Learning The Ropes

Hey everyone!  Thanks for signing up for the new community site.  Here are a few tips to help with some of the questions you may have getting started.

Uploading content:  To upload pictures or videos simply go to the add content tab at the top of the page.  there you will find a pop down menu.  Then select what you want to add (blog, video, or image).  For video, it will first have to be uploaded to youtube or Google Video.  This site does not have the storage capacity to hold everyones videos.  Once it is on youtube simply copy the share link into the "video source" field.  Add a title, description, and any tags you would like and hit the "save" button at the botom.

For photos you will choose the image tab from the pop down menu.  Here you can select "choose" or "browse" button to find the picture you want on your computer.  Add a title, description, and any tags you want and click the "save" button at the bottom.

Blogs:  Go to the "add content" pop down at the top of the page and click on the blog button.  There you can add a blog with pictures.  To add the pictures it is the same way you did in the image tab only at the bottom of your blog.  Under "insert an image"  click the "choose" button and select the picture you want to add.  Then click the "upload" button.  After you are done with your blog hit "save" at the bottom.

You can subscribe to blogs as well.  When reading someone's blog, at the bottom of the page there is an option to subscribe to "this post" or subscribe to "posts by (user name)."  This will send you an notice when ever some one has commented on an individual post (this post) or when ever the user you subscribed to posts something new or has a comment.

Profile Info:  Once you sign in go to the "my account" button next to you profile pic at the top.  Just above the word "Chatter"  you will see "edit"  There you can add all of your personal profile info like profile pic, location, favorites, etc.  Once you have done all of that click the "save" button.

Chatter:  Chatter is similar to Twitter.  You get 140 characters to say what is on your mind.  Simply type your message in the "chatter box" at the top left of the screen and hit "submit"

Direct Messaging:  If you want to chat with another member outside of the public chatter time line use a direct message.  At the top next to your profile pic, click on the "message" button.  There you can sort by "all messages", "write new message", or "sent messages".  To write a new one click "write a new message".  Simply type in the user name you want to direct message (it will search and auto-fill for you if you only know part of the name).  Enter a subject and a message and the hit "send message."  

If someone has direct messaged you you can simply reply to that message.

Message Boards:  Create different topics and threads for everyone to talk about.  Go to the "Forum" tab at the top right.  It works just like a normal message board.

Friends:  To add members to you "friends" list  you must click the green plus sign next to their picture.  This will send them an email that you have done so.  Then, if they want to be your "friend," all they have to do is long on and click the green plus sign next to your picture and you will be added into each others "friends" list.

If you click on the "My Friends" button at the top next to your profile pic you will see a list of all of your "friends"  there.  You can send them a message and see some personal info on them.

Find Members: Click on the "find members tab at the top with the pop down menus and there you can select certain fields to search for members.  This works great to be able to find people in your area to maybe be able to meet up and connect a little more personally.

Finding Content:  To search and view other people's content they have uploaded to this site, go to the "find content" pop down menu at the top of the page.  There you can select from "blogs", "video", "images", or "chatter."  Select what you are looking for.

Each one will bring up the most recent.  But you can sort through by most recent, highest rated, most viewed, or most discussed at the top of that page.

At any time you can also type in key words to the "search" field at the top of the page just under the pop down menus.  This will only work if people put "tags" in when they upload content. 

Social Networking Link:  If you use Twitter or Facebook you can use this site to update your status on those sites.  Go to the "my account" tab next to your profile pic.  Then click "edit" (just like you did when setting up your personal info).  There you will see a tab for "facebook connect" and "twitter accounts."  Just fill in the info for those accounts and it should link you right up.

I hope this helps some of you out with getting around this new site.  Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.  We will do our best to answer them for you.  Once everyone gets used to this I think it is going to really further the community experience here.

Thanks!
Paul