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Frequently Asked Questions
What is NeighborPal?
How does it work?
How much does NeighborPal cost to use?
PRIVACY
Can I control who sees my information?
Do you sell or rent your email lists?
PROFILE
What is a profile?
Can I choose who sees my profile information?
Do I have to fill out my profile?
NEIGHBOR DIRECTORY
What is a Neighbor Directory?
How do I start a Neighbor Directory?
How do I Add Neighbors to my Neighbor Directory?
Can I belong to more than one Neighbor Directory?
I joined a Neighbor Directory, but decided to leave?
Can I include people beyond my block or building?
GROUPS
What is a group?
How do I start a Group?
How do I add members to a Group?
Can I delete a Group Member?
MESSAGES
Can you explain how MESSAGES work?
Who sees my messages?
How do I post directly to a category?
Can I post to everyone in my contact list?
What is NeighborPal?
NeighborPal is a personal online community, which is designed for those who live near each other to make it easier to acquaint, interact and share information.
Members connect and interact more effectively with like-minded local individuals who share the same community, circle of friends, local interests, groups and daily life.
It’s basically a convenient communication tool to help people get and stay connected in their communities with people they meet locally.
How does it work?
Once you sign-up, you’re a member. (It’s totally free)
You start to connect with people in your community by creating a local circle of friends and contacts. These are people you’ve met but had little time to get to know well – close neighbors, local acquaintances, other parent’s you’ve in your kid’s classroom or sports team, etc. ... it’s up to you who you include into your local online network.
Create a Neighbor Directory for your close neighbors. (Block leaders and organizer types love this.) Share info with the people you live closest to on your block, building, or subdivision.
Create a Group. Go beyond your block and use NeighborPal Groups to organize your book club, playgroup, sport team, etc... . Manage your group activities and members easily.
Invite individuals you relate to on a local level – people you know in the neighborhood.
Once you have a Neighbor Directory, Groups, and/or individual contacts it’s easier to feel connected where you live and tap the collective knowledge of your neighbor network of contacts.
How much does NeighborPal cost to use?
It’s free for all users.
PRIVACY
Can I control who sees my information?
We take your privacy very seriously and provide easy to use privacy tools. Privacy Settings let’s you choose who sees your information.
Do you sell or rent your email lists?
NO. We respect the privacy of our users. We do not sell or rent any emails.
PROFILE
What is a profile?
Your profile information is optional. If you choose to include profile information, this information is shared with the people you choose (even no one if you choose).
Can I choose who sees my profile information?
Yes can also choose to share different parts of your profile.
Example, share your “About you” information like spouse name or move-in year with only your Neighbor Directory or no-one at all. It’s up to you.
Do I have to fill out my profile?
No you don’t have to include any additional information after you sign-up. You can share as much or little as you want. Including any additional information is optional.
NEIGHBOR DIRECTORY
What is a Neighbor Directory?
Neighbor Directory is an online address book for your close neighbors - your block, floor, building, subdivision, etc...
Like a traditional address book, you can include your preferred contact email, phone, and, you have the option to share interesting household facts (move-in year, pets, career, etc.) with your close neighbors. Use it as an easier way to connect with your close neighbors when talking to them in person is not an option.
Example: need to find a local service, post a message to your Neighbor Directory: “Anyone know a good pediatrician?” Only members of your Neighbor Directory will see your message and be able to reply.
Organize close neighbor Events –
Example: Organize block party, garage sale, or meeting – create an event – and your Neighbor Directory members will receive an invite to easily RSVP.
Your messages are categorized (for sale, free stuff, rants & raves, local activities, etc.) to easily post or scan for relevant information.
How do I start a Neighbor Directory?
Go to Neighbor Directory – Create Directory
Name and provide a description of your directory (Examples, 900 block of Atlantic, Willington Subdivision, 5th floor neighbors, etc.)
Then add close neighbors.
How do I Add Neighbors to my Neighbor Directory?
Only neighbor directory organizers can add neighbors to an existing neighbor directory. Like the real world, we’ve made it so you control who’s allowed in.
Add neighbor to your directory, options:
1) If you have neighbor contact information, simply enter their info with Add Neighbor. If you enter their email address (optional) a welcome email will be sent inviting them to NeighborPal.
2) Invite neighbors via a handout located in Add Neighbor (PDF will open in a separate window: handout invite). Neighbors can fill-out part or all info on the handout and return it to you to enter in Neighbor Directory: Add Neighbor. If an email address is added, you have the option to send them a “welcome email” and access to your Neighbor Directory.
Also, neighbors who receive the handout invite can go directly to NeighborPal.com, sign-up, go to your Neighbor Directory and request to join your neighbor directory. You’ll receive the request in your Neighbor Directory Messages if you want them in the Neighbor Directory Accept, if not Decline. If you choose Decline the sender will not receive any notification.
3) Neighbors who are already NeighborPal members – can request to join your Neighbor Directory online. Find the directory your want to join, and Request to Join. The organizer will receive your request and will decide to Accept or Decline your request.
Can I belong to more than one Neighbor Directory?
Only one Neighbor Directory per member. Close neighbors have a unique relationship in a distinct area, so most likely there is only a need for one.
I joined a Neighbor Directory, but decided to leave?
In your Neighbor Directory there’s a Leave Directory link. Select it and you will no longer be a member of that Neighbor Directory. From there, you can choose request to join a different Neighbor Directory or create a new one of your own with other close neighbors not in a Neighbor Directory.
Can I include people beyond my block or building?
YES. You can invite people beyond your block or building to join your network of local contacts.
1) Invite individuals – contacts – Invite friends
2) Create or join a Group. This creates a connection between you and all members of the groups you belong to. By default Groups are private. But, each group can decide how members are included or excluded.
3) Create or join a Neighbor Directory – This creates a connection between you and all the members of the Neighbor Directory – this is intended for close neighbors, but it’s up to you.
Maintain the quality of your network connections; invite people you’d like to trade information with.
GROUPS
What is a group?
A group let’s you organize your membership to include different groups you belong to in the neighborhood – example, playgroups, school parent group, dinner club, book club, etc... . Temporary or permanent, manage the members contact info, schedule activities, and discuss your topics, an easier way to manage your group to be more efficient.
How do I start a Group?
-Go to the main navigation – Groups
-On the left side of the screen – New Group
-Name you Group
-Choose Private or Public – by default Groups are private and new members are added at the discretion of the Group Organizer. Public Groups, believe in more-the-merrier and allow any NeighborPal user join.
-Add members
How do I add members to a Group?
Group Organizers can add members to a Group.
-Go to you Group and select Add member
-Enter their new member’s information. They are added to the member list.
If you provide an email, an email will be sent to the new member.
Can I delete a Group Member?
If you are the Group Organizer, go to your Group.
-Click the Manage Members link on the left side navigation.
-A list of your Group Members appears and the red “x” on the right side of the column next to the member will delete the member.
MESSAGES
Conveniently organized to help you scan for what you want and help everyone in your network do the same.
Can you explain how MESSAGES work?
The Message link on the main navigation bar will get you to the message area.
From here you can create and view messages.
1) Compose a message
2) Select recipient/s of your message - select your Neighbor Directory, Groups (pull-down under recipients) or private message to an individual friend (from their profile page).
3) Post your messages to your network (not the entire world) in a category to help get your message read quickly. Categories include “for sale” (couch for sale), “ask your network”, “free stuff” (TV for pick-up), “local activities” (Girl Scout’s cookie sale), “non-emergency alerts” (lost dog), rants and raves (great service you should use) etc..
Here’s an example,
You need to find a pediatric dentist for the kids; go to messages,
- Compose a message (Can anyone recommend a pediatric dentist?),
- Select who you want to ask (your Neighbor Directory, Group or All YOUR NeighborPal contacts),
- Select a category (Ask a Neighbor),
- Send.
Your question is posted in “Ask your Network”, and if you select Neighbor Directory as Recipient, only the people in your Neighbor Directory will be able to see it and respond.
Who sees my messages?
You can choose who views your message.
When you compose a message, under recipients there’s a pull-down to help you choose who will see the message. Your have 4 options,
1) choose, All you NeighborPal contacts, and everyone in your contact list will see the message – includes your Neighbor Directory, Groups and individual friends.
2) choose, Neighbor Directory, and only members of your Neighbor Directory will view the message.
3) choose a group and only members of the selected group will see the message. Example, if you belong to a playgroup, choose playgroup and only the members of the playgroup will see the message.
4) Compose a Private message to a single user. Go to the recipient’s profile page, select “Send name a message” and only this person will see the message.
How do I post directly to a category?
Message are categorized to help users quickly find relevant info
-Go to Messages from the main navigation bar.
-Find the category you want (“For Sale”, etc.)
-Click the bolded category header.
-Choose your recipient
-Include message
-Send
Select a category whenever you compose a message with the pull-down above the “send” button.
Can I post to everyone in my contact list?
Yes, once you’re in composing message or category, there’s a pull-down to select the recipients you want.