We are all being changed by the world around us. The idea for Ripple came about during the months of lockdown due to COVID-19. The need of the hour is to reach out to those around us- beyond traditional connections. Its not just about buying and selling. Its also about bringing the community together on social and safety issues. Everyone has something to offer. Ripple provides a platform for this for you to connect locally or while on the move.
You don't need to join specific groups. Your network is around you. Advertise, buy, sell, ask, recommend, share, alert, reach out or connect socially within your locality.
1. Set your locality range, using live, home, work or parents location.
2. Follow trends, interests or people.
3. Post, specifying local reach.
4. Rate or respond to posts.
5. Earn points and widen your reach.
Lets go through each step in detail.
1. Set your locality range, using live, home, work or parents location
Receive your locality posts in the 'Nearby' tab. Ripple indicates the approximate number of users within a 3 km radius around you. You have the flexibility to decide your locality range, from as near as 50 meters to a max of 3 km radius, which is approximately 28.3 sq. km coverage area. Move the 'location range' slider to immediately change your locality range and filter out posts from outside your locality.
Set a fixed 'home' or 'work' location if you only want to receive posts from that particular area. Set a fixed 'parents' location to remotely access information from the locality of your parents/relatives. Post on their behalf and reach out for assistance or support. Aging parents/relatives are also not always the most tech-savvy. Set 'live location' to receive posts while on the move. Your local circle of influence moves along with you. Discover local trends and interests while on the go. You can immediately switch between live and any fixed location or update your fixed location from the 'Ripple Location' setting.
Each post shows the poster's location type (live, home, work or parents) and their approximate distance from you, at the time of posting. NOTE: Your 'home' locality could be the poster's 'live', 'home', 'work' or 'parents' locality.
2. Follow trends, interests or people.
'Trends' show what is currently trending in your locality. Select 'tags' to filter what posts you will receive. You have the flexibility to turn on or off certain tagged posts based on your interests at that moment. Follow a person to receive their posts in your locality even if you turn off receiving certain tagged posts.
Powerful 'Data Insights' enable users to better understand local needs and interests. Analyze daily, weekly, distance and response trends to leverage the requirements of your locality.
3. Post, specifying local reach.
Post content to your locality from your current 'live location'. If a fixed location like 'home', 'work' or 'parents' was configured, your post will be sent from that location, even if you are currently at a different location. 'Tag' your post to reach others who are interested in that content.
You can specify your post's local reach from as near as 25 meters to a max of 3 km radius. Move the 'location range' slider to select your post's reach. This range can be different for each post. If you wish to change a post's reach you can repost it with the updated reach.
A post can be shared in a locality for max 12 hours, after which it is automatically removed. You can 'pin' a post to share it for a longer duration (30 days). Only one post can be pinned at a time. Ideally local businesses/service providers should 'pin' the post describing the services they provide, along with opening hours and contact information.
You can also choose to remove your post earlier than the allotted 12 hours or 30 days. All your posts, active or removed, can be accessed under 'My Posts' section. Content from 'My Posts' can be edited and reposted.
4. Rate or respond to posts.
Users can 'rate' a post or interaction for the benefit of others in the locality, by clicking on the Ripple icon. Individual post's rating add up to provide a 'profile rating' for the user. Profile details can be seen by clicking on the 'profile rating'. Profile details include the overall users feedback on a users posts and conversations. The stats also show number of followers and users blocking. Click on a post's 'reply' to connect 1-on-1 or on 'group' to discuss in auto-created, short-term groups, based on your interests. The 'Chat' interface is separate which helps de-clutter conversations from the 'Nearby' posts feed. The chat conversations are automatically cleaned up after a few days of inactivity in the 1-on-1 or group chat.
If users need to meet in-person, they can share a meetup 'location' via the chat interface. Buyers and sellers have the flexibility to work out the statistics in case of a transaction. Ripple app provides a platform to connect users locally or on the move.
5. Earn points and widen your reach
You earn points based on positive feedback on your posts and interactions. When the locality puts their trust in you or your services, you can use those brownie points to widen your reach and influence a larger audience. After all, you have earned it.
NOTE: Negative feedback on your posts results in loss of points, which in turn reduces your posts reach.
Click on the reach button to set a wider reach. You can specify your post's wider reach from as near as 5 km to a max of 20 km radius. Move the 'location range' slider to select your post's reach. This range can be different for each post. If you wish to change a post's reach you can repost it with the updated reach. Points are deducted each time you post or repost with a wider reach.
You can also refer and earn points. Invite family and friends to join Ripple. Verify that they have created an account and claim points. Both you and your friend earn points for each successful referral.
Local influencers (commercial or social) play an important role in our social circles. Now influencers have an opportunity to own and manage a brand in a way that is unique. Tags are applied to posts. Ripple offers users an opportunity to create your own custom tag, or "brand".
Brand or custom tag owners/admins can add more admins and members, who are certified team members. The team contributes in building trust and influence in a locality. The feedback (ratings) on individual member's posts with the custom tag add to the overall rating of the tag. This drives the admins/moderators to maintain the quality of team members.
A commercial brand (eg home maintenance services, food/product sellers) can post locally with their trusted tag, where all app users in the locality can receive these posts. Interested app users can communicate with these service providers via 1-on-1 or groups chats linked from the post. The post and the chat indicate that the post was made by a certified member of the tag.
A social community group or local govt representatives can inform the locality about local social and safety initiatives. All app users can also reach out to the locality or certified tag members for concerns and assistance by posting with the tag, provided the non-member is also following the tag (under trends). Each post and chat clearly indicates if the user is a certified member of the tag or not. Knowing that you are talking to a certified member of a trusted tag/brand/group will reassure the user that the interaction is safe and trustworthy.
In case of issues, users can report the issue to admins of the custom tags, to step in and find a resolution. The system of reporting issues also helps maintain the standard of the group and products/services on offer.
If you have a group where you connect/sell products or services, or you run social initiatives, then you can apply for a custom tag and influence your locality as a team. Find out more about the different types of custom tags.
The Ripple Effect
You can do all of the above without having to share personal contact information or without previously having to know anyone in your locality. A 3 km radius is approximately 28.3 sq. km coverage area. In a city like Bangalore with a population density of 12K plus people per sq. km this translates into 350,000 people! So even if a fair percentage of people in a locality install and use the app, it could have a BIG impact.
So what are you waiting for. Download Ripple now. Get connected today!
