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Home → Geocaching → Review Process: Hiding a Geocache → Getting Your Cache Listed Quickly

4.3. Getting Your Cache Listed Quickly

• Plan your cache hide carefully.
  1. Be aware of all the caches in an area before you hide one. This does not mean you have to find all the local caches. It does mean that you are aware of the existing cache density and the approximate locations of other caches prior to selecting a spot for your new cache.
  2. Make sure your cache meets all the Cache Listing Requirements/Guidelines.
  3. Find out if the area you like has a geocaching policy. If so make sure you have the necessary permissions.
• Make sure your cache page is complete and accurate.
  1. Use the "Note To Reviewer" wisely. Provide details that may be helpful to the reviewer.
     • These automatically go away upon publication of your cache. The public does not see them.
     • Include any permissions.
     • Include any map anomalies that you have noticed. For example, the map still shows a railroad track but you know that the tracks are gone and it is now a bicycle path.
     • Explain in detail anything that might be confusing.
  2. Formatting: If you are using the old form and choose to supply HTML code, check the appropriate box for the text to render correctly. View your page to check your code.
  3. The "Navigation" area at the top right of your cache page is full of useful features.
     • Be sure to include coordinates for all the waypoints in a mystery/puzzle or a multi-cache.
     • Specify the attributes.
     • Upload some images, if you like.
     • Edit your listing, if needed.
  4. Check the maps that link from the cache page.  If they do not show your cache location, double-check your coordinates. On unpublished caches, all the map links except the Geocaching.com Map, show your coordinates as a pin.
  5. Check the link for "all nearby caches" from your cache page, even if you are sure the nearest cache was more than 528 feet away.
  6. If possible, ask a trusted friend to proofread your page. When you read the same thing multiple times, the little errors are easy to miss. There are many good spell check programs that can also help you identify common spelling errors or typos.
• Make sure your cache text is appropriate
  
  1. Caches with business names as cache titles, or which promote businesses are not appropriate.
  2. Cache pages are not the place to promote charities, political or social agendas.
  3. Cache pages cannot require, and should not strongly encourage, the placement of caches, particularly chain-letter type series (find this, then plant another in the series). This is an agenda.
  4. Cache pages should be family friendly.
• Work with the reviewer, not against him or her.
  1. When you have the cache listing perfect, be sure that this box is checked: "Yes, this cache is currently active."
  2. The primary responsibility of the reviewer is to make sure your new cache meets the guidelines. If s/he questions you on anything, it's not that s/he doesn't trust you. Caution is simply the best approach.
  3. If your cache has not been listed in the normal time frame check your cache page to see if the reviewer has left you a note.
  4. Do not reply to the Geocaching.com email robot. This robot never answers email. The best way to get a message to your reviewer is by clicking on their name and using the "send message" feature, or by posting a new Reviewer note to the cache page, if that is what they requested.

  Many thanks to Volunteer Cache Reviewers Team Misguided for initially developing these step by step instructions.