Navigating Loclie

Welcome to Loclie! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started with the platform.

Time to complete: 10 minutes

Welcome to Loclie! 🎉

Loclie helps you:

• 🔍 Discover local businesses and attractions
• 📅 Find local events
• 💾 Save your favorite places
• 🔎 Ask questions with our AI-powered Ask Bar
• 💼 Browse local job opportunities
• 🤝 Join community clubs
• 📊 Track business analytics (for owners, via the Manage portal)

Platform Overview

What is Loclie?

Loclie is your comprehensive guide to regional Australian towns, covering businesses, events, jobs, clubs, groups, attractions, and amenities.

What You'll Find:

• Local businesses (cafes, restaurants, shops, services)
• Events and activities
• Job opportunities
• Community clubs (organised venues like RSLs, bowling clubs)
• Community groups (informal interest-based groups)
• Attractions (parks, trails, lookouts, museums, beaches)
• Amenities and facilities
• Community information

Main Navigation

Homepage Layout

When you first arrive:

1. Header (Top of Page)

• Loclie Logo - Click to return home
• Theme Toggle - Switch between light and dark mode
• Account/User Name - Quick access to your dashboard (when signed in)
• Town Selector - Button with map pin icon to change your current town

2. Main Content Area

• Ask Bar - AI-powered natural language search with voice input
• Sample Question Banners - Popular questions that rotate in the background
• Sign In/Sign Up prompt - For unauthenticated users
• Location status - Banner showing location detection status

3. Bottom Navigation

• Arc Navigation - Four tab buttons with submenu access to all sections

Desktop Navigation

Header Elements:

On desktop, the header contains:

• Loclie Logo - Click to return home
• Theme Toggle - Switch between light and dark mode
• Account Dropdown - Hover to access Dashboard, Profile Settings, Manage Business (for business owners), and Sign Out
• Town Selector - Button with map pin icon to open the town selection modal

Accessing Features:

Desktop users can access main features via the bottom arc navigation (which works on all screen sizes), the URL bar, or the home page:

• Home: / - Main feed with Ask Bar
• Map: /map - Interactive map view
• Businesses: /businesses - Browse local businesses
• Events: /events - Find upcoming events and campaigns
• Clubs: /clubs - Community clubs
• Groups: /groups - Community groups
• Jobs: /jobs - Local job listings
• Amenities: /amenities - Public facilities and services
• Attractions: /attractions - Parks, trails, lookouts, and more
• Dashboard: /dashboard - Your profile, favorites, and settings

Mobile Navigation

Arc Submenu Navigation:

Loclie uses an arc navigation system at the bottom of the screen. When collapsed, you'll see a subtle arch with a central pin icon (the Loclie pin). Tap the pin to expand and reveal four main tabs.

How it works:

1. Tap the Centre Pin (Loclie pin at bottom centre)

   • The arch expands upward revealing four tab buttons

2. Four Main Tabs:

   • Home - Return to the homepage
   • Discover - Tap to open the Discover submenu
   • Explore - Tap to open the Explore submenu
   • Profile - Go to your dashboard and profile

3. Discover Submenu (tap Discover tab):

   • Clubs - Community clubs
   • Events - Upcoming events and campaigns
   • Groups - Community groups
   • Jobs - Local job listings

4. Explore Submenu (tap Explore tab):

   • Town - Your town's overview page
   • Amenities - Public facilities and services
   • Attractions - Parks, trails, lookouts, museums, and more
   • Businesses - Browse local businesses

5. Tap the Centre Pin (1 tap opens What's On directly)

   • The "What's On" popup appears showing local campaigns and upcoming events
   • Includes a "From Your Follows" section with updates from businesses, clubs, and groups you follow — even if they are outside your current town

6. Close the Menu by tapping outside the arch area

Getting Home:

To return to the homepage, tap Home in the arc navigation or tap the Loclie logo in the top-left corner of the header.

"What's On" Hub:

The "What's On" popup (opened with a single tap on the centre pin) shows:

• Active local campaigns from businesses and clubs in your area
• Upcoming events in your area
• "From Your Follows" section — campaigns and updates from businesses, clubs, and groups you follow, regardless of which town they are in
• Swipe left on cards to dismiss, swipe right to save

Key Features Walkthrough

1. Selecting Your Town

First thing to do:

1. Tap the Town Selector button in the header (shows a map pin icon with town name or "Select Town")
2. Search and select your town from the modal that appears
   • Or allow location access when prompted to auto-detect your nearest town
3. Content updates to show local information

Why it matters:

• See relevant local businesses
• Find nearby events
• Get accurate distances
• Focus search results on your area

Can change anytime - Switch towns as you explore

2. Using the Ask Bar

Ask questions naturally:

The Ask Bar is the primary search interface on Loclie, located prominently on the homepage. It uses AI-powered hybrid search combining semantic understanding with keyword matching.

How to use:

1. Type in the Ask Bar on the homepage
2. Type your question in plain English
3. Get relevant results based on your query

Example Questions:

• "Where can I get breakfast with ocean views?"
• "Best surf shops in Lennox Head?"
• "Dog-friendly cafes near me?"
• "What's happening this weekend?"
• "Jobs in hospitality?"

Why use Ask Bar:

• Natural language (no keywords needed)
• Ask conversational questions
• Find what you're looking for quickly
• Multiple criteria at once

Learn more: Using the Ask Bar

3. Browsing by Category

Explore by type:

How to browse:

1. Navigate to the Businesses, Events, or Clubs pages using the arch navigation
2. Use the scrollable category pills at the top of the page to filter by category
3. You can select multiple categories at once
4. Use the search bar to search by name within the current filters
5. Use the sort dropdown to change the ordering

Why browse:

• Discover new places
• See what's available
• Compare options
• Get inspiration

4. Viewing Business Details

What you'll see on business pages:

Business Information:

• Name and category
• Photos and gallery
• Contact details (phone, website, email)
• Hours of operation
• Full address with map
• Amenities and features

Actions You Can Take:

• 💾 Save to favorites
• 📞 Call (mobile: tap to dial)
• 🌐 Visit website
• 📍 Get directions
• 📤 Share with friends
• 🔗 View on map

Learn more: Viewing Business Details

5. Saving Favorites

Never lose track of places you love:

How to save:

1. Click the heart icon on any business, event, or amenity card
2. Saved! (You need to be signed in)

View saved places:

• Go to your Dashboard (/dashboard)
• Click "Favorites" in the quick actions section
• Filter by type: businesses, events, amenities, or attractions
• Access anytime

Why save:

• Quick access to favorites
• Remember places to try
• Share lists with friends
• Plan visits

Learn more: Saving Favorites

6. Finding Events

Discover what's happening:

How to find events:

1. Tap Events in the arch navigation
2. Browse events organized into time-based sections: On Now, This Week, and Coming Up
3. Filter by:
   • Category (using scrollable category pills)
   • Search (using the search bar)
   • Area scope (toggle between your town and Local area-wide view)
4. Tap an event for full details

Event information:

• Event name and description
• Date, time, and venue location
• Venue details with map
• Photos
• Business campaigns are also shown alongside community events

Save events:

• Tap the heart/favorite icon to save
• Share with friends

Learn more: Finding Events

Setting Up Your Profile

Why Create an Account?

Benefits of having an account:

• ✅ Save favorite places
• ✅ Create and manage events (via the Manage portal)
• ✅ Claim your business (if owner) and manage it on the Manage portal
• ✅ Apply for jobs
• ✅ Join clubs
• ✅ Access analytics dashboard (via the Manage portal)
• ✅ Access your saved content anywhere

Free to create - No subscription required

Creating Your Account

Quick setup:

1. Click "Sign Up" (on the homepage for mobile, or via the Account dropdown on desktop)
2. Enter your details in the Clerk sign-up form:
   • Email address
   • Password
3. Verify your email (enter the verification code sent to your inbox)
4. Complete profile (optional)
   • Full Name and Home Town (from your Dashboard → Profile)
5. Select your town using the town selector in the header
6. Done!

Learn more: Create Account

Tips for New Users

DO:

✅ Explore different features

• Try search, Ask Bar, and browsing
• Each works differently
• Find what works best for you

✅ Save places as you discover them

• Easy to forget good finds
• Build your list over time
• Access anywhere

✅ Check business details

• Verify hours before visiting
• Use phone/website links
• View location on map

✅ Keep your town updated

• Change as you travel
• Get local recommendations
• See nearby events

✅ Check events regularly

• New events added weekly
• Don't miss local happenings
• Plan ahead

DON'T:

❌ Don't skip account creation

• Missing out on features
• Can't save favorites
• Can't apply for jobs

❌ Don't use only one search method

• Ask Bar for questions
• Search for specific names
• Browse to discover

❌ Don't ignore filters

• Narrow down results
• Save time
• Find exactly what you need

Understanding the Interface

Icons and What They Mean

Common icons you'll see:

Loclie uses Lucide icons throughout the interface:

• Heart - Save to favorites
• Bell - Follow (subscribe to What's On notifications)
• Location Pin - Address/map
• Phone - Contact number
• Globe - Website link
• Mail - Email contact
• Clock - Business hours
• Calendar - Events and dates
• Store - Businesses
• Users - Clubs and groups
• Briefcase - Jobs

Status Indicators

Business open/closed status:

When viewing businesses with opening hours, you'll see:

• "Open" badge (green) - Business is currently open
• Today's hours - Displayed alongside the status when available

Hours and open status are shown on business cards and detail pages when the business owner has provided opening hours.

Desktop vs Mobile

Desktop Website

Best for:

• Detailed browsing
• Managing multiple lists
• Reading in-depth information
• Desktop productivity

Advantages:

• Larger screen
• Full keyboard
• Multiple tabs
• Better for research
• Side-by-side comparison

Mobile Web

Best for:

• On-the-go discovery
• Quick lookups
• Calling businesses
• Navigation
• Location-based search

Advantages:

• Works on any mobile browser
• Location awareness
• Quick access
• One-tap actions (call, directions)
• Responsive design
• Save to home screen

Common First-Time Questions

How do I find businesses near me?

Enable location:

1. Allow location access when your browser prompts you
2. Loclie will auto-detect your nearest town using geolocation
3. Browse the Businesses page to see local businesses

Without location:

• Tap the town selector in the header to manually select your town
• Results will show businesses in that town and surrounding area (when the "Local" area-wide toggle is enabled)

How do I know if a business is open?

Check status:

• Look for the "Open" badge (green) on business cards
• View business hours on the detail page
• Call ahead if uncertain (phone number provided)

Note: Open status is only shown for businesses that have provided their opening hours.

Can I use Loclie without an account?

Yes! Many features available:

• ✅ Browse businesses
• ✅ Search and Ask Bar
• ✅ View events
• ✅ See maps and directions

Requires account:

• ❌ Saving favorites
• ❌ Creating events
• ❌ Claiming business
• ❌ Applying for jobs
• ❌ Joining clubs

Is Loclie free to use?

Yes, completely free for users!

• No subscription fees
• No hidden costs
• No payment required
• Free to create account
• Free to use all features

Getting Help

Support Resources

Need assistance?

Help Documentation:

• FAQ - Quick answers
• Troubleshooting - Common issues

Contact Support:

• Use the Help button in the app to send a support message
• Troubleshooting Guide

What to Explore Next

Now that you know the basics:

Discover More Features

Search and Discovery:

• Using the Ask Bar - Natural language search
• Filtering & Search - Advanced search techniques
• Finding Events - Discover local happenings

Business Management:

• Claim your business - Take ownership and manage on the Manage portal

Organization:

• Saving Favorites - Build your collection

Quick Reference Card

Essential Actions

Ask Question: Type in the Ask Bar on the homepage, press Enter or tap Send Save Place: Click the heart icon on any listing Follow: Click the bell icon on a business, club, or group page View Saved: Dashboard → Favorites Open What's On: Tap the centre pin (1 tap) Change Town: Tap the town selector button in the header Find Events: Discover → Events in the arc navigation Get Directions: Business page → "Get Directions" Call Business: Business page → Phone number (tap on mobile) Use Voice Search: Tap the microphone icon in the Ask Bar Access Profile: Tap Profile in the arc navigation, or tap your name in the header

Quick Tips

Navigation: Tap the centre pin at the bottom to expand the arc, then use the four tabs (Home, Discover, Explore, Profile) to navigate. The arc navigation works on both mobile and desktop. Search: Use the Ask Bar on the homepage to search naturally with AI Accessibility: Standard Tab navigation works throughout the app

Following Businesses, Clubs, and Groups

The Follow Button (Bell Icon)

On any business or club detail page, you will see a bell icon next to the heart (favorite) icon. Tapping the bell follows that entity, which means:

• You will see their campaigns and updates in the "From Your Follows" section of the What's On popup
• Updates appear even if the entity is in a different town from the one you are currently viewing
• Following is separate from favoriting — you can do one, both, or neither

How to follow:

1. Open a business, club, or group page
2. Tap the bell icon
3. The bell fills in to confirm you are following

How to unfollow:

• Tap the filled bell icon again to stop following

Welcome Aboard!

You're all set to explore regional Australia with Loclie!

Remember:

• 🔍 Try the AI-powered Ask Bar
• 💾 Save your favorites
• 📅 Check for local events
• 🎙️ Use voice search
• 💼 Browse local jobs

Happy exploring! 🎉

Need help?

• Quick Start Guide - 5-minute overview
• General FAQ - Common questions
• Contact Support - Get assistance