FAQ
Q. Why should I become a BearShare Ambassador?
A. When you sign up for BearShare, you can spread the word about great things happening at Brown with just one mouse click or screen tap. Each time you share content you will earn points, which will unlock rewards and grant you entry into contests for Brown prizes.
Q. How am I helping Brown by using BearShare?
A. By sharing content, you boost the profile of our University and help keep friends and alumni updated on what’s happening at Brown.
Q. How often will I hear from BearShare?
A. You’ll usually get weekly emails from BearShare with opportunities to share content and earn points. You may get additional time-sensitive emails from BearShare during special events or when we have big news to share!
Q. Do I have to connect all my social media accounts in order to participate?
A. Nope! You can use any combination you would like. Of course, the more social networks you connect to, the more opportunities you will have to earn points!
Q. How do I earn points?
A. You earn points by sharing content and generating traffic. The more people take action (like, retweet, etc.) on content you share on your linked social networks, the more points you rack up! Additionally, you can earn points for recruiting your friends to join the program, liking or following certain Brown social media accounts, and taking other actions. Click “How To Earn Points” at bearshare.brown.edu to see all of the ways to earn points.
Q. What kind of prizes can I win by using BearShare?
A. We’re glad you asked! We’re offering some great prizes for BearShare’s launch. If you earn 200 points, you’ll receive an invitation to the Brown Annual Fund Hospitality Suite during Reunion Weekend and Family & Alumni Fall Weekend. If you earn 500 points, you’ll receive a thank you call from a Brown University student. Additionally, two sweepstakes winners will receive a Brown University gift pack filled with Brown swag!
Q. Why does BearShare want permission to post on my behalf? Will it post without my knowledge?
A. The choice of what to share is ALWAYS up to you. Nothing will be shared without you taking an action, such as clicking a button that says “Share post.” Permission is requested in order to let YOU make that post with just one click, rather than manually going to your account and copying/pasting the content. (The only exception would be if you link your Twitter account and choose to allow auto-sharing of posts.)
Q. Can I share posts through a Facebook page I manage, rather than my personal account?
A. Yes! When you are signing up, you’ll have the option to post as yourself OR as a page you manage. Note: you can only post as one page. (If you already signed up with your personal account and want to change to a page, visit “My Account” to un-link your personal account and select a Facebook page you manage.)
Q. Why does BearShare ask for data about my Facebook friends?
A. BearShare is not interested in who your friends are; the reason it asks is in order to know how many connections you have, in order to track the potential and actual “reach” you have, and to track how many of your contacts saw or liked your BearShare post. BearShare uses this information to award points based on your shared content’s performance.
Q. How do mentions using keywords work?
A. Mentions work by looking for a specified keyword in your text. Write your own tweet or status update using the keyword to earn points. You can write these posts through your BearShare account under the "Earn More Points" tab, or you can write them through your personal Twitter and Facebook accounts. You must use the current keyword at least once in order to earn points.
Q. How many times can I use the mentions feature?
A. You may write as many tweets and status updates using the keyword as you'd like, but you will only receive points for one mention per network per day on Twitter.
For additional questions, please contact BearShare@brown.edu