These are questions we think may be asked with a high
frequency. Also known as Frequently Asked Questions. Also
occasionally known as the FAQ by those who are in a hurry.
Here it is. The most wisdom-packed page in all of
Internetdom. If you have a question about using Center'd, chances are
the answer is below. If you don't find what you are looking for, drop
us a line on our feedback page. We'll make this page bigger and
better in future drafts, and could use your help.
General
What is Center'd?
What's this "Flavored Local Technology" all about?
What is a beta/first draft?
What browsers are currently supported by Center'd?
How do I connect to other
people?
If I ignore a connection
request, does the other person know?
Does Center'd remove comments
or tags from the site?
How do I report abusive
comments or actions?
Why have I not received an
email verification message?
Why do I have to use my real
name?
How do I change information in
my profile?
How do I change account
information?
Why do birds suddenly appear,
whenever I am near?
How do I delete my account?
How do I add a place to the Center'd database?
Events
How do I create an event?
Can I create a public event?
How do I finalize a place or
time poll?
Explore
How do the filters work in
explore?
Who likes to rock the party?
Privacy
Who can see my profile /
events / calendar / saved places / tags?
How do I control who can see
what about me on Center'd?
Does Center'd share or sell
email addresses?
How do I control what emails
Center'd sends me?
Tags
What are tags, and how should
I use them?
Widgets
What is the Center'd widget?
How much does it cost to use the Center'd widget?
What is the Center'd paid publisher program?
Who should use the widget and/or join the paid publisher program?
How long will it take my application to be approved?
How will I know when my application is approved?
How much money will I make?
How and when will I get paid?
I'm having trouble installing the widget – who can I contact to get help?
What if I want to do a more customized implementation using your data?
Business owners / service providers
How do I get my business
listed on Center'd?
How do I get rid of the
negative comments about my business?
Points
What are points?
How do I earn points?
What can I do with my points?
My Questions remain unanswered. What do I do?
What if I want to contact Center'd about something that isn't customer support related
The Answers
General
What is Center'd?
Center'd helps make planning easier. From
basic activities like figuring out what to do this weekend to more
complex plans like organizing a school event that requires volunteers,
Center'd provides tools to help. You can connect to people you know,
discover new places in different neighborhoods, and plan any event or
activity.
Using the latest space-age technology, we
have concocted features such as
• Polling tools: Enable your guests
to take some of the burden of coming to consensus on the place and
time to meet. That would be nice, since they will probably forget to
bring the chili. Again.
• Task Management and Volunteer Sign-
up: Now you can easily get the team you need to do the stuff you
need.
• Connection management and calendar
sharing: Now that you are suddenly so organized, and ready to
pull off the perfect girls' night out/summer camp/ grandparents day/
birthday party/first date/last date, let's make sure those who are
important to you can view your calendars. But not everyone, and not
every event. We can keep a secret.
• Explore neighborhoods: We'll even
help you out with finding other places and events. How would you like
a view of your world filtered by the recommendations of people you
trust? How would you like to be at the center, and have the people,
places, and plans you care about revolve around you, just waiting to
be experienced? We like that idea. In fact, we like it so much, we
built it.
Whether you want to plan a large grandiose
soiree, an informal rendezvous, a down home hootenanny, or you just
want a place to go, we are here to help your world organize itself and
revolve around you. That's the benefit of being Center'd.
What's this "Flavored Local Technology" all about?
Local Flavor Technology is our proprietary technique of categorizing places based on what people are saying about them around the Web. Using a unique approach to natural language processing, we've researched millions of conversations about places to make better recommendations based on people's intent. By understanding the context of a conversation, we're able to classify millions of places in our database based on whether they're good for different styles of activities like "Romantic" or "Kid-friendly." Basically, we're doing a bunch of work in the background so you get more relevant results when browsing or searching for a place that suits your needs.
What is a "first draft?"
A first draft is exactly what it sounds
like. We had a great idea, and we started writing. The story is
coming together, but just as with a book, you find that as you reread
and listen to others and obsess and rip it up and put it back
together, it gets better and better. That's where you come in – in
order to make this a remarkable experience, we're counting on your
feedback. We want you to know that we are constantly working to tweak
and rethink and listen and tweak and rethink and listen. Let us have
it. What is remarkable, what needs some tweaking, and what should we
throw away and start over? We feel there is great potential in what
we are trying to do. There is an idea here that can change lives and
bring people together, and we really hope you enjoy our first draft.
What browsers are currently supported by Center'd?
Center'd is currently optimized for Firefox 2 and 3 and Internet Explorer 6 and 7. If you are using Safari, Google Chrome, or other browsers, you may see some strange behavior during our First Draft. We are working on support of these browsers, so please stay tuned.
How do I connect to other people?
You can connect to people on Center'd in a
couple of different ways.
• If you want to connect to someone who is
already on Center'd, just do a search for their name using the search
box at the top of any Center'd page. (Use "people" in the search
dropdown.) If they're a member, they'll show up in the search results
– just click "Add" next to the correct search result and we'll send
them a connection request. If the person doesn't show up in the
search results, then they're probably not using Center'd. Yet.
• Connect to people who aren't on
Center'd: For people who aren't using Center'd yet, if you know their
email address you can have us send them an invite here (we'll even
double-check to make sure they're not already on the site).
• To make things really easy, use our Web
email import system which allows you to import your contact list from
sites like Yahoo! Mail and Gmail. We'll see if those people are
already on the site and send them the appropriate invite or connection
request.
If I ignore a connection request, does the
other person know?
We won't tell if you don't. If you ignore a
connection request from someone, they will not be notified about it.
Does Center'd remove comments or tags from
the site?
In accordance with our terms of service and
privacy policy, Center'd will remove content, including tags, that is
considered offensive speech and is obscene, pornographic, spiteful,
libelous, slanderous, or inflammatory. We want to build a thriving
neighborhood, and much like the world beyond this site, the members of
the neighborhood are what set the tone.
By the way, you can also remove any tags that
you or others add to your profile by deleting them on your ‘edit
profile'page.
How do I report abusive comments or
actions?
If you see abuse on the site, please report
it to us on our feedback page – choose the pull-down topic "Report
abuse." We're on it.
Why have I not received an email
verification message?
It's possible that our message accidentally
got blocked by a filter your email provider may be using. Check your
spam folder to make sure it's not in there, and if you still can't
find it, you can try again with a different email address. Of course,
if you are having problems, don't send us a note on our feedback page.
Why do I have to use my real name?
Center'd works best when people connect with
others they know, and the easiest way to do this is by finding them
using their real names. Don't worry though, you control who sees what
information about you.
How do I change information in my profile?
You can update the information in your
profile in the My Center area of the site, under "Edit profile."
How do I change my account information?
You can update your account information by
clicking on "settings" at the top right hand corner of all pages.
Why do birds suddenly appear, whenever I
am near?
Just like me, they want to be, close to you.
How do I delete my account?
If you'd like to delete your account, you can email us here. Thanks for giving us a try, and we hope to see you again later.
How do I add a place to the Center'd database?
First, please make sure the place isn't already listed on Center'd by searching
for it – use the search box in the navigation bar at the top of the page to
do this. If you can't locate the place on Center'd, you can submit the
information to us on our contact page. Choose the pull-down topic "Add a
place." You must be a member of the Center'd community to add a place. We will review this information and may contact you with additional
questions before posting on the site.
Events
How do I create an event?
To create an event, click the "Plans tab" in
the navigation bar (the green bar at the top of all Center'd pages).
From here, we'll guide you through the process by asking a few
questions. Answer the questions on this page, and we'll prompt you
for what to do next.
Can I create a public event?
Yes. When you're making your plan, we'll ask
you who can view it. Just choose the "Public" option to let everyone
view the event.
Can I add a public event to my Center'd
calendar?
Yes. You can find public community events
either by clicking ‘events' under the "Explore tab" in the navigation
bar or by checking the Community Calendar box in the ‘Calendar'
section of "My Center." To add one of these public event to your
Center'd calendar, just click on the event and then click ‘add."
How do I finalize a place or time poll?
To finalize a place or time poll related to
one of your plans, go to the event (you can find it under "My plans"
on your My Center dashboard). If you're ready to set the time or
place, click the green "Finalize Plans" button near the top of the page.
Explore
How do the categories and filters work in
explore?
When using Explore for places, first check
the boxes for any categories of businesses you want to view on the
map. You can view multiple categories on a map at the same time, for
instance both restaurants and movie theaters. Then, under each
category you select, you will have the option of adding filters to
narrow down your choices within that category. As an example, you
could choose the restaurant category and then add filters for
‘italian' and ‘romantic' to see only restaurants that are Italian and
romantic. Explore works similarly when browsing for events as well.
Who likes to rock the party?
We like to rock the party.
Privacy
Who can see the information on my profile,
my calendar, or my events?
You control who sees what information about
you on Center'd. You can choose whether or not your connections or
all people on Center'd can see your profile and who has access to
which parts of your calendar. For events, you choose who can see your
plans on a case-by-case basis. To set your privacy controls, click
here.
Does Center'd share or sell email
addresses?
Center'd will never sell your email address
to another party. Center'd will never share your email address on
your behalf. Take that one to the bank, Sally.
How do I control what emails Center'd
sends me?
You can control which emails you receive from
Center'd by clicking here.
Tags
What are tags and how should I use them?
Put simply, a tag is a short description
about something. Tags can be used to describe places like restaurants
(e.g., family friendly, French, delivers), friends' interests or
things they are associated with (e.g., mom, foodie, San Francisco), or
events (e.g., informal, BYOB). We encourage you to add tags to
people, places, and events on the site both so you can easily find
those things again and since the rest of the community will benefit
from this information – think of it as part of being a good neighbor.
Your tags will only be associated with your profile for people you are
connected to, unless you give us permission to show them publicly as
created by you.
Widget
What is the Center'd widget?
The Center'd widget is a piece of code that enables people to add engaging local content to a website or blog for free. The widget uses the same patent-pending technology that we've used to classify and organize more than 1 million places and things to do according to activity intent on our own site. By using the widget, you can display unique lists of places and things to do (e.g., Kid-friendly restaurants, Popular attractions, etc.) on your own site.
To check-out the widget and customize it for your own site, click here
How much does it cost to use the Center'd widget?
It's free. Yes, you heard us right...free.
What is the Center'd paid publisher program?
Our paid publisher program is a way for websites to earn money from displaying our widget on their site. We'll pay you based on the clicks on the sponsored listings within the widget on your site – the more clicks you generate, the more money you make. We'll take care of the tracking and payments. All you have to do is install our widget on your site, and complete the sign up process for our publisher program. We'll pay publisher websites once they earn a minimum of $100.
Check-out the widget and sign up for our publisher program here.
Who should use the widget and/or join the paid publisher program?
Everyone with a website or blog should use the widget. OK, anyone who wants to add great local content to their site for free and increase their audience engagement (more page views & clicks) should add the widget.
If you get a good amount of traffic (10,000+ page views a month) and want to earn a little extra scratch, then you should sign up for our paid publisher program. We'll pay you based on the number of clicks on the sponsored listings within the widget on your site – the more clicks you generate, the more money you make.
Check-out the widget and sign up for our publisher program here
How long will it take my application to be approved?
You should hear back from us about your application to join our paid publisher program within 5 business days.
How will I know when my application is approved?
We'll send you an email to let you know if your application was approved within 5 business days of submission. Once you're approved, you'll start earning money!
How much money will I make?
We pay you based on the number of clicks on the sponsored listings within the widget on your site, so the more clicks you generate, the more money you make. The monthly payment per click may vary from month to month based on our monetization partners' performance and other variables.
How and when will I get paid?
Once you've earned $100 in revenue, we'll either cut you check and mail it or send an ACH (electronic) payment to your bank account. If you regularly earn over $100 a month, then you'll receive monthly payments.
Whether or not you're receiving a payment, we'll at least send you a performance report once a month.
I'm having trouble installing the widget – who can I contact to get help?
Bummer. We hate it when people need to use this part of the FAQ… Shoot us an email with some details on the issues you're having and we'll get you fixed up as quickly as possible.
What if I want to do a more customized implementation using your data?
If you'd like to customize the look and feel of your widget more than what's already allowed on the widget page or you'd like to integrate our data in some other way, we have an API available that we're allowing select publishers to use.
If you're interested in using our API for a custom implementation, drop us a line here.
Business owners / service providers
How do I get my business listed on
Center'd?
First, make sure the business isn't already
listed on Center'd by searching for it – use the search box in the
navigation bar at the top of the page to do this. If you can't locate
the business on Center'd, you can submit the information to us on our
feedback page. Choose the pull-down topic "Add a place." We will
review this information and may contact you for additional questions
before posting on the site.
How do I get rid of the negative comments
about my business?
First, don't fret. If you receive a negative
comment, you can respond to it and address the person's concerns by
posting a comment of your own in a respectful manner. If you choose
to do so, make sure you clearly identify yourself as the business owner.
If someone has posted a comment about your
business that you believe violates our terms of service or privacy
policy, (content that is considered offensive speech, obscene,
pornographic, spiteful libelous, slanderous, or inflammatory), you may
report it to us on our feedback page – choose the pull-down topic
"Report abuse."
Points
What are points?
We award points on the site when you perform
certain actions that benefit the Center'd community.
How do I earn points?
You earn points for performing the following
activities on Center'd:
- Site registration = 100 points
- Save a place = 5 points
- Tag a place, event, or person's profile =
5 points (up to 5 tags per place, event or person)
- Invite a non-registered person to connect
and join = 50 points (pending registration)
- Connect to someone who is already
registered = 25 points
- Make a plan = 25 (plus add 5 points for each invitee)
- Add an image to a place, event, or
person's profile = 20
- Sign-in to the site = 5 points
What can I do with my points?
We have some very cool stuff coming for
points in the next draft. In the meantime, you can tell pretty
quickly who your neighborhood experts are by looking at their points.
Maybe it is you!
My Questions remain unanswered. What do I do?
If you still have questions or need more help, give us a holler at (650) 504-9320 – operators are standing by to assist you. Please note that this number is just for customer support. If you try to sell us something, we will have your phone taken away and melted down to make new phones for people who would never do such a thing. (Trust us, we have connections.)
What if I want to contact Center'd about something that isn't customer support related
The best way to reach us is by email which we check religiously. If you really, really, really, want to speak to someone, you can ring us at our office phone number: (650) 323-2912.
