Directory Categories vs. your Official Partner Category

They may use the same type of Category, but they mean different things

A Business can be connected to Categories through its ordinary East Texas Locals Directory presence.

Those Categories help organize the Directory so customers can find Businesses by the type of product, service, or work they provide.

An Official Partner Category is different. It is the protected Category designation connected to an approved Official Partnership with East Texas Locals.

Ordinary Directory placement is not exclusive

Multiple eligible Businesses can appear within the same ordinary Directory Category.

For example, several roofing companies may be eligible to appear under a roofing-related Category so customers can discover and compare local options.

Being listed in that Category does not make each Business an Official Partner.

The Official Partner designation is exclusive

For each approved Partner Category, only one active Business can hold the East Texas Locals Official Partner designation at a time.

That exclusivity applies to the Official Partner relationship—not to every ordinary Business listing in that Category.

So an Official Partner can hold the protected designation while other eligible Businesses continue to appear in the ordinary Directory.

Featured is separate too

Featured visibility does not create an Official Partner Category relationship.

A Business may have Featured visibility without being an Official Partner, and Featured does not reserve the protected Partner position for a Category.

Have a question about a specific Business?

If you’re trying to understand an ordinary Category, Coverage Area, or Official Partner Category connected to your Business, start with the related Help articles.

If something still looks incorrect, contact East Texas Locals Support and include the Business name and the Category or Coverage Area you’re asking about.