Sector API Frequently Asked Questions
Basics
How do I use the Sector platform?
Sector is an API that’s can be integrated into any application where demographic, . If you’re a developer, you should glance at the FAQ, check out the example code, and you should be ready to roll in no time flat. If you’re not a developer, you’re going to need a developer. Sorry.
What’s an API?
An API is an interface that allows one application to communicate with another application. These interfaces allow developers integrate information and capabilities from other tools, as needed, into their own applications. As an example, if you have a web or mobile application, it only takes a few lines of code to hook your application up the Sector API and get instant insights about your users.
What kind of data can I get from the API?
The Sector API provides local information about your users. There is environmental information that describes their climate and weather, information on local political leanings, and demographic information that describes levels of education and income, measures race/ethnicity and more. The reference contains all the details on our currently available datasets.
If you asked that question with your programmer hat on, I’ll answer it thusly: the Sector API is a simple JSON API. The actual results are strings, and we enumerate the possible results from each query.
Why do I want that?
The most common reason is so segment your customer, so you can provide them with content and offers that make sense. Retailers don’t want to push warm cold weather gear to Arizonans. Politicians might want to emphasize different aspects of their platform depending on the prevailing partisanship of an area. This type of personalization is made painless with Sector.
How accurate is that information?
This depends on what you know about your customer. If you have their coordinates (such as from a mobile app, or a geocoded address), we can provide details down to their local neighborhood. If all you have is an IP, we can’t be quite as precise, but we can usually identify the state, congressional district and the area of the county that they’re in. In major cities, we can usually narrow it down to a specific neighborhood.
Does Sector cover the entire globe?
Not at the moment. While we have fun experimenting with global data we’re concentrating on the United States at this time.
What’s JSON?
JSON is a really simple, light-weight, and widely supported way to serialize data and share it with external applications. Here’s Wikpedia’s JavaScript Object Notation article if you want details.
Is Sector fast?
Yes. We aim to answer every query within 50 milliseconds and usually answer in far less than that, specifically so Sector can be integrated into performance-critical applications.
Authentication / Rate Limiting
How do I obtain my API keys?
If you’re a new user, just sign up and your API keys will be available immediately after you sign in, on your account dashboard. There’s no credit card required to sign up, and right now, the Sector Standard account receives 10,000 free requests per month, for life.
Do Sector’s API keys expire?
No. Your API keys are valid until you choose to reset them from your account dashboard.
What happens if I reset my API keys?
Your old keys will be deactivated and will no longer have access to your Sector account.
Can I have more than one set of API keys?
Not at the moment. If enough of you ask for this we’ll consider it.
What is the rate limit on the Sector API?
We currently allow roughly 1,000 requests per second.
Usage
How can I monitor my usage?
Your 30-day usage is featured prominently on your account dashboard.
How will I be charged?
If you have a Sector Premium account, you’ll be charged $5 per month plus $0.20 for every 1,000 requests you make above your first 35,000 requests. This will be charged on a monthly basis.
If you have a free Sector Standard account, you will not be charged. It’s a free, no credit card required account.
How do I change my billing information?
Sign in to your Sector account, and click on your plan. This will take you to a page that lets you securely update your billing information.
How do I upgrade to a Premium account?
If you’re a Sector Standard user, there’s an ‘upgrade’ link underneath the description of your plan. Follow that and get upgraded instantly.
How do I downgrade to a Standard account?
If you’re a Sector Premium user, you have a ‘downgrade’ link underneath the description of your plan. Follow that link and we’ll cancel your Premium service effective the end of the billing period.
Misc
I want to partner with Sector; how do I contact business development?
Send a detailed proposal to bizdev@getsector.com.