Green Directory Search Tips

Business Name and Category Searches

How do I search for a business name or category?

1. Locate the search box found in the middle of the page or on top of the results page.
2. Click on Business tab.
3. In the Business field, enter the name of the business you're trying to find or a category name. TIP: Enter only part of the business name or category to avoid misspelling the name.
4. Enter the city, state and/or zip code in the Location field.
5. Click the search button to initiate the search or hit the Enter button on your keyboard.

How do I refine a business name or category search if no listings are returned?

1. Avoid being too specific, and instead search a more general term. (e.g., Target versus Target Pharmacy or School versus High School)
2. Enter fewer characters on the business name or category (e.g., Gugg versus Guggenheim)
3. Remove the zip code or city.

How do I refine a business or category search if too many listings are returned?

1. Use a more specific search term. (e.g., Walmart Pharmacy versus Walmart or Restaurants Pizza versus Restaurants).
2. Add the city, state and/or zip code in the Location field rather than just searching a state. (e.g., Orlando, FL versus FL).
3. Narrow down search results by filtering by category or location on the left-hand side of the page.
4. Add the street address to the By Street field (e.g., Middleton Ave).

How do I modify the search results returned using the Sort By function?

1. Sort By Relevance (Default): Results are returned based on matching the criteria entered into the Business and Location fields. Exact matches are returned first and then similar matches are returned. Example: If Pizza Hut in San Francisco, CA is entered into the Search field, the results are returned matching Pizza Hut in San Francisco, CA first and then similar matches such as Pizza Palace are returned next.
2. Sort By Alphabetical: Results are returned in alphabetical order based on the business name. Example: If searching for 7-Eleven in Sterling, VA, the results are returned for 7-11 first and then 7-Eleven.
3. Sort By Distance: Results are returned based on proximity to the location entered in the original search. Example: If searching for hotels in Dallas, TX; the hotels closest to Dallas, TX are returned first and then the next closest city to Dallas. TIP: The distance search works best when a street address is used in the search box.

How do I refine the search results using the Location on the left side tab?

1. The top 10 cities with the most results matching the search criteria are listed on the left-hand side of the page. The number of listings per location is included in the parentheses (e.g., Orlando, FL (45)).
2. Click on the city and state that matches where you want to search for listings.
3. To expand out, click on the State in the breadcrumb above the search results (e.g., Location >> VA).

How do I refine the search results using the Category on the left side tab?

1. The top 10 subcategories with the most results matching the search criteria are listed in the Category side tab. The number of listings per category is included in the parentheses (e.g., Restaurants Pizza (32)).
2. Click on the subcategory that matches where you want to search for listings.
3. To expand out, click on the Category in the breadcrumb above the search results (e.g., Category >>Restaurants).

Residential Searches

How do I search for a person?

1. Locate the search box found in the middle of the page or on top of the results page.
2. Click on Person tab.
3. Enter the first name, if known, of the person you're trying to find in the First Name field. TIP: Type in the entire first name, part of the first name or just the first initial.
4. Enter the last name of the person you're trying to find in the Last Name field. TIP: Type in the entire last name or just part of the name.
5. Enter the city, state and/or zip code in the Location field.
6. Click the search button to initiate the search or hit the Enter button on your keyboard.

How are residential search results returned?

1. Exact matches of what was entered are returned first.
2. The system automatically expands the search to include nicknames, first initial as well as expanding to surrounding areas of the originating city entered. TIP 1: Entering more information (full last name and first name, street address, and city, state and zip code) in Search fields will result in fewer listings returned.TIP 2: Entering less information (last name and state) in the Search fields will result in more listings returned.

How do I refine a residential search if no listings are returned?

1. Remove the zip code or city on the location and search only the state (e.g., GA versus Atlanta, GA).
2. Remove the first name or search only on the first initial of the name (e.g., J versus Jack).
3. Enter fewer characters on the last name (e.g., John versus Johnson).

How do I refine a residential search if too many listings are returned?

1. Add the First Name to the First Name field, instead of just searching by last name.
2. Add the city and/or zip code to the Location field.
3. Add the address to the By Street field.

Reverse Telephone Number Searches

How do I search for an address via the telephone number?

1. Locate the search box found in the middle of the page or on top of the results page.
2. Click on Reverse tab.
3. Locate the Telephone Number field.
4. Type in or paste the 10-digit telephone number. The field can accommodate characters such as dash or slash.
5. Click the search button to initiate the search.

Reverse Address Searches

How do I search for a name and telephone number via a street address?

1. Locate the search box found in the middle of the page or on top of the results page.
2. Click on Reverse tab.
3. Find the Location field.
4. Type in the house number or house number range, street address, city and state.
5. Click the search button to initiate the search.

Zip Code Searches

How do I search for a zip code?

1. Locate the search box found in the middle of the page or on top of the results page.
2. Click on the Zip Code tab.
3. Locate the Street Name field.
4. Enter the house number, street name, city and state.
5. Click the search button to initiate the search.