AN ONLINE directory that aims to be a cross between the Yellow Pages and Wikipedia has gone free for the first time.

The Brownbook, which has its headquarters in Sayers Common, near Hassocks, has eliminated all paid services from the site, meaning people can upload photos, videos, links to their own site or any other details without spending a penny.

The directory has been created to take advantage of Web 2.0 features such as social networking, which means members of the public as well as business owners can contribute by rating firms they have used.

The aim of founder Marc Lyne, pictured right, is to build up an interactive database of millions of businesses across the world.

He said: “Just like Wikipedia, which is a directory of the world, we want the Brownbook to be a directory for businesses created by people, for people. Now we have made everything free it has opened the flood gates and thousands of firms are signing up.”

There are 214,000 Sussex businesses registered but only 11 have “claimed” their directory by confirming their details and adding their own videos, photos and logo. One of these is Anthony Nicholson, of Brighton-based furniture cleaning company Carpet Doctors, who has been impressed by the search engine optimisation (SEO) the site enables, which means his firm now comes close to the top when people search online.

He said: “I discovered Brownbook about six or seven months ago after it was recommended to me by someone else.

“It has done a lot for the business and a lot of my clients have gone to the site and left customer testimonials.

“Also, I come up high when someone types ‘carpet cleaners’ into Google. It is very beneficial.”

Thomas Bailey, of Pople Web Design, in Forest Row, uses Brownbook to improve the SEO rating of both the company and its clients.

He said: “It is a useful tool for us. It helps our clients move up in Google, MSN and other search engines. The speed also makes me happy. It is simple to use and fast.”

Funding for Brownbook has been provided by a private investor for the next four years.

In the future, Mr Lyne said revenue could be raised from advertising.

For more information www.brownbook.net.