FAQs - TRUSTcite

General

[+] Who and what is TRUSTcite?

TRUSTcite profiles quality service providers in their field of expertise and makes it easy for members of the public to find and compare possible providers based on referrals and recommendations from business peers and past clients.

[+] Is it free to use?

Yes. Anyone with internet access can browse and place feedback free of charge. It's also free to profile yourself as a product or service provider (see membership FAQs)

[+] How do links and stars affect search outcomes?

The greater the number of 'Trust' links a TRUSTcite member has, the higher placed that member will be in search rankings. The number of stars acts a secondary ranking criterion.

[+] How do I search for and sort providers?

Find a provider by:

Keyword(s)search
TRUSTcite member referral ('Trust' list)
Browsing categories

Sort possible providers by:

Location
Stars (positive feedback)
Links (Trust)

[+] Why are profiles person rather than business-based?

The service we receive from individuals within a business determines whether we are likely to use that business or person again or recommend them to others. We do business with people first and foremost.

[+] Do I have to register or pay to use TRUSTcite as a browser?

No. You can browse TRUSTcite free of charge anytime 24/7. There is no need to register and no fees to pay.

[+] What are the Terms of Use of the site?

Click on the "Terms of Use" link on the bottom of any page for the full terms of use of the site.

[+] What are my rights in terms of privacy?

TRUSTcite respects and protects both members and users privacy.

Click on the "Terms of Use" link on the bottom of any page for the full terms of use of the site, including TRUSTcite's privacy policy.

Feedback

[+] How do I view and place feedback?: To view feedback, click the star icon or link in the member's profile. Feedback can be filtered by type: positive, neutral or negative.

To place feedback, click the "place feedback" icon.
[+] Can I place more than one feedback?: Yes. Multiple feedback can be placed but only the first feedback per type affects the star rating.
[+] Can feedback be edited or deleted?: No. Once placed, feedback cannot be edited or deleted. TRUSTcite Ltd may remove feedback it considers to be spam, offensive or abusive.
[+] Can the TRUSTcite member respond to feedback?: Yes. The TRUSTcite member has a right of response and can comment on feedback placed about them.
[+] How do I invite someone to place feedback about me?: Click the "Referrals" button when logged in to send an email inviting past clients to place feedback about you or use TRUSTcite.
[+] Is feedback monitored?: Yes. Anyone deemed to be using offensive language or spamming a TRUSTcite member will be black-listed and the feedback withheld.

Stars

[+] What do Stars indicate?: Stars indicate the number of positive feedbacks a TRUSTcite member has received from past users.
[+] How are stars calculated?: Stars are calculated based on the type of feedback placed. The first positive feedback from a new email address adds one star. Neutral feedback doesn't affect stars and the first negative feedback from a new email address reduces the number of stars by one. All subsequent feedback placed by the same email address is recorded in the feedback section but will not contribute to the increase or decrease of stars.
[+] How many stars can a TRUSTcite member have?: There is no limit on the number of stars a TRUSTcite member can have.

Profile

[+] How do I create and update my profile?: For tips on creating a great profile please see our guidelines regarding creating an effective profile.

You can change any part of your profile anytime you choose when logged in. Simply overtype any text highlighted in yellow in the profile page itself OR click the "Edit: My profile" link and edit the fields required.
[+] How do I rank highly in search outcomes?: The greater the number of 'Trust' links you have, the higher ranked in search outcomes you will be.

Keywords in your profile will also increase your chances of being found if the browser uses them in their search. Please see our guidelines regarding creating an effective profile.
[+] Can I format text and customise my profile?: You can format text in your profile as follows:

Two stars/asterisks immediately before and after word(s) you want to embolden will make them bold eg: this will be bold

To create a list of bullet points, place -, or + plus a space before the word(s) you want to bullet eg: "+ item to be listed"

Other than text formatting, each profile is pre-defined in terms of layout to ensure consistency for browsers and equity for members.
[+] What if a sub-category I want isn't available?: Select 'other' within the sub-level categories and contact us letting us know why the sub-category you would like should be considered. See "Contact us" for details.

The categories are purposely broad to encourage keyword searches and increase the chances of TRUSTcite members being included rather than excluded in search outcomes when browsing by category.
[+] Can I link my TRUSTcite profile to another website?: Yes. Enter the URL of the web address you want to link to in the relevant field from "Edit: My profile" when logged in.
[+] Can I use the TRUSTcite logo on my website, brochures etc?: Yes. Members can download the TRUSTcite logo as a direct link to their TRUSTcite profile from "Edit: My account" when logged in and use it in email signatures, on brochures and other materials.

We recommend the TRUSTcite logo be added to your own website to enable two-way traffic and promote your membership.
[+] What size and format should images be for best results?: For best results photos or images should be 100 x 125 pixels; in GIF, JPG or PNG format and less than 50 Kilobytes (KB)
[+] How many association logos can I have on my profile?: You can display up to three (3) professional or business association logos.

The relevant logos will be added to your profile automatically by TRUSTcite when your membership of those associations has been confirmed.

Your association membership(s) will be checked on a regular basis with the relevant organisations and the logos removed from your profile if your membership with those associations expires or is no longer current. Please see our full "Terms and Conditions of TRUSTcite membership".

If an association you are a member of is not provided then please let us know and we'll endeavour to make them available for you. See 'Contact us' for details.
[+] How can I recommend TRUSTcite to others?: Click the "Referrals" link when logged in to send an email to either a possible user or business professional.

Membership

[+] Why should I profile myself on TRUSTcite?

TRUSTcite members are willing to be judged independently and objectively by their clients and business peers as quality service providers in their field of expertise.

Links with fellow TRUSTcite members and feedback from past users generate 'links' and 'stars' that affect how the member is ranked in search outcomes. The greater the number of links and stars, the higher placed the TRUSTcite member will be.

Professional and / or business associations may also be displayed, further supporting your profile as a quality service provider.

TRUSTcite membership can support and enhance your existing marketing, including linking to existing websites. It can also increase the likelihood of referrals and recommendations from past clients and fellow business professionals who are willing to be associated with, and recommend, you.

You can update your profile at any time, 24/7, and create a history of independent, objective testimonials.

Best of all, it's absolutely FREE! It's free to join and there are no hidden fees or transaction costs.

[+] What does membership entitle me to?

A personal profile (including 3 images/photos)
20 'I trust' links
Unlimited 'Trusted by' links
Update your profile at anytime
Link to an external web page
Links to professional associations / organisations you are a member of
'How to maximise your profile' guidelines
Promote your TRUSTcite membership to others
Monthly electronic newsletter

[+] What other membership benefits are there?

There are no deadlines to meet or miss
No artwork is required
TRUSTcite can support, rather than compete with, existing advertising
There are no hidden or variable costs
Feedback is monitored
Controls exist to reduce / eliminate spamming
It's completely free to join!

[+] Why don't you charge a membership fee to join?

A membership fee was originally charged but we decided to remove this completely and make TRUSTcite free of charge so TRUSTcite members could profile themselves based almost entirely on reputation and recommendation rather than ability to pay.

[+] How do create a profile?

Click the "Profile your business" link and enter the information required online.

[+] How many categories can I be in?

Each TRUSTcite member is entitled to one main category and up to four sub-categories within that category.

If you want to be profiled in more than one top-level category you will need to create another TRUSTcite profile.

[+] How many photos can I have?

Each TRUSTcite profile has the ability to have 3 images or photos uploaded.

The second and third images are displayed as thumbnails and are interchangeable with the main image.

For best results photos or images should be 100 x 125 pixels; in GIF, JPG or PNG format and less than 50 Kilobytes (KB)

[+] How do I temporarily suspend my profile so it can't be seen by browsers?

If you wish to suspend your profile please contact us.

While your profile is suspended (made inactive) you will remain a TRUSTcite member and be able to log in and edit your Profile at any time. All feedback and links will remain in place, however, your Profile will not be visible on the web to browsers or other TRUSTcite members.

To reactivate your profile please email us.

Please see our full "Terms and Conditions of TRUSTcite membership".

[+] How do I cancel my membership and permanently delete my profile?

Please contact us to delete your profile.

Deletion of your profile is permanent and cancels your membership. Once your profile has been deleted you will no longer be able to log in and edit it and all feedback and links will also be deleted.

Please see our full "Terms and Conditions of TRUSTcite membership".

[+] What are the full Terms and conditions of membership?

Please see our full "Terms and Conditions of TRUSTcite membership".

Preferences

[+] Why is linking with other TRUSTcite members a good idea?: 'Trusted by' links increase your ranking in TRUSTcite’s search outcomes. The more links you have with other TRUSTcite members, the higher placed you will be in your category. Links also increase the likelihood of linked individuals giving and receiving referrals between themselves and lend additional weight to you if they are well respected too.
[+] How do I invite another member to link with me?: Click the 'Invite this member to your trust list' link when you are logged in and viewing another member's profile. Your recommendation wording will be sent to them notifying them of your invitation to link with you.
[+] How can I comment on members linked with me?: Click the 'People I Trust' link when logged in to add or edit a comment about TRUSTcite members shown in your 'I Trust' tab.
[+] How do I monitor feedback about me or linked members?: Click the 'Edit: My Account' link when logged in to set your preferences regarding notification of feedback.
[+] How do I delete a linked member?: Click the 'People I Trust' link when logged in and delete the link.