Start a community atlas

Successful atlases start with a clear focus: one type of thing to map, a geography or theme, and simple rules for what counts.

That might be historic buildings in a town, accessible toilets across a city, baby changing facilities, wildlife in a park, or any other real-world subject your members care about.

• Pick a name people would search for (e.g. "Bristol street art map" or "City accessible toilets")
• Write a description that states what people will map and where
• Add starter categories your taxonomy will use
• Choose public visibility if you want Google and the directory to list you
• After launch, set an SEO title and description in Manage settings

In Manage → Settings, set an SEO title (under 60 characters) and a meta description (under 160 characters) that explain who the atlas is for and what it covers.

Public item pages, wiki guides, and verified pins become long-tail landing pages over time. Seed ten to twenty quality entries yourself before promoting the link.

Share your community URL with your members, forum, or social group. Run a spotting challenge or meet-up event inside SpotterAtlas to encourage first contributions.

New communities may be reviewed against safeguarding guidance and the terms of use before they appear in the public directory.