Location categories are unique to PingGadget.  Each location supports 15 parent categories.  The parent categories are Food, Events, Music, Nightlife, Sports-Recreation, Shopping, Local QA, News-Alerts, Classified-For Sale, Housing, Jobs, Volunteers, Recycle, Freelancing, and More.  Below each category Ping users can create single or multi-level custom categories. 

All Ping entries flow up from any location or location category to parent location and parent location categories at an “Everywhere” level.  Many users operate at this level as their primary location, others can navigate to this view from their specific location.  This workflow allows content to be very specifically organized for ongoing and quick reference in addition to providing broad exposure.  Finding the people, content, and categories you are interested in can become increasingly difficult as more content is produced and site traffic increases.  The PingGadget search feature supports blended search for users, individual pings, as well as categories but we recently released a custom category directory to make it even easier to locate category topics you may be interested in.  To access the directory users can now select the “View all categories” link below their primary location navigation.

To date Ping users have created over 200 custom categories.  Now, with the new custom category directory, finding and following more interesting topics like NASCAR, Start-Up News, Gaming, Photography, Rafting, and Famous Quotes is even easier!  The directory listings are alphabetical but a search feature is also available.  If you locate something you are interested in simply click the category name to link directly to it.