Editorial Policy
How we write, review, and maintain content on NearbyTraders.
1. Content standards
- Plain language. We write for homeowners, not industry insiders. Technical terms are explained when they matter (e.g., Part P compliance, Gas Safe registration).
- UK-specific. All pricing, regulations, qualifications, and trade bodies referenced are UK-relevant. We do not publish US or generic content.
- Safety first. Where a trade involves regulatory requirements (Gas Safe, Part P, MCS, FGAS), we state them clearly and recommend homeowners verify compliance directly.
- Non-promotional. We do not accept payment to recommend specific tradespeople in our editorial content. Listing order on directory pages is determined by data completeness and rating, not payment.
- Date-stamped. Cost guides and pricing content include the year of publication and a "last reviewed" date so readers can judge currency.
2. Affiliate disclosure
- If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, NearbyTraders earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.
- Affiliate links are always marked with a disclosure notice on the page where they appear.
- Affiliate relationships do not influence which products we recommend. Our product picks are based on specifications, trade suitability, and value.
- We do not accept sponsored product placements or pay-for-review arrangements.
3. Content independence
- Directory listings are compiled from public data sources (primarily Google Business Profiles) and follow our listing methodology. No tradesperson can pay to appear in our directory or influence their listing position.
- Editorial content (guides, blog posts, cost articles) is written by our editorial team and reviewed for accuracy. Tradespeople cannot pay to be mentioned in editorial content.
- Affiliate content (Trade Shop, product recommendations) is clearly labelled and separated from directory and editorial content.
4. Review and update process
- New content is reviewed by at least one editor before publication.
- Cost guides are reviewed quarterly to ensure pricing remains current.
- Hiring guides are reviewed when regulations change (e.g., updates to Part P, Gas Safe requirements, building regulations).
- Blog posts display a "last reviewed" date and reviewer name.
- Outdated content is updated in place rather than republished, to preserve URL equity.
5. Corrections
6. What we do not publish
- We do not publish sponsored content or advertorials disguised as editorial.
- We do not publish content that could constitute regulated financial or legal advice.
- We do not publish reviews of individual tradespeople — we surface publicly available Google ratings without editorialising them.
- We do not guarantee the accuracy of third-party data (Google ratings, business addresses) but we do check it for consistency.