Having problems accessing our premium content or questions about the different options and rates? Here some answers to frequent questions.
What’s the difference between the Basic, Premium and Pro plans?
Basic is our option for those who “just” want access to premium content on PlaceBrandObserver.com. It is for individual use only.
Premium includes access to premium content, priority support, and a light version of our information scout and matchmaking services. For individuals only.
Pro offers the same benefits as Premium, but is for businesses and organizations.
Why should I subscribe?
As the person in charge of developing, managing or marketing your city, region, destination or country, your job will be much easier with access to the latest research insights, thinking and shared experience of leading professionals.
For an overview of your benefits as subscriber, click here.
How can I subscribe?
Depends on which plan you are interested in. To subscribe to our Basic Plan, click here. For our Premium and Pro Plans, please email us or use our contact form.
I’ve purchased access. How do I deactivate the paywall?
We use a paywall software called TinyPass (also known as Piano), which manages access to our premium content. If you have purchased access to premium content, followed the instructions in the welcome email and are still asked to pay when trying to access a premium content article, please click on the “Already purchased” link and log in with your TinyPass account.
If you are still having trouble, please visit this page and log into your TinyPass account. You should see a library of the content you have purchased.
Who or what is TinyPass?
Our paywall provider is ‘Piano Software’ (formerly called TinyPass – you’ll likely come across both names). The same software is used by magazines such as The Economist and SKIFT, who – like us – want to have the subscription process handled professionally and securely. TinyPass (or Piano) does that.
I forgot my TinyPass login information
When you subscribed you should have received an email from TinyPass with your login info. Search back through your email (just do a search for “TinyPass”) and find that email containing your login information. You can also go to the TinyPass website here, enter your email, and use their “I forgot my password” retrieval system.
Why are some articles freely available, and others not?
Free access interviews are usually part of a special series, which have been facilitated or sponsored by a third-party. Those interviews will be acknowledged as such. Our “normal” interviews – those based on peer nomination – are generally part of our premium content.
We offer our interviewees the option to make their interview freely accessible, i.e. to remove the paywall. This is entirely voluntary and to the benefit of both you as reader and the interviewees, who can present their ideas or experience to a larger audience.
Tip: We usually keep new articles freely accessible for 7 days, before the paywall activates.
How do I pay for my Basic, Premium or Pro plan?
To keep things simple, we will bill you annually. Once the 12 month period is over, you will be able to renew your plan (it does not renew automatically). We might from time to time offer shorter, “trial” periods. You’d pay for those through TinyPass, just like the Basic (annual) plan.
Premium and Pro plan subscriptions are billed separately, and paid via bank transference or PayPal – depending on what works best in each situation.
Do you offer discounts?
Not usually. We might offer discounts to our newsletter subscribers or Facebook and LinkedIn followers. Keep an eye on our newsletter and our Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook profiles to be among the first to know about discounts.
What if I don’t have the money to subscribe?
If you are a student or academic short on cash but would like to get access, then please send us an email with details on your specific work/project, together with a letter of reference from your supervisor, course leader or head of department. We might be able to arrange free access for you for the duration of your research project (conditions apply, please get in touch).
Our rates, while competitively priced for professionals in developed countries, might be too much for you if you live and work in a developing country. If this is the case, please email us and tell us why you think you’d qualify for a discount on our Basic Plan, and how you will use access to our premium content to help your community.
How do I contact you if I encounter a problem?
If you have issues accessing our premium content, you can get technical help directly via your TinyPass dashboard. Alternatively, tell us about your problem here.