Please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for answers to the questions that we get asked most. If you have not found the answer you're looking for here, contact us and we will respond to your inquiry as quickly as possible.

About Viewpoints

What is Viewpoints.com?
How is Viewpoints different?
What are "I am" tags?
Who can read my reviews?
How does Viewpoints make money?

Writing Reviews

How do I write a review?
What if I want to write about a product or service that is not listed?
Are there requirements for writing and posting a review?
Can I format my reviews?
Does Viewpoints edit reviews?
How long does it take for my review to appear on the Viewpoints site?
Do my reviews have to be positive?
Can I start a review and finish it later?
What does it mean to have a review as a draft?
How do I publish a review saved as a draft?
Can I post more than one review about the same product?
Can I include links in my review?
How do I update a review I wrote in the past?
Can I post my reviews to other web sites?
Can Viewpoints redistribute my reviews?

Recognition

What is a Writer, I?
What is a Writer, II?
What is a Writer, III?
What is a Writer, IV?
What is the Publisher's Circle?
I see a few people with Publisher's Circle status, but they don't have 400 reviews. Why?

Community

What values direct our community?
What are friends and fans?
How do I make friends?
What is the benefit of having friends? And, how do I access their reviews?
How do I invite my friends to Viewpoints?
What is the Viewpoints Friend Look-up tool?
Why should I use the Friends Look-up tool?
What if I don't want my friends to find me using the Look-up tool?
How do I remove a friend?
Do I have to manage my fans?
Can I delete a fan?
Why do I have a friend when I register?
What is a helpful vote?
What happened to good points?
What are comments?
How do I share feedback on the community features?
How can I connect with the management team at Viewpoints?

Reporting Problems

What should I do if I think someone is violating the consumer agreement?
What should I do if I encounter technical problems?

 

What is Viewpoints.com?

Viewpoints is a new ratings and reviews community that lets you voice your opinion on anything and everything that is important to you! Your school, your car, your last vacation – we want to hear about it all. And, just as importantly, we want to hear about you.

 

How is Viewpoints different?

We go way beyond simple product reviews to highlight the personalities of you - our reviewers! Our goal is to breathe life into reviews and foster connections between our readers and reviewers. Next time you're looking to make a purchase, you not only get reviews, but get great information about who wrote that review.

 

What are "I am" tags?

The key to our reviewer-centric site is a feature we call "I am" tags. As you write your reviews we ask you to create "tags" that tell us about you as it relates to the item you are reviewing. For example, if you are writing a review of a ski-resort, you might include a Reviewer Trait like "black-diamond skier" or alternatively, "bunny-slope skier." These "I am" tags are then searchable, so readers can choose to filter reviews by people who they connect with on one or more of these levels. It also makes the site a whole lot more fun and personal!

 

Who can read my reviews?

Viewpoints is a free site, so anybody can read and comment on your reviews. You can also add information to your personal Profile page, which visitors will also be able to see. Any personal information that you provide through our Registration form will be kept confidential. Please see our privacy policy for further details.

 

How does Viewpoints make money?

Viewpoints is a completely free service. We earn money from the paid advertisements you see on our site so that we can pay the bills.

 

How do I write a review?

It's easy to write a review on Viewpoints! Simply use our search box for the item you want to review or browse our categories. When you find what you want, click the "Review It" button and you'll be taken to the review form. If you don't find what you're looking for in our catalog of products, services and places, simply add it yourself! In order for your review to be published, you need to register with our site.

 

What if I want to write about a product or service that is not listed?

If you don't see a product or service that you want to write a review on, add it. Go to write a review and follow the prompts to add the review into our system. We ask that you do not post reviews on firearms, pornography and illegal drugs.

 

Are there requirements for writing and posting a review?

Our requirements are simple. Just reveal that you are a real person by registering and then we will confirm your account. Then, get to writing. If you write more than 25 words, you are on your way to being published.

 

Can I format my reviews?

Yes, there is a toolbar at the top of the page to help you with formatting such as italics and bold.

 

Does Viewpoints edit reviews?

Viewpoints does not remove reviews from the site unless a review or its author is found to be in violation of the Viewpoints Terms of Service.

 

How long does it take for my review to appear on the Viewpoints site?

No time at all. Once you register, it is instant.

 

Do my reviews have to be positive?

No, you can write whatever you like at Viewpoints. We want to hear about both the good and the bad, so please share your experiences honestly.

 

Can I start writing a review and finish it later?

Yes. You can save your work as a draft. All of your drafts can be accessed from your personal page.

 

What does it mean to save a review as a draft?

This feature allows you to save a work in progress. After you submit a review, it is stored in draft form, but will not be visible to others on the site until you publish it. While the review is a draft, you can continue to edit it and make changes, and then choose to publish it at a later date.

 

How do I publish a review saved as a draft?

On your Profile page is a list of any unpublished reviews you have submitted. To publish a draft, click on the link to update the review. Make any changes you would like, then click 'Preview your review'. If your review meets the minimum requirements, you will be given the option to publish it.

 

Can I post more than one review about the same product?

No. A member may only write one review per product or service. If you wish to add to your review on the product, however, you may update your review at any time.

 

Can I include links in my review?

Yes, you can link to other reviews on Viewpoints from your own reviews. However, you cannot add external links to other sites at this time.

 

How do I update a review I wrote in the past?

To update an existing review, you must be signed in to your account. Once signed in, visit the review you would like to update and click the 'Edit Review' link. You can then edit the review or add new information and republish it. Viewpoints will permit this functionality at its discretion.

 

Can I post my reviews to other web sites?

As stated in the Viewpoints User Agreement, you own your content. If you choose to post your same reviews elsewhere, your Viewpoints reviews may receive fewer visitors as search engines will divide their traffic between the two copies. We therefore encourage you to change at least half of the review and provide a new title.

To maintain your status on the Viewpoints network, reviews you publish on Viewpoints must have a minimum of 50% unique content.

 

Can Viewpoints redistribute my reviews?

Viewpoints may redistribute your reviews in variety of ways. Please consult the Viewpoints Terms of Service for details.

 

What is a Writer, I?

Writer Is are contributors on the Viewpoints website. They have contributed 25 reviews on the Viewpoints website, have received 12 helpful votes and they have posted a photo to their profile. They maintain a minimum of 12 reviews annually.

 

What is a Writer, II?

Writer IIs are active contributors on the Viewpoints website. They have contributed 50 reviews on the Viewpoints website and have received 25 helpful votes. They maintain a minimum of 25 reviews annually and a photo on their profile page.

 

What is a Writer, III?

Writer IIIs are active contributors on the Viewpoints website. They have contributed 100 reviews on the Viewpoints website and have received 50 helpful votes. They maintain a minimum of 25 reviews annually and a photo on their profile page.

 

What is a Writer, IV?

Writer IVs are among the most active contributors on the Viewpoints website. They have contributed 200 reviews on the Viewpoints website and have received 100 helpful votes. They maintain a minimum of 50 reviews annually and a photo on their profile page.

 

What is the Publisher's Circle?

Publisher's Circle (PC) are the most active contributors on the Viewpoints website. They have contributed 400 reviews on the Viewpoints website and have received 100 helpful votes. They maintain a minimum of 50 reviews annually and a photo on their profile page.

 

I see a few people with Publisher's Circle status but they don't have 400 reviews. Why?

In 2007, we chose to grant twenty people membership into the Publisher's Circle based on their overall contributions, ratings and online influence outside of Viewpoints. In addition, they are strong writers and online contributors that are actively working to help us set the standards for good writing at Viewpoints and test out the overall tool. As we say, they "drink the Viewpoints Kool-Aid". They embody the ethics, integrity and personality of the Viewpoints community.

 

What values direct our community?

Looking for direction on how to contribute to our community? Wondering what behavior our community values? Below is a summary of our four guiding principles.

	(k)Nowledge. We value you, your knowledge and your unique point of view.
Welcoming. We require an inclusive community that is welcoming and respectful.		Expressive. We value contributions that are highly personal and have personality.
	Substance. We value participation that is thoughtful, honest and substantive.

 

What are friends and fans?

Each member of Viewpoints has both friends and fans. Friends are people that YOU like and trust. Fans are people that add you has a friend.

 

How do I make friends?

There are 2 basic ways to make someone your friend.

1. Simply visit a members' profile page and go to the "connect with them" section under their profile photo. Then, click on the link that says "add to my friends list".

2. Look for the gray "friends" icon next to a members reviews. If you like their work, click on the icon and the person will automatically become your friend.

 

What is the benefit of having friends? And, how do I access their reviews?

Once you make a member a friend, you can access their latest reviews from your profile page. Also, when you surf the website, and read reviews, you will see a green "friends" icon telling you that they are a friend. It will help you prioritize which reviews to read.

 

How do I invite my friends to Viewpoints?

Use the "Invite your friends" link from your profile page to invite new friends to Viewpoints and find friends who are already here but not yet in your friends network. Anyone you invite will be listed as your friend in Viewpoints once they sign up and you'll be notified of each other's activity as you both participate in the Viewpoints community.

 

What is the Viewpoints Friend Look-up tool?

Our Friend Look-up Tool allows you to invite friends from your web address book (Hotmail, Yahoo! mail, and GMail are currently supported) directly from the Viewpoints website. We will use the address book you have on those sites to look for folks you know who are already on Viewpoints, and allow you to easily invite those who aren't. We are committed to maintaining your absolute privacy and do not store any personal information you share with us to access those accounts.

 

Why should I use the Friends Look-up Tool?

If you use one of the supported services, this tool will provide a way to use your existing contacts in your address book to quickly find and invite your friends to Viewpoints. Plus it saves you from typing in your friends e-mail addresses OVER and OVER and OVER.

 

What if I don't want my friends to find me using the Look-up Tool?

No problem. Simply visit the "Account Info" area on your profile page and uncheck the box that says "allow my friends to find me". Now your friends will not be able to find you on Viewpoints using your email address as an identifier.

 

How do I remove a friend?

There are several ways to remove a friend.

1. Simply visit a members' profile page and go to the "connect with them" section under their profile photo. Then, click on the link: "remove from my friends list".

2. Look for the green "friends" icon next to a members reviews. Simply click on it, and you can have them removed.

3. Visit your friends and fan section on the profile page. Next to each friend, you will see an X. Click on the X and they will be removed from your list.

 

Do I have to manage my fans?

No. They require no action on your part. Simply enjoy having a fan club!

 

Can I delete a fan?

No. You can not edit your listed "fans".

 

Why do I have a friend when I register?

In an effort to be welcoming, every new member at Viewpoints will come into our community with one friend. You can choose to remove your assigned friend at any time by clicking on the X next to their name.

 

What is a helpful vote?

When a visitor reads a review, they can provide feedback on a review. We then use the feedback, positive and negative, to help determine review display order. However, we only publicly display the "helpful" votes.

 

What happened to good points?

"Good points" were our previous method for leaving reviewer feedback. Due to the confusion over the meaning of good points, in late April 2008, we decided to retire the "good point" terminology. For members who received good points in the past, we transitioned the good points to our new naming convention called "helpful votes".

 

What are comments? What is a private comment?

At the bottom of a review, you will have the option to leave a comment for a writer. Comments are general remarks on the review. You would leave a comment if you want to add an additional piece of information or clarify something in a review. All comments on a review are made public.

You may also leave a comment for a person on their profile page. All comments are public by default, and are shown to everyone. The recipient has an option to mark the comment left on their profile page as private. Private comments on a profile page are visible only to the person who received the comment.

 

How do I share feedback on the community features?

We always want to hear from our community members. If you have a suggestion or comment, please send us an email at customerservice@viewpoints.com or use the contact us form.

 

How can I connect with the management team at Viewpoints?

The company maintains two blogs.

The company blog is the easiest place to interact with the broader management team. You can access the company blog at onpoint.viewpoints.com. In addition, the management team will host events periodically to get your feedback!

You can interact with Jolie and Meredith, our Community Leader and Manager, at their personal blog: jolie.viewpoints.com.

We welcome your feedback and look forward to hearing from you.

 

What should I do if I think someone is violating the consumer agreement?

You will see a "report as inappropriate" button used throughout the site. When you see a violation of our consumer agreement or inappropriate behavior, simply click on this button and let us know! We will then investigate your claim and take appropriate action.

 

What should I do if I encounter technical problems?

Send us an email at customerservice@viewpoints.com or use the contact us form. Let us know what you were doing, when it happened, and what browser are you using. Please also include appropriate contact information so that we can let you know when the problem is fixed.