Frequently Asked Questions

BahamaZine is a community website that brings together businesses, events, transportation, and civil-society information in one place.

You can quickly find the who / what / when / where for what you need.

Business listings

We invite businesses of all sizes to create an account and add their business(es) to the directory. A basic listing is free and will remain free. This is not a “bait and switch” model.

We also offer premium listings for a small monthly fee.

• The first 500 businesses to sign up receive Premium status free for 3 months.
• Each week, BahamaZine will select one business at random and upgrade it to Premium status free for 3 months.
• If you prefer, you can send your business info through the Contact page and we will add the listing for you. This service costs $10.

Events

Event organizers can submit events (what/when/where) for free, and this will remain free.

Include anything that helps people decide to attend:

• flyer/photo
• description and who it’s for
• ticket price (if any) and how to pay
• DJs/bands/hosts
• charity/cause info (if applicable)

Many people only hear about events after they happen. Post yours in advance to avoid that.

If you want us to post your event for you, send the details through the Contact page. This service costs $10.

Transportation

BahamaZine also lists transportation options that are often hard to find in one place: inter-island flights, charter services, water taxis, and ferries.

Send us your transportation info via the Contact page and we will add it for free. Updates and corrections are also free.

This section includes an optional “Buy Me a Coffee” link and PayPal link for anyone who wants to support the work. Donations are appreciated (especially from commercial operators), but not required.

Articles

The Articles section contains moderated posts from civil society and community organizations (e.g., Bahamas National Trust, Chamber of Commerce, Humane Society, Friends of the Environment, etc.). This section is moderated, and content must be appropriate and constructive.

If your organization needs help posting, contact us through the Contact page and we will assist bona fide organizations free of charge.

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A: BahamaZine is for everyone who loves or needs The Bahamas — including:

Residents looking for services, events, and local info

Visitors who want to know what’s happening and where to go

Businesses & community groups who want visibility and new customers

Families who want quick “what’s happening this weekend” info

If it helps someone find something real in the Bahamas, it belongs here.

Q: What can I do on BahamaZine?
A: BahamaZine is a community hub where you can:

Search businesses by island, category, or keyword

Browse events (including community + church events)

Find transportation info like flights, ferries, and water taxis

Read local articles and community updates

Submit info (businesses, events, corrections, and more)

Think of it as a growing “one-stop page” for practical Bahamas info.

Q: Why doesn’t my submission show up instantly?
A: BahamaZine uses a quick review process to keep the site clean, accurate, and spam-free.

Most submissions are approved after review, and sometimes we may lightly edit formatting, spelling, or category placement to help your post look its best.
If we need more info, we’ll contact you.

A: Occasionally we may reject or edit a submission to keep the site accurate and spam-free.

Common reasons include:

Missing key details (no date/time, no island, no contact info, etc.)

Duplicate posts (same business/event posted multiple times)

Wrong category or island selected

Spam, promotions that don’t fit the platform, or inappropriate content

Text that’s too long, unclear, or difficult to read on mobile

Edits are usually small (spelling, formatting, category cleanup). If you want something changed back, just message us.

A: Please contact us and include:

The business/event name

The island (if shown)

A short note about what’s wrong (scam, wrong number, harassment, etc.)

A link or screenshot (optional but helpful)

We take reports seriously and will correct or remove content when needed.

A: Yes — BahamaZine is free to browse, and all initial submissions can be self-posted for free.

If you want extra features or visibility:

Premium listings have a monthly or annual fee.

Manually submit (we post it for you) also for a small fee.

Tip: Want to preview a premium listing first? Search “Facebook” in Business Listings (keyword search) — you’ll see several listings showing their Facebook information (a premium feature). In that detailed listing (click on the business pic for details) you will see other information that is listed in Premium.

A: Possibly — but we’ll keep things fair and transparent.

If prices ever change:

We’ll announce it clearly on the site

Existing paid customers won’t be surprised with hidden charges

We’ll keep a “simple and small business-friendly” approach

Our goal is to keep BahamaZine affordable and useful, not complicated.

A: Sometimes, yes.

We may offer:

Limited-time promos

Featured listing specials

Discounts for community projects or nonprofits

Occasional multi-month deals

If you’re interested, contact us and ask what’s available.

A: The Events page shows upcoming happenings across the Bahamas — including community events, cultural events, and church/religious events.

You can:

Browse what’s coming up

Filter by island (when available)

Click into an event to see details like time, location, and contact info

If you have an event to share, you can submit it through the site.

A: Events are listed in date order, so the soonest events show first.

Best ways to find what you need:

Scroll upcoming listings

Use search (if available)

Look for island/location details in the event listing

If you can’t find something you believe should be there, contact us.

You will see that the “ISLAND” choice for your event is classified on what is called CATEGORY. This choice dropdown is located near the bottom of the submission page. The site will not allow you to submit and event that does not have an assigned island. More islands may be added in the future, but for now there are only 3. If your island is not there, please select the 4th choice called “Other Island”.

No. There is no need to create an account, and there is no need to pay if you are able to post it yourself. Remember pic size maximum is 600×600. We recommend https://www.irfanview.com for resizing images. Just open your image, then go to Image–>Resize/Resample.

Ensure “Preserve aspect ratio” is checked. Then under set new size (above) notice if either your width or height is greater than 600. If so, change the LARGEST number (width or height) to 600 and the other one will automatically be calculated for you to “preserve aspect ratio”.

Then click OK. Then go to File—>Save As and save your newly resized file for upload to bahamazine.com in the events tab.

A: For best results, use a clear event flyer or photo that is:

Bright and readable on a phone screen

JPG or PNG format

Any dimensions or Mb is acceptable for display, but to upload there is are maximums:

Event uploader – 600×600 (max width, and max height)

Business uploader – Any width or Height in pixels but a 5Mb size limit.

All event listings are free and will remain free.

If you post the event yourself, there is no charge. No tricks, no “bait & switch” – seriously, free forever. Just note that events will be deleted automatically after the last date of the event has passed. Keep a copy for yourself if it is a monthly/annual event.

If you prefer to send the details through the Contact page and have us post it for you, the service fee is $10.

All event submissions are moderated to keep the site clean and safe. Please allow up to 72 hours for approval, although we aim to review and publish submissions as quickly as possible (often less than 10 hours).

A: Use any combination of:

Island filter (to narrow results)

Keyword search (example: “plumber”, “nails”, “Facebook”)

Category / sub-category (to browse similar businesses)

Tip: If you don’t know the exact name, try a keyword related to what they do.

Q: How do I add my business to BahamaZine?
A: Go to the Businesses section and click Add Listing.

You’ll add:

Business name

Island

Category (and sub-category if needed)

Phone / WhatsApp / email (optional)

Description + hours (optional)

Your listing is reviewed first, then published.

Business listings never expire. There will never come a time when any kind of minimum fee or annual fee or any kind of scheme is implemented to force you to pay anything to list your business at BahamaZine.

However, if you have a PREMIUM or FEATURED listing, then it will remain in that mode only for whatever time your package allows. Packages are prepaid. There is a small grace period of a few days to allow for renewal. Packages must be prepaid. Beyond the grace period your listing will not be deleted, but it will simply return to its “normal” format. At that time, certain “premium” fields will no longer be visible to your clients.

BahamaZine business listings help locals and visitors find you by island + category (for example: New Providence → Restaurants). You can start with a simple free listing, or choose a Premium listing for higher visibility and a more detailed presentation. Users can also use the search box to find your business by name or keywords (like services or features) included in your listing.

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Standard Listing (Free)

What you get:

• Business name
• Island / location
• Category (e.g., Restaurant, Plumber, Taxi, Salon, etc.)
• Short description / “About” text
• WhatsApp number
• 2 photos (which don’t contain premium fields)
• Basic placement in category/search results (normal position among all listings)
• If you manually submit via the Contact page, there is a fee of $10

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Premium Listing ($20/month) or ($200/year)

What you get:

• Everything in Standard, plus:
• Featured placement (appears in the top “Featured” spots on category/search pages)
• Physical address details
• Longer description
• Extra fields displayed (such as phone vs WhatsApp, website, and allows social media links in your long description)
• Keywords / Tags
• Faster updates & support
• If you manually submit via the Contact page, there is a fee of $10

Premium listings are prepaid, and there is a small grace period of a few days to allow for renewal.

To pay for Premium, you have these options:

Option 1: Pay through an official BahamaZine Island Agent:

1. Find an official agent for your island – Agent Listing.
2. Pay the agent in cash, or any method they work with.
3. The agent will give you an official receipt.
4. Your Premium status will be activated as soon as payment is verified (often the same day).

Option 2: If there are no agents listed for your island:

• arrange payment through a friend or family member on a major island, or
• message BahamaZine through the Contact page so we can help you arrange a payment method.
• if you would like to become an agent for your island, contact us.

Option 3: Coming Soon

* Agent verification
Only pay an agent that appears on our Agent Listing. Agents do not ask for your website password, and they must provide a receipt for every payment. You may ask him/her to show ID to confirm the information on our agent listing page.

* Important notes

• Always keep your receipt as proof of payment.
• If you paid and don’t see your Premium upgrade within 48 hours,message us with your Business Name + receipt details. This would be unusual.

Simply send your details to us via the CONTACT tab visible on most pages. Include your name and contact info (e-mail and number). Include also a basic description of your service. Please include up to 3 photos, and ensure that one of them is suitable to be shown on your listing. If you are an airline, please include one or two routes that you handle.

We will then reach out to you to obtain more info, and to confirm your status within the company.

There is no fee for this service for legitimate businesses. However, at this time, taxis and tour cars or buses will not be included here. They can be listed (also for free) as a regular business listing.

Q: I see an outdated schedule or wrong transportation info — how do I report it?
A: Please contact us and include:

The listing name

What’s wrong (route, time, link, etc.)

The correct info (or a link/source)

We’ll update it as quickly as possible.

BahamaZine welcomes article submissions from individuals and organizations that contribute to community life in the Bahamas. Our goal is to publish useful, local, good-faith information that helps residents and visitors stay informed and connected.

Eligible submitters include

• Community organizations and charities that provide public services, outreach, education, relief, or support to people and animals.
• Local clubs and civic groups that organize community projects, volunteer initiatives, public events, fundraising, and local improvement efforts.
• Educational and youth-support programs that share constructive opportunities, mentoring, learning activities, and community involvement.
• Health, wellness, and support programs sharing awareness campaigns, prevention information, donation drives, or community resources.
• Faith-based and values-based groups when the article is community-focused (public events, outreach programs, charity work, volunteer opportunities, drives, and services).
• Local residents with practical, helpful community information (how-to guidance, public-interest updates, island resources, safety tips, local history, and human-interest stories).
• Local experts (teachers, tradespeople, guides, caregivers, etc.) sharing useful knowledge that benefits the public—written in a non-salesy way.

What kinds of articles are a good fit

Examples of good topics include:

• Volunteer opportunities and community service announcements
• Donation drives (what’s needed, where/when to drop off, who benefits)
• Community resources (services available, eligibility, contact methods)
• Island-specific guides and “how it works here” tips (transportation, procedures, etiquette, seasonal notes)
• Public-interest updates (non-political, non-inflammatory)
• Youth programs and mentoring opportunities
• Animal care, fostering, adoption guidance, and community pet resources
• Disaster preparedness and recovery resources
• Community success stories and positive local profiles

What we do not accept

To keep BahamaZine useful and respectful, we generally do not publish:

• Hate, harassment, or content targeting people or groups
• Defamation, personal disputes, or “call-out” posts
• Explicit content or graphic imagery
• Medical/legal claims presented as professional advice (unless clearly sourced and responsibly written)
• Pure advertising disguised as an article (salesy content with no community value)
• Rumors, conspiracy claims, or unverified accusations
• Content encouraging illegal activity

Submission guidelines (quick and simple)

• Write clearly and be factual. If you reference statistics or claims, cite reputable sources.
• Keep it community-first. Articles should inform, help, or connect people—not attack or inflame.
• Include basics: island, location (if relevant), dates/times (if relevant), and a contact method.
• Images: only submit photos you own or have permission to use.

Review and publishing

All articles are reviewed before publication. We may:

• Edit for spelling, clarity, length, formatting, and tone
• Request verification or additional details
• Decline content that doesn’t meet our community standards

If you’re unsure whether your topic fits, submit it anyway with a short note—our team will reply with guidance.

Q: How do I submit an article?
A: Send your article using the Contact page (or email/WhatsApp if listed).

Please include:

The text (or link to it)

Your name (or pen name)

Any photos you have permission to share

Any links you want included

We’ll review it and publish once approved.

A: Yes. If you want to revise an article, just send the updated text and we’ll replace it.

To help us update it fast, include:

The article title

What you want changed (or the full corrected version)

Any updated photo(s) or links

No — Contact is for questions too.
However, we kindly ask that you look carefully through this FAQ first, because many common questions are already answered in the relevant sections (Events, Businesses, Transportation, Articles, and Contact).

When to use Contact

Contact is best for:

• Questions not answered anywhere in the FAQ
• Corrections to information you see on the site (wrong phone, wrong location, outdated details)
• Special situations that don’t fit the normal submission forms
• Follow-ups after you submitted something and need to clarify details
• Certain types of information we may request by email (attachments, documents, complex updates, etc.)

Submissions: please start in the correct tab first

If you’re submitting a business or an event, Contact is not the main starting point.

• If you want to post it yourself for free, please use the normal submission page in the correct tab.
• If you want BahamaZine to post it for you as a service, please begin on the relevant page where that posting service is offered (so your payment and submission details stay connected and nothing gets lost).

Also:

• Businesses generally require an account so you can manage your listing.
• Event organizers do not need an account to submit events.

What to include in your message

To reduce spam and help us reply efficiently, please include:

• Your name (first name is fine; last name optional)
• A working email address
• Optional: phone/WhatsApp (helpful if email bounces or if you prefer WhatsApp)

Because of spam concerns, we cannot guarantee a reply to messages that do not include at least a name and a valid email address.

Privacy and confidentiality

All information you submit is treated in the strictest confidence. We understand that many businesses have competitors and that some projects are in early or pre-launch phases and may not be ready for public announcement.

We’ll do our best to respond promptly and courteously. Thank you.

A: We do our best to reply as soon as possible, but response time may vary depending on message volume.

If something is urgent (example: an event happening soon), include “URGENT” in your message subject and we’ll try to prioritize it.