How to get your business found on the South Coast map

When I built the South Coast Women directory, I didn’t just want to create another list of names. I wanted to build a piece of digital infrastructure, a regional map that actually helps women-led businesses and support organisations get found by the people who need them.

I handle the tech-heavy lifting behind the scenes, but the information you provide in your listing determines how well search works for you.

If you are setting up your listing or updating an old one, here is my guide to making sure you are visible on our local digital map.

Business Name

The Business Name field must be the official name that goes with your ABN. I use the ABN you provide to verify your listing internally, so the name on the directory must match your legal registration.

Please avoid adding keywords or descriptions in this field. Keeping the Business Name clean and accurate ensures the directory stays professional and easy to navigate for everyone.

Sub Heading

Since your Business Name must match your legal name, the Sub Heading is the place to be descriptive. This is the first thing people see under your name, and it is a key spot for your regional presence.

Use this space to tell people exactly what you do. Because the directory is built on a map with proximity search, you do not need to waste space adding your town here.

• Instead of: Dreaming Big
• Try: Custom Furniture Maker and Restoration Specialist

The nerd tip: You have up to 200 characters here. This is plenty of space to be descriptive without cluttering the preview card on the map.

Business Location

The profile is divided into four sections, and the Business Location is the only one that includes a map. This is where my code uses your address to place you on the regional search.

If you work from home and do not want to list your full address, that is fine. You can simply list your suburb, like Bomaderry, or even a nearby cross street. This ensures you still appear in the section that provides a map for people looking for nearby services.

Business Category

I have set up specific categories to help people filter the map and find what they need. Currently, you can choose from:

• Animal Care and Pet Services
• Business Services
• Creative Arts
• Education and Training
• Events and Hospitality
• Health and Wellness
• Home and Property Services
• Legal and Financial Services
• Web, IT and Digital Marketing

If none of these categories quite fit what you do, you can suggest a new one in the form. These suggestions come straight to me for moderation.

List of Services

I included this specific field to power our service-based search functionality. It is a tool to ensure your specific skills are searchable on the site.

• Use a bulleted list of specific skills.
• Think like a customer. What specific terms would they type into a search bar to find your help?
• For example, if you are a plumber, include services such as emergency repairs, hot water systems, and tap washer replacement.

The nerd tip: You have up to 500 characters for this field. Keep this list focused on what you actually offer.

Business Description

Focus on writing original marketing content that speaks directly to your customers. I have built the technical side to ensure your business is visible, so your job here is to make sure your message is clear and professional.

High-quality information and good formatting are what win people over.

• Start with your main service.
• Use formatting such as headings and bullet points in the text editor to make it easy for people to skim.
• Avoid unnecessary jargon and write like you are talking to a local customer.

The nerd tip: You have up to 1500 characters here. Content that is well-formatted and easy to read will always perform better than a block of repetitive text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Adding one to three FAQs is helpful. It saves you time by answering common queries up front and provides the site with more searchable content.

The nerd tip: Keep questions under 100 characters and answers under 300 characters.

Images

I have optimised the site to handle images properly, but you can give your search presence an extra boost before you even upload. Rename your image files to something descriptive, like accountant-wollongong.jpg instead of IMG_1234.jpg.

• Ideal logo size is 200px x 200px.
• Ideal Featured Image size is 1200px x 630px in landscape

Contact Details and Links

When filling out your Business Phone Number, Business Email, and Website, double-check that everything is correct.

For the Website field, make sure the link starts with https:// so the code can connect people to your site properly.

You can also add as many Business Social Media Links as you like. These also require https:// at the start.

Technical Support and Partnerships

This directory is a fully automated system. If you have questions about your listing, most answers are right here in this guide.

However, if you are looking for a dedicated technical partner to help grow your business through custom web development, tech SEO, or a fractional tech partnership, I am available for client work.

I spend my time in the code so you can spend yours with your clients. You can see more of what I do and get in touch at Lara.net.au