What is a story on Zinola?

On Zinola, a story is a review of a local business, written first-hand by a neighbor who used it. It isn't a photo or video that disappears after a day, like stories on Instagram or WhatsApp. A story stays up, signed with the writer's name and area, so the next person can decide who to call.

What a story has in it

• A star rating from 1 to 5.
• What happened, in the writer's own words: what the job was, what it cost, how it went.
• Optional extras: up to 10 photos, six detailed ratings, “What stood out?” chips and the date of the visit.
• The business it's about, with a link to its page.

The business owner can add one public reply under it. Neighbors can react, comment, give it a shout-out, save it and share it.

Where you'll see stories

• On a business page, under Stories.
• On your Home feed, where reviews from your area and from people you follow show up.
• On the website, under Stories in the header. You can browse by trade and search for a business or a word.

The rules that make stories useful

• One story per business. If you write again, it updates your story rather than adding a second one. After 90 days you can share a new experience, and your old one stays visible underneath it.
• Signed by default. Your name and area show, unless you choose to post anonymously.
• Nobody can pay to have a story taken down or moved up.

Ready to write one? See Write a review. To understand the labels on a story, see What review badges mean.