Frequently Asked Questions
Contents
General FAQs
FAQs for Things to do
FAQs for Best of
FAQs for Voices
General FAQs
How much does it cost to post something on the site?
Nothing at all - it's totally free! That's what Life is Local is all about. Why do you need to pay to chat with your neighbours? Pretty revolutionary of us, huh?
Why do I have to sign in to post reviews and news on the site?
To make sure that the information available on Life is Local is as reliable as it can possibly be. We all want to feel safe and secure when using the site, and requiring users to sign in helps this to happen. Also, being part of the LifeisLocal community means that by clicking on your username, other users can learn all about you, view your Space if you have one and read all the posts you have made – it’s a very easy way of letting people know who you are and what you stand for.
Why do I have to give you my email?
When you generate a classified, service, or event posting, we send you a link by email so you can review your post, edit it, and then publish it. It gives you the opportunity to review what you have done before you post it, and it also helps us fight spammers. If you save the email we send you, at a later date, you can edit the posting or delete it. You can choose not to have your email published by choosing the anonymous email option (which generates an anonymous email address linked to your email,) or you can choose to not have it published at all.
Can I review something anonymously?
Absolutely! You still have to sign in so that we can prevent manipulation and preserve the integrity of the site, but if you choose to post something anonymously then your email address will not appear with it and the post won’t be shown in your user profile. However, if we believe a posting is malicious or offensive, we will remove it from the site.
What is done with my information? Will I get annoying emails?
Not a chance. Your privacy is really important to us. We will not sell your personal information to anyone. See our Privacy Policy.
FAQs for 'Things to do’
How do I post an event or class?
Under the Events tab, click on Enter a new event and fill in the form. We will send you an email confirming the information you have provided. You will be directed to click on the link to publish the details of your event. See the FAQ for Services to see how this happens.
How can I edit my event?
At any time, you can click on the link in the email you were sent to edit the details of your event.
Hints and Tips for Reviews and Events Postings
The subject line of your posting will be the first thing that people see. This is one line that should convey what you want your message and will be the main thing that draws people into your post. Think carefully about what you want this line to say to the reader.
Be succinct in your message and put your most important points first. The internet is all about reading and searching for something. If people can’t see what they need, they will go on to the next post.
Good luck!
FAQs for ‘Best of Norfolk’
What’s the difference between a listing and a review?
Listings are often posted by the business owner. They are impartial and simply give the details of the service, outlet or venue like opening hours, location and a brief description. Reviews are subjective. They are an opportunity for you to post your opinion, good or bad and rate the service. All reviews are submitted by users and businesses can’t pay for good ratings.
I’ve just had a great experience with a service that deserves to be in the top ten. How do I post a review?
It’s easy! Just find the individual service that you want to review and hit add a review, then follow the instructions.
The business I want to review is not listed. How do I add a new business?
The best way to post a Service is to click on add a service. Fill out the online form and proceed from there. When you submit a service listing, you will be asked for your email. We need this to help you manage your posting. It works like this:
- You submit a posting, giving us your email address.
- You then receive an email containing a link to an online form.
- This form will allow you make last-minute changes and then publish your posting.
- The same email will allow you to edit your post, or delete it at a later time, so it is important to keep the email.
What do the ratings mean?
The overall rating for a service is an average of all user ratings. Services are rated for their overall standard, value for money, quality and reliability. This means that an accurate representation of the business is given. The more people post ratings, the more accurate the result is.
How do I know that the good reviews haven’t been posted by the company itself?
We strive to ensure the integrity of the review system, but it’s not always possible despite the measures in place. You can be reassured though that no company is allowed to pay to be listed or to improve their ranking.
How can I get my business further to the top of the list?
Services are listed with the newest postings first. Users can always change the order of the results, placing them in alphabetical, type, or location order. If your business is highly rated by users it also appears on the ‘Best of Norfolk’ page. Although you can’t change the position of your listing, you can purchase additional advertising space on the site. If you’re interested, please contact us at info@lifeislocal.org.
How can I edit my service?
You can do this anytime by clicking on the link in the email when you created the original entry. If you have lost your email, please contact us help@lifeislocal.org
My business got a bad review. Can I get it removed?
We don’t allow businesses to influence the reviews on site, so you cannot remove content that you don’t like. However, if you think that the review is offensive or malicious, you can contact us help@lifeislocal.org and we will investigate it.
How do I get my business or service reviewed?
Ask one of your customers to post a review!
FAQ for Voices
How do I create my Space?
Your space automatically created when you join LifeIsLocal.
I really don’t like what someone’s posted on their space/message board. What do I do?
For Spaces: If the entry in question is actively offensive and/or malicious then e-mail us at help@lifeislocal.org and we’ll look into it. For Notice Board: Scroll down to the bottom of the thread and click ‘Flag inappropriate content’. Here you can detail the reason for your discomfort and we’ll address the problem.
Before you contact us, however, you must consider whether or not the post that troubles you is truly abusive. Here at LifeisLocal, we believe in free speech and we won’t edit for bad language or risqué content. If you’re worried about your children seeing content that they shouldn’t, why not install parental controls on your computer? For details of this service see sites like www.netnanny.com or www.cyberpatrol.com. If the poster’s opinion is what bothers you, why not challenge them? Use the ‘Make a comment’ feature to make your voice heard on somebody’s Space or use the ‘Reply’ feature to rebuff them on the Notice Board.
General Netiquette
Netiquette boils down to this: be respectful. Don’t make snide sexist, racist or homophobic comments or berate people for poor spelling and grammar. Being behind a computer screen sometimes makes people feel they have a licence to be as unkind as they wish. Think before you type: would I be comfortable saying this to someone’s face? Follow the advice of that great sage Jiminy Cricket and always let your conscience be your guide. You really can’t go wrong with that.
