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Frequently Asked
Questions
Here are common queries we get here
at Great Doings.
Click on a question to jump to the answer.
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GENERAL
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What is ‘Great Doings’? |
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Great Doings is Chicago’s most informed guide to charity, culture & cocktails. We are a popular special event web site whose primary focus is on charitable fundraisers and special events. In fact, we feature more charity events than any other site in Chicago. Additionally, we also cover other unique social options taking place around town. And we try to make our write-ups as snarky as humanly possible. Why? Because a little irreverence never hurt anyone and we think you should be entertained while reading about entertainment.
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Is there a cost to use your site? |
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No. Great Doings is FREE to use for the general public. What can we say? We are givers.
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SUBMISSIONS
How do I submit an upcoming event for publication on your site and in your newsletter?
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If you want to submit an upcoming event to be included on our event calendar, click here.
We ask that you submit your event as early as possible, even if you are still finalizing details.
We have no formal deadline, but suggest letting know at least 3 weeks in advance, as we get pretty busy.
The sooner you let us know, the more likely it will be considered for inclusion on our site.
We can always update information for you and will even set up a password for you to do it yourself, if you like.
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How do I submit a venue to be listed on your site?
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If you own or are associated with a bar, restaurant, hotel or other venue that would appeal to our audience,
submit your information by clicking here. Be sure to include
as much requested information as possible, write in the 'third-person', and leave contact information for us
to follow up with you. If you take advantage of our service to post drink specials, please make an effort to
update us whenever the special is discontinued or changed.
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How do I submit an organization to be listed on your site?
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If you represent a charity, club or other organization that touches the lives of Chicago’s young professional community,
tell us about your group by clicking here. Be sure to include as much
requested information as possible, write in the 'third-person', and leave contact information for us to follow up with you.
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Is there a cost associated with posting on your site?
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Postings on Great Doings are FREE-of-charge.
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Under what circumstances would Great Doings refuse to post a submission?
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Great Doings reserves the right to refuse to post a submission for any reason
at its sole and absolute discretion. That being said, we realize people have varied
social tastes. As such, we have a fairly liberal editorial policy. Examples of items
we refuse to post include fraudulent organizations; organizations or events associated
with hate, racism, or violence; organizations and venues with a reputation for poorly-run
events or bad customer service; adult entertainment organizations and venues; submissions
containing vulgarity or obscene references; or submissions with incomplete or
unverifiable information.
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E-NEWSLETTER
AND OTHER GREAT DOINGS E-MAIL
How do I sign up to receive your weekly E-Newsletter?
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If you want our award-winning E-Newsletter, you need to register for a Great Doings account. It is quick, easy and FREE
(reminds us of some of our ex’s… although they certainly didn’t end up being free).
To sign up now (why wait?), click here.
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What sorts of/how much e-mail should I expect once I sign up?
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Great Doings typically generates 3 branded e-mails: our weekly E-Newsletter
(Great Doings To Do List); e-blasts about specific upcoming events (Save the Date);
and e-mails with discounts and other special offers from local businesses for our subscribers
(And Now A Word For Our Sponsor). We try to limit our e-mail traffic to no more than 3 per
week, and often times it amounts to less than that. All e-mails will come directly from us and we
will not share your e-mail address with any third party without your permission.
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How do I submit an upcoming event?
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If you want to submit an upcoming event to be included on our event calendar,
click here. We ask that you submit your
event as early as possible, even if you are still finalizing details. We have no formal
deadline, but suggest letting us know at least 3 weeks in advance. The sooner you tell
us abut your event, the more likely it will be considered for inclusion on our site.
We can always update information for you and will even set up a password for you to do
it yourself, if you like.
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Can my company advertise in your E-Newsletter and other e-mails?
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Sure. Great Doings is fortunate to enjoy a great deal of corporate
support, but we are always eager to discuss expanding our sponsor base.
Our online marketing options offer you a very cost-effective
way to reach a extremely desirable demographic.
To learn more about advertising with Great Doings,
click here.
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PRIVACY CONCERNS
If I give you my e-mail address or other personally identifiable information, can I expect an avalanche of unwanted spam?
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No. We safeguard our e-mail list like it is a matter of national security.
As a matter of policy, we never share your information with third parties
without your express permission.
If for some reason we request such permission (certain
contests or giveaways might require it, for instance), the procedure for giving
permission will be clear as day and you will have no doubt in your mind that
you just gave it.
For more information on how we use your personally identifiable
information, see our Privacy Policy.
If you believe we have misused your information in any way, please contact us.
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PHOTO GALLERY
How did my picture get in your photo gallery?
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If your photo is in our photo gallery, you agreed to have your picture
taken by one of our photographers at a recent event. We gave you a card
with a web address where you can find your photo. If you like it, feel
free to download it, print a copy or e-mail it to friends.
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Can I download, print or e-mail pictures from your gallery?
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Absolutely. That’s what it is there for. You can download, print or
e-mail photos to your little heart’s desire. They don’t even have to be
yours. We just ask that you respect our copyright rights and not use the
photos for commercial purposes.
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How can I get my picture removed from your gallery?
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Before taking your picture, our photographers make every effort to obtain your permission, and explain what the photo(s) are
being used for. Still, you might might have forgot that we spoke with you beforehand, or worse yet, see it and think it is the goofiest picture you ever took. No worries in either case.
If you want your photo removed from our
online gallery, submit a [not implemented yet]
form and we will take it down within 5 business days. If your photo has been
posted for over 10 business days, we reserve the right to use it for promotional
materials describing our site and services.
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How much does it cost to have your photographers come to my venue or event?
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There is no cost. However, we have a limited amount of photographers at our disposal
(with even less camera equipment… don’t ask), so
be sure to book an appointment now.
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PARTY PLANNER
What is the Great Doings Party Planner?
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The Great Doings Party Planner is Chicago’s best way to plan events.
No longer will you be a slave to the phone as you toil away for hours
or days to book a venue and get rates to throw your next event.
Party Planner allows you to create an online form that describes your event to dozens of bars, restaurants, hotels, caterers and other special
event vendors, all Party Planner sponsors, who can then contact you to help you plan the perfect event.
It is FREE to use. To start planning your next event using the Great Doings Party Planner, click here.
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CONTESTS AND GIVEAWAYS
How do I enter your contests and giveaways?
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You must be a Great Doings subscriber to qualify. Click here to register.
During the registration process, you’ll create a unique password that is needed
to log onto our site. You must be logged on to use enter our contests and giveaways.
Registration is quick, easy and FREE. For your trouble, you’ll get our award-winning weekly newsletter, Save-the-Date reminders
and special discounts from our many sponsors. Such a deal, huh?
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ARTICLES
Can I distribute articles that I find on your site?
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[It depends on the article, but generally, yes. However, you must obtain our written permission first.
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ADVERTISING
Can my company advertise on the Great Doings web site and in your weekly E-Newsletter?
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Only if you Want to advertise to thousands of well-educated Chicago-area youg professionals who have active social lives and high disposable income. Whether you are advertising a venue, product or service, spending your marketing dollars with Great Doings can yield an impressive ROI.
Contact us to discuss
how we can assist you with your business goals. Our marketing options offer a very cost-effective way to reach a very
desirable demographic. To learn more about advertising with Great Doings,
click here.
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What are your rates?
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Consistent with our ongoing efforts to deliver value to our clientele,
our rates are can vary, depending on what kind of business you have,
what your marketing goals are and what sort(s) of advertising options
you want to take advantage of. As such, we do not publish a standard
rate sheet. You’ll find that approach is fairly consistent in the
online advertising community. If you are interested in advertising
with Great Doings, please Contact Us
and we’ll be happy to prepare a personalized proposal that suits your wants and needs.
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EMPLOYMENT
I want to work for Great Doings. How can I make that happen?
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We are always looking for talented
writers, editors, graphic designers, advertising salespeople and public relations professionals. Many of our positions are either volunteer opportunities or unpaid
internships, but we try to give you experience that is a little more useful
than fetching coffee or answering phones at a front desk. Some positions, like sales, are compensated. Others, like public relations professionals or graphic artists can offer pay depending on our needs at the time.
If you are
interested in a writing or editorial position, contact us to set up an
interview. Be sure to forward your resume, a cover letter and samples
of your work prior to meeting with us. Successful applicants will see
their work published to over 150,000 people a month and get FREE tickets
to events around town, all for the relatively small price of putting up
with us.
If you are a graphic designer, sales or public relations professional, forward the aforementioned items and we’ll keep them on
file. We have a file cabinet that we use for just that sort of thing.
You never know: if one of our current contractors is
unexpectedly kidnapped by aliens, deported or has to serve time, we might be caling you sooner than you think.
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