Choosing the Right Marketplace Categories

Selecting the right categories for your listing is crucial for being discovered by the right audience. This guide explains each category and helps you make the best choice for your business.

Why Categories Matter

Categories serve several important purposes:

Discoverability – Visitors filter by category to find specific services
Relevance – Your listing appears alongside similar businesses
Search rankings – Proper categorisation improves search visibility
Partnership matching – Operators find complementary businesses

Primary vs Secondary Categories

Primary Category

Your main category defines your core business. This is how you'll primarily appear in search results and filtered views. Choose the category that best represents what most visitors come to you for.

Secondary Categories

You can select up to three additional categories to capture the full scope of your offerings. These ensure you appear in relevant searches beyond your primary focus. Example: A vineyard might select:

Primary: Food & Dining (Winery/Cellar Door)
Secondary: Tours & Experiences (Wine Tasting), Events & Venues (Functions), Accommodation (if offering guest stays)

Available Categories

Accommodation

For businesses offering overnight stays:

Subcategory	Best For
Hotels & Resorts	Full-service accommodation with amenities
Motels	Drive-up, convenient accommodation
Bed & Breakfast	Intimate stays with breakfast included
Holiday Rentals	Self-contained houses, units, or apartments
Caravan Parks	Powered sites, cabins, camping facilities
Farm Stays	Rural accommodation experiences
Boutique & Luxury	High-end, unique accommodation
Backpackers & Hostels	Budget-friendly shared accommodation
Glamping	Luxury camping experiences

Tours & Experiences

For operators offering guided activities:

Subcategory	Best For
Adventure Tours	Outdoor activities, adrenaline experiences
Cultural Tours	Heritage, history, indigenous experiences
Food & Wine Tours	Culinary journeys, tastings
Nature & Wildlife	Eco-tours, wildlife encounters
Walking & Hiking	Guided walks, trail experiences
Water Activities	Kayaking, diving, cruises, fishing
Air Experiences	Scenic flights, ballooning, skydiving
Photography Tours	Guided photography experiences
Family Activities	Child-friendly tours and experiences

Food & Dining

For hospitality and food-related businesses:

Subcategory	Best For
Restaurants	Full-service dining establishments
Cafes	Casual dining, coffee-focused venues
Wineries & Cellar Doors	Wine tasting and sales
Breweries & Distilleries	Craft beverages, tastings
Food Producers	Artisan foods, farm gate sales
Catering	Event and function catering services
Cooking Classes	Hands-on culinary experiences

Attractions

For destination-worthy sites and venues:

Subcategory	Best For
Museums & Galleries	Cultural and art institutions
Natural Attractions	Lookouts, waterfalls, natural features
Gardens & Parks	Botanical gardens, themed parks
Historical Sites	Heritage buildings, landmarks
Theme Parks	Entertainment and amusement venues
Wildlife Parks	Zoos, sanctuaries, aquariums
Markets	Regular markets, artisan markets

Services

For supporting tourism services:

Subcategory	Best For
Transport	Transfers, car hire, coaches
Equipment Hire	Bikes, camping gear, water sports
Travel Agents	Booking and planning services
Visitor Centres	Information and local guidance
Photography	Professional photography services
Wellness & Spa	Health and relaxation services

Events & Venues

For event-related businesses:

Subcategory	Best For
Function Venues	Weddings, conferences, celebrations
Event Organisers	Festival and event management
Entertainment	Performers, shows, attractions
Conference Facilities	Business event hosting

How to Choose Your Categories

Step 1: Identify Your Core Offering

Ask yourself: "When visitors think of my business, what do they think of first?"

This is typically your primary category.

Step 2: Consider Visitor Search Behaviour

Think about how potential visitors might search:

What terms would they use?
What are they hoping to find?
What category would they browse?

Step 3: Review Your Secondary Offerings

List all the additional services or experiences you provide:

Do they warrant their own category?
Would visitors specifically search for them?
Do they add meaningful discoverability?

Step 4: Check the Competition

Browse /marketplace and see how similar businesses categorise themselves:

Are there gaps you can fill?
Are certain categories overcrowded?
Where can you stand out?

Common Categorisation Mistakes

Being Too Narrow

Problem: Only selecting one category when multiple apply Solution: Use secondary categories to capture your full offering

Being Too Broad

Problem: Selecting categories that don't truly fit Solution: Only choose categories where you genuinely compete

Ignoring Secondary Revenue

Problem: Focusing only on your main business Solution: If you offer it, categorise it

Following Trends Over Fit

Problem: Choosing popular categories for visibility Solution: Prioritise relevance over traffic

Changing Your Categories

Your categories aren't permanent. As your business evolves:

Navigate to /marketplace
Access your listing management
Click "Edit Categories"
Update your selections
Save changes

Review your categories seasonally to ensure they reflect your current offerings.

Tips for Multi-Offering Businesses

If your business spans multiple areas:

Choose your highest-revenue offering as primary
Ensure secondary categories are genuinely relevant
Consider creating separate listings for distinctly different offerings
Use your description to explain your diverse services

The right category selection helps the right visitors find you. Take time to choose wisely, and don't hesitate to adjust as your business grows and changes.