How to manage the categories for your PromoKit

The categories you choose for your PromoKit determine which leads you'll get from potential clients. Finding the most applicable categories for your service is one of the most important things to do to succeed on GigSalad.

You can add or change categories at any time. Each PromoKit must have a main category, and then you are allowed a certain number of additional categories, depending on your membership level. The number of categories your PromoKit can have will be provided at the top of the Additional Categories page.

Adding categories

1: Log in to your control panel and go to Edit PromoKit.
2: Under Lead Preferences, choose Main Category or Additional Categories (either from the menu or by clicking Edit beside each section).
3: Choose a General Category (we organize categories into these larger genres to make it more manageable to browse).
4: Then choose a Specific Category.
5: Click Add Category (or Save if you're changing your Main Category).
6: Repeat this process until you either hit your category limit or run out of applicable choices.

Suggested categories

You may see a list of Suggested Categories on your Additional Categories page. These are options that may be related to the main category you've already chosen. You can use these as a starting point when adding more categories. For any you want to have, click the (add) link beside the category name, and you'll see it appear under your Added Categories list.

To remove a category, go to your list of Added Categories and click (remove) beside the category you want to delete.

Helpful tips:

Don't add categories just to fill up your allowed number — only choose those that genuinely match your services. Inappropriate categories will only lead to receiving requests you can't fulfill, which won't help you or the event planners using the site.
Pretend you're an event planner. Think about what they might be searching for and where you want to be sure your profile shows up so you'll be considered for their event. But only choose a service if you actually provide it or something very similar to it.
Your main category is very important. It will appear at the top of your PromoKit, and you'll get the most exposure in search results for that category. Take your time going through the category options to find the perfect fit.
Your main category does not need to be included in your additional categories as well. Instead, use that extra spot to add yourself to another applicable category!

Expired categories

Free members are only allowed one main category and one additional category. Therefore, if you cancel your paid membership, let it expire, and revert to a free listing, all but one of your additional categories will show as expired. The only way to list yourselves in those categories again is to upgrade your membership.

Don't see the category you need?

Even with over 550 categories, not every possible service can be represented. Especially those that are more uncommon or are a niche service. We try only to include categories that meet specific criteria. The most important thing is that we have enough members in our database who provide the service across the country, so the search results are populated no matter where the event planner is located. It's also essential that the category is widely searched, not only on our site but on search engines as well. Adding pages to our site with limited content and searchability hurts our SEO, which hurts our members' chances of being found and booked.

If you don't see the category you need, it doesn't necessarily mean you can't use GigSalad to get gigs for that service. When an event planner comes to our site and searches for what they want, one of two things will happen. If their search matches an existing category, they'll be immediately taken to the results of profiles listed in that category. If their search does not match a category, our site will use the content within profiles (location, act name, overview, etc.) to provide relevant results. So, when you don't find the exact category you want, choose a more general one, and then be sure your profile accurately describes the specific thing you provide. Your Act Name is particularly important, so be sure the keyword you want to be found in is included there.

If you think there's a category we don't have yet that would meet our criteria for being added to the site, you are welcome to contact us with the recommendation. We are always happy to receive suggestions and we'll consider each one.