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- Businesses on Neighbourly
Businesses on Neighbourly
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What businesses can join Neighbourly?
Neighbourly business profiles are intended for anyone wanting to advertise a business or service they charge for.
We want to encourage all local businesses to sign up to Neighbourly, however, we also reserve the right to decline or remove any business profile that we consider harmful to a community or not appropriate for a community audience. We may also remove a business profile that breaches the Neighbourly Guidelines.
Business profiles Neighbourly does not consider community appropriate include, but are not limited to, the following categories:
Smoking & vaping
Adult entertainment
Gambling
Quick loan companies
If you have any questions around whether your business can join Neighbourly, please feel free to contact us.
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I have a business profile; how often should I post and what should I post about?
As with all social media, the best time to make a post is when you have something important and valuable to say.
Straight advertisements posted more than once a week can damage your brand, as Neighbourly members prefer messages that are useful and locally relevant.
Please note that Neighbourly reserves the right to limit posts from any business to one per week (see the Neighbourly Business Fair Use Policy).
Here are a few post ideas to get you started:
An exclusive offer just for Neighbourly members eg buy one coffee, get one free
Share some useful tips on a topic your business specialises in
Make a recommendation for another great local business
Share a situation vacant
Ask your neighbours for their opinion on a new logo or a topic impacting on your business
Share an important community safety message
Profile members of your team so neighbours can get to know those working in their community better
Run a giveaway
Invite members to sign up to your monthly newsletter
An award you've won - share your success with your neighbours!
If in doubt, the Neighbourly team is always happy to give you some advice on your post and how to get the best out of the business platform. Feel free to contact us.
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What does Neighbourly consider a business?
When we notice a Neighbourly member selling items or promoting their services on Neighbourly, it's sometimes tricky to tell what's a business post and what isn't.
We're always happy for members to offer help and assistance to their neighbours in their local community, but if this message is advertising or promoting any paid service in exchange for money, these messages need to be posted from a Neighbourly business profile.
Below are some of the guidelines we work off to help us make decisions around self or business promotion.
Is this a user's regular occupation, profession or trade?
Are the products/services being promoted provided by a registered company?
Are the products/services being promoted from a GST registered person or business?
Is the member advertising similar products regularly through their own website, a Facebook page or other business directories?
Does the product or service have a brand attached? eg logo or company name
Is the product or service associated with network marketing or direct selling?
Is the post in question a one-off post or a message that has been repeated?
Are proceeds from the products/services part of the member's general income? ie. is it part of their core livelihood?
Are the products/services suitable for a community audience?
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My business has received negative feedback on Neighbourly
Neighbourly is committed to providing a platform that is both useful and enjoyable for neighbours and businesses to use. While we encourage Neighbourly members to keep it positive and focus on recommending the many great service providers out there in our communities, every so often you might notice or receive some less positive feedback about your business.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when handling negative feedback. You might find these tips useful across other social media platforms too.
Always respond positively to questions and comments from Neighbourly members.
Try not to defend your position. Instead let the member know what you're going to do to rectify the situation (if anything).
Clarify your position within the business when relevant. Using your name and title is a good idea and will be appreciated by your neighbours.
Consider whether a conversation is better taken ‘offline’ or continued using the Neighbourly private message service.
Encourage your happy clients to share their positive experiences on your business profile.
Focus on posting community-minded messages and building a positive business profile. Take a look at these topic ideas for a little inspiration.
If you ever see a post or reply that you believe breaches the Neighbourly Guidelines, please report this message for review by the Neighbourly team. Just click the ‘...’ button below a message to report it.
If you believe a review or other content posted by a Neighbourly member is harmful in any way, you can submit a complaint to the Neighbourly Team.
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The Neighbourly Business Fair Use Policy
Neighbourly business posts should be both useful and relevant to your community to ensure members have a good experience on the site while business posts attract the most engagement possible.
The below Fair Use Policy applies to all business members using a Neighbourly Business or Premium Business profile.
The Neighbourly Business Fair Use Policy*
Commercial (product, service or discount focused) messages can be made from a Neighbourly business profile a maximum of once per week
Business posts should be relevant and beneficial to the community and members
Replies to neighbours' posts are only made if you are adding a genuinely relevant comment and wish to assist (ie do not simply post a link to your website; explain why you would like to help your neighbour)
Do not hijack others’ posts to push/promote your own product/brand unless a member has specifically asked for help in your area of expertise
Avoid bumping posts
Do not post the same message if the first one didn’t get enough engagement. Consider a fresh approach.
Private messaging (Neighbourly inbox) should not be used to promote your business
Abide by the Neighbourly Guidelines at all times
All posts made on the Neighbourly platform using a Neighbourly Business or Premium Business profile are subject to our Fair Use Policy. Breaching the Fair Use Policy guidelines may result in a Business profile being deactivated.
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*Last updated 28 June 2016
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I can't see my business posts on the newsfeed
As of 1 October 2017 posts from Free Business Listings will no longer appear on the neighbourhood newsfeed. However, your profile can still be found in the Neighbourly Business Directory, and any posts you make will appear on your profile and any members who visit will be able to see this content. In addition to this, your followers will see your business posts in their newsfeeds.
If you would like to be able to post to newsfeeds of your neighbourhood and surrounding suburbs, find out more about upgrading to Neighbourly Premium here.
If you have a Premium Business and are unable to see your posts in your newsfeed, please contact the Neighbourly Team for assistance.
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Can I advertise my services on Neighbourly?
Neighbourly realises the importance of local businesses and service providers to any community, and for this reason we have designed a special neighbourhood business section.
This is the best place for Neighbourly members to find local trades and services around their neighbourhood, so it's also the best place for you to register your business or let your community know about any paid services you offer.
Please visit the Neighbourly Premium Business page for more information, including a handy 2 minute video overview of the Neighbourly Premium Business features.
To create a Premium Business Listing, simply click here.
Please note that promoting your business or paid services from your personal profile is not permitted, and these posts will be removed by Neighbourly.
See also: What does Neighbourly consider a business?
