or partnerships where the business has the right to make those claims;
• professional promotional content that is lawful, truthful, and not misleading.

Business users must hold all required rights, permissions, licences, approvals, consents, and authorisations for the content they submit.

5. Strictly Prohibited Content

The following content is strictly prohibited. This list is non-exhaustive.

5.1 Sexual exploitation and pornography

Content involving sexual exploitation, pornography, prostitution facilitation, sexualised depictions of minors, “youth-like” sexualised portrayals, incest, bestiality, sexual violence, or sexual content intended primarily to cause sexual arousal is not permitted.

5.2 Child endangerment

Content involving abuse, exploitation, grooming, doxxing, unsafe acts involving minors, sexualised minors, minors in dangerous situations, or any content that endangers children is not permitted.

5.3 Human trafficking and exploitation

Content promoting, facilitating, recruiting for, monetising, or otherwise supporting human trafficking, forced labour, sexual exploitation, coercion, or similar exploitation is not permitted.

5.4 Illegal activities

Content that instructs, facilitates, promotes, coordinates, or enables criminal offences is not permitted. This includes drug production, identity theft, money laundering, credit card fraud, document fraud, evasion of law enforcement, or other unlawful conduct.

5.5 Weapons and explosives

Content promoting, selling, manufacturing, procuring, modifying, or unlawfully using illegal weapons, explosives, accessories, or regulated weapons is not permitted.

5.6 Terrorism and violent extremism

Content praising, supporting, recruiting for, glorifying, financing, or spreading propaganda for terrorist, extremist, or violent organisations is not permitted. Instructions for violent acts are not permitted.

5.7 Hate speech

Content attacking, dehumanising, degrading, threatening, or calling for exclusion, discrimination, or violence against protected groups is not permitted. Protected characteristics may include race, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, serious illness, or similar protected status.

5.8 Harassment and threats

Credible threats, targeted harassment, bullying, doxxing, intimidation, stalking, blackmail, extortion, or sexual harassment are not permitted.

5.9 Graphic violence and animal cruelty

Content showing, glorifying, promoting, or sensationalising graphic violence, torture, serious injury, gore, physical abuse, animal cruelty, or sadistic harm is not permitted.

5.10 Self-harm and suicide

Content promoting, instructing, encouraging, romanticising, or facilitating suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, or similar harmful conduct is not permitted.

5.11 Harmful misinformation

False or misleading content with real potential to cause harm is not permitted. This includes dangerous health misinformation, fraudulent medical claims, false public-safety claims, fabricated official notices, deceptive crisis information, or false claims intended to manipulate elections or public processes.

5.12 Illegal medicine, drugs, or controlled substances

Content selling, promoting, facilitating, or instructing the use, production, distribution, or unlawful acquisition of prohibited drugs, controlled substances, prescription-only medicines without authorisation, or illegal medical products is not permitted.

5.13 Fraud, scams, and deception

Fraudulent content, phishing, pyramid schemes, Ponzi schemes, fake competitions, fake giveaways, impersonation, fake investment opportunities, fake reviews, fake testimonials, deepfakes without clear labelling, or deceptive business claims are not permitted.

5.14 Malware and security violations

Malware, credential phishing, hacking tools intended for misuse, instructions for bypassing security systems, stolen credentials, unauthorised access methods, paywall bypassing, or other cyber abuse is not permitted.

5.15 Spam and low-quality manipulation

Repeated, irrelevant, automatically generated, duplicated, keyword-stuffed, link-farm, engagement-bait, or mass-posted content without genuine business value is not permitted.

5.16 Illegal or prohibited external links

Links to illegal goods, illegal services, unlawful marketplaces, malware, phishing pages, unauthorised gambling, prohibited substances, illegal weapons, counterfeit goods, or other unlawful content are not permitted.

6. Sensitive Content Permitted Only Under Conditions

Some content may be allowed only when it is lawful, relevant, professionally presented, and shown with appropriate context.

This may include:

• reporting, education, documentary, or public-interest content about crime, conflict, safety, or social issues, without sensationalism or glorification;
• health or medicine-related information based on reputable sources and without misleading claims, miracle cures, or unlawful medical advice;
• workplace safety, first aid, or harm-reduction information presented responsibly and without encouraging dangerous imitation;
• historical, journalistic, or educational content about violence, discrimination, or sensitive events where presented neutrally and without praise, incitement, or harassment;
• strong language where not used for targeted harassment, discrimination, threats, or pornographic context.

We may apply warning notices, age restrictions, visibility restrictions, edits, rejection, removal, or other moderation measures where sensitive content is unsuitable for broad display on the Platform.

7. Regulated Businesses and High-Risk Sectors

Business users operating in regulated or high-risk sectors are responsible for ensuring that their listings, services, advertising claims, and customer communications comply with all applicable laws, licences, permissions, approvals, professional rules, and disclosure obligations.

This may include, depending on the business:

• healthcare and medical services;
• pharmacies and medicine-related services;
• financial services;
• insurance services;
• legal services;
• tax and accounting services;
• real estate services;
• employment and recruitment services;
• travel and hospitality services;
• food and restaurant services;
• education and training services;
• beauty, cosmetic, wellness, or treatment services;
• security services;
• technical, repair, construction, or installation services;
• transport and logistics services;
• childcare or services involving minors;
• any other regulated or licensed activity.

Business users must not claim to hold licences, approvals, qualifications, certifications, insurance, memberships, awards, or official status unless those claims are truthful, current, and verifiable.

We may request evidence of licences, approvals, authorisations, certifications, professional status, or business legitimacy where reasonably necessary.

8. Advertising, Sponsorships, Offers, and Promotions

Business users must ensure that advertising, promotional claims, sponsorships, affiliate links, discounts, offers, and product/service claims are truthful, lawful, transparent, and not misleading.

The following are not permitted:

• fake discounts;
• fake scarcity or false urgency;
• false price claims;
• false “limited time” claims;
• misleading guarantees;
• misleading before/after claims;
• hidden paid promotions where disclosure is legally required;
• affiliate links without required transparency;
• fake awards, fake certifications, or fake customer endorsements;
• clickbait titles, misleading thumbnails, or deceptive banners;
• claims that cannot be substantiated where substantiation is legally required.

The business user is responsible for complying with advertising law, competition law, professional rules, and sector-specific marketing restrictions.

9. External Links, CTA Buttons, and Social Media Links

External links, CTA buttons, booking links, ordering links, social media links, website links, menu links, event links, portfolio links, product links, price-list links, and similar contact options must be lawful, accurate, safe, and relevant to the listed business.

The following are not permitted:

• links to illegal content;
• links to malware, phishing, scams, or deceptive websites;
• links to prohibited goods or services;
• links that impersonate another business or brand;
• links that redirect visitors in a misleading way;
• links to websites the business is not authorised to use;
• fake booking/order/contact links;
• links that violate third-party rights;
• links that create security or legal risk;
• links to irrelevant, spam-like, or low-quality pages.

We may remove, reject, disable, restrict, or redirect links where they create legal, technical, security, trust, or user-safety concerns.

10. Copyright, Trademarks, Media Rights, and Personal Data

Business users must only upload or submit content they own or are legally authorised to use.

This applies to:

• logos;
• photos;
• videos;
• thumbnails;
• music;
• text;
• designs;
• screenshots;
• brand names;
• trademarks;
• trade names;
• customer photos;
• staff photos;
• location images;
• portfolio images;
• product images;
• documents;
• social media content;
• third-party website material.

Business users must not upload content that infringes copyright, trademark rights, personality rights, image rights, privacy rights, data protection rights, design rights, trade secrets, database rights, or other third-party rights.

Personal data of third parties must not be uploaded or published unless the business user has a lawful basis, consent, permission, or other legal authorisation.

Sensitive personal data, private documents, ID cards, passport data, bank details, health information, customer records, staff records, private addresses, invoices, dashboard screenshots, or confidential information must not be uploaded unless legally permitted and necessary. Where such information appears incidentally, it must be removed, redacted, blurred, blocked out, or pixelated before upload.

Business users must not impersonate individuals, businesses, brands, authorities, customers, employees, reviewers, or public figures.

11. Reviews, Replies, and Public Interaction

Where review, reply, comment, messaging, or interaction features are available, business users must use them professionally and lawfully.

The following are not permitted:

• fake reviews;
• fake testimonials;
• paid or incentivised reviews without legally required disclosure;
• threatening, abusive, discriminatory, defamatory, or harassing replies;
• publication of private customer information;
• disclosure of personal data from customer disputes;
• pressure, intimidation, or retaliation against reviewers;
• impersonation of customers or staff;
• manipulation of review systems;
• irrelevant, spam-like, or automated responses.

Business users are responsible for ensuring that their replies and public communications comply with applicable law.

12. Moderation and Enforcement

We may review, moderate, approve, reject, restrict, suspend, hide, remove, or delete content where we reasonably believe it violates these Community Guidelines, the General Terms and Conditions / Terms of Service, applicable law, third-party rights, or platform safety requirements.

Moderation measures may include:

• rejection of submitted content;
• request for correction;
• temporary hiding of content;
• removal of content;
• warning notices;
• visibility restrictions;
• age or warning notices where appropriate;
• restriction of external links;
• suspension of upload features;
• suspension of paid or free features;
• suspension of business listing access;
• account suspension;
• termination of the contractual relationship;
• retention of relevant information where legally required;
• reporting to competent authorities where required or appropriate in serious cases.

Moderation may be based on manual review, automated tools, user reports, legal notices, third-party complaints, internal checks, security signals, payment signals, or other reasonable indicators.

We are not obliged to publish or continue displaying content simply because it was submitted, paid for, or previously approved.

Approval of content does not prevent later review, restriction, or removal if new information, legal concerns, technical concerns, reports, or policy concerns arise.

13. Reporting Illegal Content, Rights Infringement, or Misuse

Reports regarding illegal content, rights infringement, misleading business listings, unsafe links, impersonation, abuse, or platform misuse may be submitted through the contact or reporting options provided on ContactTheBusiness.com.

Reports may also be sent to:
businesscontact@contactthebusiness.com

To help us review a report, please include where possible:

• the exact URL or location of the reported content;
• the business name or listing involved;
• a clear explanation of the concern;
• the legal or factual reason for the report;
• evidence or supporting information;
• contact details of the reporting person or organisation;
• a statement that the report is made in good faith.

We may review reports and take appropriate action, including no action, requesting further information, restricting content, removing content, suspending access, notifying the affected business user, or taking other reasonable measures.

Submitting a report does not guarantee removal, restriction, suspension, or any specific outcome.

We may reject or ignore reports that are abusive, incomplete, misleading, repeated, bad-faith, automated, clearly unfounded, or unrelated to the Platform.

14. Appeals

If a business user believes that a moderation decision is incorrect, the business user may submit an appeal through the available contact or reporting process.

The appeal should include:

• the affected business listing or content;
• the URL or content reference;
• the moderation decision being challenged;
• the reason why the business user believes the decision is incorrect;
• supporting evidence, documents, licences, permissions, or clarification where relevant;
• contact details for follow-up.

We may review the appeal and decide whether to maintain, modify, or reverse the moderation decision.

Submitting an appeal does not guarantee restoration of content, reinstatement of features, or reversal of the decision.

Repeated, abusive, misleading, bad-faith, or irrelevant appeals may be rejected.

15. No Guarantee of Visibility or Business Results

ContactTheBusiness.com provides business listing, visibility, and discovery services. We do not guarantee any specific number of views, clicks, calls, messages, bookings, leads, rankings, search positions, conversions, sales, customers, reviews, or business results.

Content may appear differently depending on plan status, moderation status, technical availability, search filters, category, location, page layout, visitor behaviour, device type, browser, and platform changes.

We may change layouts, categories, visibility rules, moderation processes, ranking logic, feature availability, or technical display rules where reasonable and consistent with the Platform’s operation.

16. Relationship with Listed Businesses and Visitors

ContactTheBusiness.com is not a party to contracts, negotiations, bookings, reservations, purchases, orders, quotes, deliveries, services, advice, payments, communications, disputes, or other legal relationships between visitors and listed businesses.

Listed businesses are solely responsible for their own goods, services, prices, offers, advertising claims, customer communications, legal notices, cancellation policies, privacy obligations, consumer obligations, professional obligations, and tax obligations.

Visitors should conduct their own checks before contacting, ordering from, booking with, paying, visiting, or entering into any business relationship with a listed business.

17. Changes to These Community Guidelines

We may update these Community Guidelines from time to time for legal, technical, operational, safety, moderation, platform, or business reasons.

Changes will be published on this page. The version and effective date will be shown at the top of the page.

Continued use of ContactTheBusiness.com after changes take effect means that business users must comply with the current version of these Community Guidelines.

Where required, we may also notify registered business users of material changes by email, dashboard notice, or another reasonable communication method.

Operator information is available in our Imprint.