|
The following provides a brief overview of key elements and popular features for newly registered members and those who are considering joining Trees of PA. We offer suggestions for getting an easier and more effective start with the following (Note: You must be in full article view for the internal links to work. Click on "read more" or this article's title for the full article view)
For a more detailed description of using Trees of PA for your Organization or Business, visit Trees of PA for Businesses and Organizations.
Registration
You can register from most of the main features in Trees of Pennsylvania. The process is short and easy. We encourage you to provide extra information about yourself, but only the bare minimum is necessary. The extra details can make the Community feature more interesting for all registered users. It can be nice to look up registered users from your current area or your hometown. Other information that may lead to a conncection includes education and details about yourself. Many users look for fellow alums, and others like to find individuals with similar experiences or those who might have the expertise to advise them.
Don't forget to activate your account after completing the registration. An email will be automatically sent to your account after registering, and you have to click on the included link.
Blog
The blogging options with Tree of Pennsylvania will be a great resource for many of our registered users. However, it may be a bit confusing for those just starting.
The blogging component we use provides for multiple bloggers (that is, every registered user can post). Although you do not technically have your own blog, you might think of it as having a blog within the Trees of PA Blog.
Clicking on the "Blog" tab under "Current Topics" in the main menu bar, you will be taken to the main blog. Here you will see every post from every user, with the most recent appearing at the top of the page. You will also have access to the Blog Menu Bar if you are registered and logged in.
The Blog Menu Bar
- Home: This will return you to the main blog page from anywhere within the blogging component
- Tags: Tags provide a way to categorize blog posts. I do not currently have permissions set for users to create their own tags, although you can still use the ones provided. If we have too many tags created, they will lose their effectiveness. Please email me know if additional tags are needed.
- Search: Options include to search by keywords, tags, or blogger.
- Feed: This provides you with opportunity to subscribe to the blog's feed
- My Account: Choosing this option creates a secondary menu bar with the options: My Entries (a list of your posts), Preferences (you can name your blog and provide a description for it), Statistics (for your blog only), and Comments (comments on your posts)
- Write New Entry: This is where you write your post.
Link to Your Blog Posts
You also have the option of arriving at a page that shows your blogs posts. When you link to this page, you have effectively arrived at your personal blog (within the Trees of PA Blog). Although it seems strange to me that a menu link is not provided for this option within the blog, there are two methods available to accomplish it:
- Enter the following URL in the address bar after replacing "user" with your user name: http://treesofpa.com/current-topics/blog/blogger/user/. You can copy and paste this into the menu bar, but don't forget to first replace "user" with your Trees of PA user name.
- From the Community Feature, you can use that menu bar to access your blog. On the Community page, you will find the "Blog" as the last option on the Community Menu Bar. There you will have the choice of linking to your blog, as well as links to write a post and go to the main blog page.
Blogging can provide our users with many options. I encourage registered users to post their news releases in the blog, but that is only the beginning for blogging on Trees of PA!
Business & Organization Directory
We would like to include every relevant business and organization that provides products or service in Pennsylania.
List a business in the Trees of PA Directory
- Register. Click here to register on the Directory page
- Log in. Click here to log in on the Directory Page
- Click "Submit New Item In - Tree Business / Organization Directory" and you will be taken to the submission form.
Please
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
with any problems in completing the registration process. I would also be glad to hear about any suggestions you have for improving the directory, including additional categories that you would like us to add.
Trees of Pennsylvania Community
We provide an exceptional online community experience and hope that you will join the fun. Of course, it is not even primarily about fun. The community provides an excellent tool for asking questions, providing information, and sharing experiences. Here are some options that you may want to consider:
- Upload an avatar: Although having an avatar is not essential, let's face it, the little green guy doesn't do much for your profile. If you didn't upload an avator when you registered, you can return to it at anytime. You can also change your avatar. The steps are the same and include: From the Community Menu Bar select Profile > Change Profile Picture > Browse > select your image file > Upload.
- Join and Start Groups: I think it's all about the groups! This is where you find other users who are living in the same area or looking for information on common topics. If you don't find a Group that meets your need, it's no problem! All registered users can start groups at any time. To review the current groups, Start with the Community Menu Bar, Applications > Groups > All Groups, My Groups, or Search. When you click on the group you will have the option of joining, unless it is private. Once a group member, you can start discussions, upload photos and photo albums, upload or link to videos, and post comments on the wall.
- Invite a Friend: If you enjoy your experience and see the potential for the future of Trees of Pennsyvlania, we encourage you to invite others to join. We have made the process easy. From the Community Menu, Friends > Invite Friends. After adding email addresses and any message you would like to include, simply hit "send invite" and your invitation is sent automatically.
- Please note: you can also invite friends to join a group. This is a little different than inviting others who are not yet part of Trees of PA. The option to invite friends to join your group is for those who are already registered members who have become your friends in the community (when viewing another member's profile, you have the option of "add as friend." When the registered user accepts your invitation, you are now more closely connected and have addtional shortcuts available to you.
Forum
The Trees of PA Forum provides the opportunity to submit questions and comments regarding this website and on trees, forests, and related topics.Click here to visit the Forum main page.
Request Forum Category
If you don't find a category that fits for your area of inquiry, please let us know. We can add a forum category to better meet your needs. Click here to make your request.
Submit an Article
There are two processes that will bring you to the form to submit an article. The two direct paths include:
- Click "Submit an Article" under the menu tab "Current Topics" on the main menu.
- When logged in, you will see the User Menu on most pages. It also includes the link, "Submit an Article"
Please Note: Your article is not automatically posted on Trees of PA. It will be reviewed for relevance and then, in most cases, it will be published. Add any credits for sources, including how you would like to be listed, prior to the actual article.
|
