Help
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 Us
What is the Viewpoints web site?
The Viewpoints web site is a new 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 does the Viewpoints web site make money?
The Viewpoints web site is a completely free service. We earn money from the paid advertisements you see on our site so that we can pay the bills.
Using the Site
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 and rating.
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 the Viewpoints web site edit reviews?
We do not remove reviews from the site unless a review or its author is found to be in violation of the Terms of Service.
Can the Viewpoints web site redistribute my reviews?
We may redistribute your reviews in variety of ways. Please consult the Terms of Service for details.
What are comments?
At the bottom of a post, you will have the option to post a comment for an author. Comments are general remarks on the post. You would leave a comment if you want to add an additional piece of information or clarify something in a post. All post comments 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. You may contact us directly via the contact us form.
Writing Reviews
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!
How do I write a review?
It's easy to write a review here! 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.
How long does it take for my review to appear on the web 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 on the site. 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 the site 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. We will permit this functionality at our discretion.
Can I post my reviews to other web sites?
As stated in the User Agreement, you own your content. If you choose to post your same reviews elsewhere, your 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 network, reviews you publish on the site must have a minimum of 50% unique content.
How can I increase the number of reads for my reviews?
It's easy! You have many options-
- Post a link to your review on your Facebook or Twitter status.
- Send an email to your friends to let them know you just posted a new review.
- Link to your review on your blog.
- If you're a member of other forums, share a link there.
It helps to tell readers a little about your link before you post it, so be sure to mention the product in a little blurb. For example: "I just wrote a review of my mattress on Viewpoints!" and insert your link.
What is the difference between a "quick review" and a "review"?
A review requires a sound bite, star rating, I Am tags and at least 500 characters of text. Reviews are for sharing a detailed rundown of your experience and opinion. Reviews contribute to your writer status so the more you write, the more your reputation grows.
A quick review only requires a star rating and a sound bite. Quick reviews allow you to add a meaningful blurb and rating without writing extra details. Quick reviews do not count toward writer status.
You can find your combined "review" and "quick review" count on your "My Home" page. Access your quick reviews and reviews (filtered separately) from the "Reviews" section on your "My Home" page. You can upgrade a quick review to a review at any time by adding the additional required fields and text using the edit button.
Viewpoints V.I.P.
What is the Viewpoints V.I.P. Program?
The Viewpoints V.I.P. Program recognizes members for their contributions to the Viewpoints community. Members earn points by participating in various activities such as uploading a profile picture, writing a review, gaining fans in the community etc. All the earned points then contribute to an overall point total. A member’s point total determines their Status in the community and that Status is a way for fellow community members to identify the most active members on the site. We value all contributions and can’t wait to hear what you have to say!
What does V.I.P stand for?
Very Important People with Very Important Perspectives
What kind of Status can I achieve and how many points do I need for each one?
There are 5 Status levels that you can achieve based on the points you earn for your contributions to the community. Remember that your Status signifies your contribution and involvement within Viewpoints.
| Status | Points Required | |
|---|---|---|
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3,000 - 3,999 | |
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4,000 - 5,999 | |
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6,000 - 14,999 | |
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15,000 - 49,999 | |
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50,000+ |
| Activity | Points earned | |
|---|---|---|
| Registering as a member | 1,500 | |
| Uploading a profile photo | 500 | |
| Writing your first review | 500 | |
| Writing additional reviews | 50 | |
| Bonus — if your review is in a key category* | 100 | |
| Bonus — if your review is >900 characters | 100 | |
| Reads (When someone reads your review)** | 25 for every 250 reads | |
| Fans (When someone adds you to their friends list) | 25 | |
| Daily visits (one time daily) | 10 | |
| Receiving a helpful vote on your review | 10 | |
| Posting a forum topic | 10 | |
| Joining a forum discussion | 10 |
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Simple Thanks – Our way of saying an extra thank you to our members. If a member has been recognized for their outstanding contributions, they will receive a simple thanks badge. |
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Featured Reviewer – These are people you should know. They are active contributors on the site that deserve some extra recognition for their contributions. We want to recognize them and let them know how much we appreciate them. |
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Founding Member – These are the special members that joined our community prior to August 2007, and were the first reviewers on Viewpoints.com! |
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Holiday Helper – Our way of recognizing those who helped other members make decisions during their Holiday shopping. |
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Publisher's Circle – There is a group of people that achieved Publisher's Circle status in the past and are instrumental in making Viewpoints what it is today. Thank you for all your contributions! |
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Shutterbug – Pictures are a great way to get involved in the community. Upload some of your favorites and we just might label you as one of ours! |
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Sweepstakes Winner – Occasionally we run sweepstakes giving members a chance to win up to $500! Each winner will have a badge on their profile page to let everyone know and congratulate them! |
There are some other badges I have noticed on some people’s profiles. What do they mean?
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Community Manager – We are here to help with all aspects of the community, whether it’s answering questions about how the site works or changing your screen name. As always, feel free to send us your questions and comments. Visit Meredith’s profile or email her at Meredith@viewpoints.com. Also, visit Jolie’s profile or email her at Jolie@viewpoints.com. |
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Moderator – We are also here to help with the community on a deeper level. Got a question? We can help find the answer. |
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Staff – We are employees of Viewpoints. |
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Community Liaison – We are part of the welcoming committee at Viewpoints.com. We are here to help answer your questions and show you the ropes at Viewpoints. |
Do I get to keep all my awards?
Absolutely! All the badges you earn will appear under the “My Awards” section on your profile page.
Will I be compensated for increasing my status?
While we don’t compensate for participation as part of our awards program, we do offer the opportunity to earn a Simple Thanks. From time to time, we may run a promotion that includes a point-earning activity. In those cases, you’ll earn both points as well as possibly qualify for an incentive offered through the promotion. Please review our Terms of Service to learn more.
What about my privacy?
We always want to ensure your privacy. You can visit our privacy policy page to review the full terms. Once you are registered on the site your screen name as well as your Idea will be visible to any visitor.
What are the rules for posting content?
Throughout the community we do not allow any profanity or behavior considered to be inappropriate. We do not allow personal attacks on other members or posts of malicious nature and reserve the right to remove anything we feel necessary. If we feel it is necessary to remove any content, points will be deducted and will not count towards your point total. We encourage positive and constructive feedback. Please review our full Terms of Service.
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 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 post, you will have the option to leave a comment for a member. Comments are general remarks on the post. You would leave a comment if you want to add an additional piece of information or clarify something in a post. All comments on a post 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 use the contact us form.
How can I connect with the management team of the Viewpoints web site?
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.
Friends and Fans
What are friends and fans?
Each member of the Viewpoints web site has both friends and fans. Friends are people that YOU like and trust. Fans are people that add you as a friend.
How do I make friends?
There are 2 basic ways to make someone your friend.
1. Simply visit a member's 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 post. 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 activity from your profile page. Also, when you surf the web site, and read reviews, you will see a green "friends" icon telling you that they are a friend. It will help you prioritize which information to read.
How do I invite my friends to the Viewpoints web site?
Use the "Invite your friends" link from your profile page to invite new friends to the Viewpoints web site and find friends who are already here but not yet in your friends network. Anyone you invite will be listed as your friend on the Viewpoints web site once they sign up and you'll be notified of each other's activity as you both participate in the 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 web site. We will use the address book you have on those sites to look for folks you know who are already on the Viewpoints web site, 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 the Viewpoints web site. Plus it saves you from typing in your friends' email 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". Your friends will not be able to find you on the Viewpoints web site 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 member's posts. 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 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.
Reporting Problems
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?
Please 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.
