Categories are the types of work you offer, such as Real Estate Photography, Weddings or Headshots. Each category has its own listing in the RebookMedia directory, its own services, bio, portfolio and banner, and its own place on your booking page (unless you make it quotes only). Your primary category is the one your profile and booking page lead with.
This article explains how to add categories, keep them up to date, choose your primary category, turn categories on and off, archive them, and get each one listed in the directory.
Where to find it: At the top right of the page, click the grid icon (Navigation Panel) and choose Storefront, then click Categories in the left menu. On a phone, open your Dashboard and, in the Business Listing card, choose Add Category at the bottom of the category list.
In this article
- Before you start
- The Categories page
- Add a category
- Edit a category
- Choose your primary category
- Online booking or quotes only
- Turn a category on or off
- Archive or unarchive a category
- Reorder your categories
- Get a category listed in the directory
- Plan limits
- Troubleshooting
- Related articles
Before you start
- You already have one category. The category you chose during onboarding was set up for you as your primary category.
- Have a banner ready. Every new category needs a banner image: a JPG or PNG, up to 8 MB. It is cropped to a square, so keep the subject in the middle.
- Plan your short description. Up to 50 characters that say what and where you shoot, for example "New Jersey Wedding Photography".
The Categories page
The top of the page shows how many active categories your plan allows, for example "2 of 5 active categories used". Use the tabs to switch between:
- Active: shown to clients, with their services.
- Inactive: turned off, but kept so you can turn them back on.
- Archived: put away and always off.
Each row shows the category (with a Custom tag if you created it) and its short description, whether clients can book it (Online booking or Quotes only), its active services (or Add services), and a star for your Primary category. Click a row to open it, or use its ... menu. Use Search categories to find one.
Add a category
- Click Add Category.
- In the Category list, choose one of the Platform categories. If yours isn't listed, choose + Create a custom category and type a Custom category name (up to 50 characters).
- Enter a Short description (up to 50 characters). A counter shows how many characters you have left.
- Add a Banner: click to upload, or drag and drop a JPG or PNG up to 8 MB. A preview appears straight away.
- Leave Active ticked to show the category to clients now, or untick it to save it as inactive.
- Leave Clients can book this category online ticked, or untick it to make it quotes only (see below).
- Click Add category. You will see "Category created successfully!"
Next, add services to it: click Add services in the category's row.
Tip: Choose a platform category whenever one fits. Clients search the directory by platform category, so it helps you get found.
Edit a category
- Click the category (or Edit in its ... menu).
- Change the Short description, upload a new Banner, or tick or untick Active. For a custom category you can also change its Category name.
- Click Save changes. You will see "Category updated successfully!"
If you don't upload a new banner, the current one stays. You can't swap a category for a different one (for example Weddings for Events), because its services are linked to it. Add the new category instead and move your services across.
Choose your primary category
Your primary category is the one clients see first: your profile opens on it, it is the default on your booking page, and it is used on your directory card and for new projects.
On the Active tab, click the star on the category you want (or Make primary in its ... menu). You will see "Primary category updated."
- You always have exactly one primary category, and only active categories can be primary.
- Your primary category always stays active. To turn it off, make another category primary first.
Online booking or quotes only
For each category, choose whether clients can book it online or ask you for a quote:
- Online booking (default): its services are offered on your booking page and your website's Book now.
- Quotes only: it isn't offered for online booking, your website shows no prices for it, and clients send you a message for a quote instead.
Switch it with Switch to quotes only or Turn on online booking in the category's ... menu, or with Clients can book this category online when you edit it. It can also be set from Website > Customize.
Turn a category on or off
- Click the category to open it.
- Tick or untick Active and click Save changes.
Inactive categories and their services are hidden from your booking page, website and the directory. Turning a category off doesn't turn off its services, so they are ready when you turn it back on. Use this for seasonal work you don't offer all year.
Archive or unarchive a category
Archive a category you no longer offer to tidy it out of your lists. Nothing is deleted.
- Archive: turn the category off first (only inactive categories can be archived). Then, on the Inactive tab, click Archive in its ... menu and click again to confirm.
- Unarchive: on the Archived tab, click Unarchive in its ... menu and click again to confirm. It comes back on the Inactive tab; open it, tick Active and save to show it again.
Reorder your categories
Drag a category by the dotted handle on the left of its row and drop it where you want it. The new order saves automatically. It is the order used on your Services page and in the category list on your booking page.
Get a category listed in the directory
Each category is listed in the directory separately. On your Dashboard, the Business Listing card shows whether the selected category is Listed or Unlisted, with a progress bar. To get it listed, choose the category in that card and complete all of these:
- Public Image: your profile photo.
- Professional Bio: 300 to 1,000 characters about you and your work in this category. You can use Write my professional bio (Rebookgen AI) to get a first draft.
- Update Portfolio: at least one portfolio item in this category.
- Category Image: the image or short video for this category (JPG, PNG or GIF up to 5 MB, or MP4, MOV or WEBM up to 50 MB).
- At least one active service in the category.
Once everything is complete, the category is listed automatically. This is checked on a schedule, so it can take a little while to appear.
Plan limits
Your plan includes a set number of active categories. Inactive and archived categories don't count. When you reach your limit, Add Category shows a lock, and the Active box is greyed out with "Your plan's limit of active categories is reached." Click See your options or get more room to upgrade, or turn off a category you aren't using.
Troubleshooting
I can't archive a category
Only inactive categories can be archived. Untick Active, save, then archive. If it is your primary category, make another category primary first.
A category I unarchived isn't showing
Unarchived categories come back inactive. Look on the Inactive tab, open it, tick Active and save.
"You already have this category"
The category is already in your list, possibly on the Archived tab. Unarchive it instead of adding it again.
My banner didn't upload
- Use a JPG or PNG of 8 MB or less. Photos from an iPhone are often HEIC files; export or screenshot them as JPG first.
- If you see "Saved, but the banner was not uploaded", the rest of your changes were saved. Open the category and upload the banner again.
My category says Unlisted, or clients can't find it
- Check that all items in the Business Listing card are complete for that category, and that it has an active service.
- Check that the category is active.
- Allow some time after completing everything: listing is checked on a schedule.
- Make sure your service areas cover the places clients are searching.
The Add Category button is locked
You have reached your plan's limit of active categories. Turn off a category you don't use, or upgrade your plan.
Still stuck? Book a free 30-minute call with our support team and we will walk through it with you.