FAQs
Okikoo : 
Okikoo for Internet users
Okikoo allows:
- search of information on companies, professionals and individuals(see FAQs Search engine),
- addresses to be located on road and satellite maps,
- itineraries to be calculated
- the points of interest in a region to be discovered
- comments to be left in the form of a rating or review for any listed business (see Ratings & Reviews FAQs)

Okikoo for businesses and professionals
Okikoo allows:
- the content of an entry to be amended online without charge (see FAQs Changes/Additions)
- Keywords to be added to an entry so that it can be found more easily (see FAQs Keywords)
- a Priority to be added to an entry so that it appears at the top of the results list (see FAQs Priorities)
- up to five Multimedia fields to be added to an inscription to promote the products/services of a business (see FAQs Multimedia)
- advertising banners to be purchased (see FAQs Banners)
Search engine : 
An entry contains an error
Our database is updated:
- every week for businesses and professionals
- every month for individuals.
Businesses can modify and add information to their entry by clicking on the

icon. With the exception of fields containing name and address (see FAQs Changes/Additions)

Missing entry
At the moment, it is not possible to add missing entries.

Description of icons
On the general results screen:
- More details

- Locate the address on a map

- Send entry by e-mail

- Print entry

- Change and/or add information

- Add Multimedia or Priority fields

- Access Ratings & Reviews area

From the entry details page (more icons):
- Calculate a route

- Access railway timetables (CFF)

- Vcard
Modifications/Additions : 
What are Modifications/Additions?
A business can modify its entry if it contains incorrect information. It can also add additional information. Modifications/Additions can be made directly by the user, online and free of charge.

How much does it cost?
It’s free.

What information can be modified?
The information listed below can be modified or added if the field is empty:
- telephone no.
- fax no.
- e-mail address
- website
- manager’s name
- members of the Board of Directors
- legal format
- year of incorporation
- share capital (nominal, paid-up)
- auditors

What information cannot be changed?
Details of the business name and address cannot be changed.

How do I access the Changes/Additions area?
1. Look for your business
2. Click on
3. Enter the changes

What is the validation code?
Once the modifications have been made, a validation code is sent to the business's address by post. This code must be entered for the modifications to be accepted by the system.
Please note: The code must be entered within 10 days of the entry being changed by the business. Modifications/Additions will not take effect after this deadline.

When do changes go online?
The entry is automatically updated after the validation code has been entered in the system.

Queries not covered by the FAQs
The "Feedback" link at the bottom of each page allows any other questions on Modifications/Additions to be sent by e-mail.
Priorities : 
What is a Priority?
A business that wishes to appear at the top of a search results list can buy a Priority. This depends on the economic and community category chosen by the business. A Priority can be purchased for several categories and/or communities. The priority level (1, 2 or 3) defines the position in the results list.
For example, a restaurant may choose to appear in first position in the results list for the communes of Lausanne, Morges and Yverdon when a search is made for this category in one of these communities.

How much does it cost?
All prices are listed in the "Services/Prices" menu.

Can a business buy more than one Priority?
Yes. A business can buy Priorities for as many communities and/or categories as it wishes.
For example, a decorating business may want a Priority in the communes in which it is most active.

Are Priorities valid for several different branches of the same business?
No. A Priority is only valid for a specific branch. The advertiser must repeat the purchase procedure for another branch if another Priority is desired.

How long does a Priority last?
Priorities are reserved for quarterly periods up to a maximum of five quarters. They may be renewed at the end of the contract, depending on availability.

How do I find the right economic category?
Simply type in part of your business's economic category to view the list of options. For example, if you type in "post" (in full or even only partially), the option "post offices" is displayed. Then just click to confirm the category.

When is a business entry displayed by using the Priority?
When a user carries out a search including the economic category and community that has been defined by a business, this business is prioritised in the results list.

When does the Priority become effective?
If a Priority has been bought for the current quarter, it will be displayed as soon as the purchase has been verified. Otherwise the Priority goes online on the first day of the selected quarter.

Can a Priority be changed/cancelled?
No. Once it has been bought, a Priority cannot be changed or cancelled.

Is it possible to buy a Priority for the current quarter?
Yes. The price is calculated pro rata to the days left in the quarter.

The economic category does not appear in the list displayed.
Our list is based on the economic categories defined by NOGA codes (General Nomenclature of Economic Activities). This classifies Swiss businesses and establishments depending on their economic activity.
If the desired heading does not appear, you should choose the closest category from the list available.

Queries not covered by the FAQs
The "Feedback" link at the bottom of each page allows any other questions on Priorities to be sent by e-mail.
Keywords : 
What is a Keyword?
This is a word that can be linked to a business so that its activities can be accurately described. It increases the business's chances of appearing in the results for a search carried out by Keyword.

How do I chose Keywords?
Keywords must be chosen carefully and logically. You have to consider what words will be typed into the search box by a user looking for a specific business.
For example: a hotel that has both a restaurant and a spa can use both of these as Keywords. If a user types "spa" into the search engine, the hotel's name will appear in the results list.
The Keywords are inserted in the Changes/Additions menu.

How much does it cost?
The first five Keywords are free.

Can I define a display Priority for a Keyword?
No, businesses that have defined the same Keyword will be displayed in the search results in alphabetical order.

Queries not covered by the FAQs
The "Feedback" link at the bottom of each page allows any other questions on Keywords to be sent by e-mail.
Multimedia : 
What is a Multimedia field?
Multimedia fields are advertising media available in five categories:
- Text
- Logo/animated text
- Photo
- Slideshow
- Video
Any fields bought are displayed alongside the business's entry in the results page of a search.
These fields make use of "User Generated Content" and can be put online in a simple, autonomous way. The fields can be changed or replaced at any time.

How much does it cost?
All prices are listed in the "Services/Prices" menu.

Does buying Multimedia fields influence the result classification?
Yes. Buying one or more Multimedia fields automatically means a display higher up the results list. Businesses that have bought Priorities are always in the first positions (1, 2 and 3). Next are those who have bought Multimedia fields, classified by the number of fields bought, in alphabetical order.

How do I add a Multimedia field?
Just find your business and then click on the

icon to access the purchasing area. New advertisers are registered after the desired fields have been created and validated.
Extra Multimedia fields can be bought, or existing fields changed, either by clicking the

icon or using the "Advertisers" menu at the top of the screen.

The company has several branches. Do the Multimedia fields appear in all their entries?
No. Multimedia fields are only displayed for the selected entry. If you want to add fields to the branch, you have to repeat the field purchase procedure at the time of registration or through the business's account.

How long does a field last?
Multimedia fields may be purchased for 1, 2 or 3 years.

What are the accepted formats for videos and photos?
Technical information
| Field |
Format |
Min. size (pixels) |
Max. size (pixels) |
Alternative size |
Max. file size |
| Photo |
.jpg, .png, .gif |
L:327 x H:245 |
L:2593 x H:1944 |
|
5MB |
| Video |
.mpg,.mpeg,.avi,
.mov,.wmv,.flv,.mp4,
.asf,.mpe,.asx |
|
L:320 x H:240 (GVGA) |
L:352 x H:288 (CIF)
L:176 x H:144(QCIF)
L:160 x H:120 |
|

Can Multimedia fields be changed?
Absolutely. They can be changed as desired at any time through the "advertisers" menu. There is a "change" link underneath every field that has been bought.

Can Multimedia fields be adapted to the user's language?
No, it is not possible to display fields in several languages.
Ratings & Reviews : 
What is a Rating?
A rating is a grade given to a business by a user for the quality of its products or services. A star system is used:
1* = Avoid
2* = Satisfactory
3* = Good
4* = Very good
5* = Excellent

What is a Review?
A Review is a comment written by a user on the quality of the business's goods or services. A review is a maximum of 320 characters.

Who can be reviewed?
All businesses and professionals in the database.

How do I read the Ratings & Reviews?
The Ratings & Reviews can be consulted by all site users by clicking on the stars icon on the simple and detailed views of an entry.

How do I contribute a Rating or Review?
To make a Rating or Review, a user has to login using his/her registered e-mail address and password. A Review contains a maximum of 320 characters and must be accompanied by a Rating to be valid.

How do I set up an account?
A profile can easily be created from the Ratings & Reviews page.

What are the thumbs up/thumbs down images above the Reviews?
A user can indicate agreement or disagreement with a Review by clicking on a thumb pointing up or down. The number in brackets shows how many opinions have been recorded in each case.

How often can a user leave a Rating & Review?
A user can leave a Rating or Review as often as he or she likes for different entries.
A further Rating or Review can only be left for the same business after a certain period (one week)

Communication of information to businesses
A business that receives a Review is informed by e-mail, if this contact information is included in the entry.

Content of Reviews
Each user is responsible for the content of his/her Review. The Review must be objective and must not have content that is extremist or political or that lacks common decency or propriety.

Indicating abuse
All users can indicate that they consider a Review to be abusive because of its content. If an abuse is indicated five times, an e-mail is sent to the Okikoo management to allow them to take appropriate measures.

Queries not covered by the FAQs
The "Feedback" link at the bottom of each page allows any other questions on Ratings & Reviews to be sent by e-mail.
Banners : 
What is a Banner?
A Banner is an advertising space that Okikoo makes available to anyone wishing to promote their products/services on the site.

Where is the Banner positioned?
The Banner appears at the top of the screen on the Home Page and on results pages, depending on the option selected.

How much does it cost?
Banners can be bought for a month at a time. The prices vary depending on whether the advertiser wants to appear on the home page or on other pages. For more information, see the "Services/Prices" menu.

What size is a Banner?
468x60 pixels.

How many times do Banners appear?
Banners appear on pages at random. There are a maximum of 12 advertisers per month.

How do I buy a Banner?
Phone the Okikoo advertising department on 0848 00 1819.