Browsers, URL's & PC/Mac

• A browser is a program to access the Internet from your computer (e.g., Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera, Firefox).
• A modern browser is essential for good performance. Use the most current version and keep them updated regularly. Older versions of Internet Explorer are buggy and don't work very well.
• Migrate from Microsoft software and platforms whenever possible as they're not compliant with Web 2.0 standards
• If you're having problems whatsoever upgrade to the most current version of Internet Explorer, or download a modern browser like Safari, Opera, or Firefox. These are all free downloads.
• Firefox is a good browser for getting started with Web 2.0.

URL

• A "URL" is the address of any web destination you enter into your browser bar, then hit "Return"

Macintosh or PC?

• This platform is PC/Macintosh neutral so it doesn't matter if you're using a PC or a Macintosh. We prefer Macintosh because of their ease of use and immunity to viruses.
• Your keyboard and mouse may vary though in function from PC to Macintosh.

Screen Shots

• For example you can take a cropped "screen shot" of any photo or graphic on a Macintosh keyboard with the "Apple+Shift+4" keys combined. Select the area to crop and hit "Return."

SignUp & SignIn, Email & Password

1. Enter your email address and password
2. Enter your birthday, type in the Capcha code, then "Sign Up."
3. Complete the profile questions once prompted
4. Now, you can proceed to create your "MyPage" and begin.

Beginner's Tip:

• Write down the email address and password you're using for each account in a secure location so you don't lose them.
• You may "Sign Up" for as many accounts as you'd like providing you have a unique email address for each.

Forgot Which Email You Used?

• Send the ORGANIZER a message and we can tell you which one you used.

Forgot Your Password?

• Go to "Sign In" at: http://www.ashlandresourcecenter.com/main/authorization/signIn?target=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ashlandresourcecenter.com%2F
• Select "Forgot your password," enter your account email address:  xxxx@youremail.com
  and "Reset Password."
• You will get an email with a link to reset your password.

Profile Questions

1. Profile questions are the best way the ORGANIZER and other members can get acquainted with who you are. It also helps us to detect and eliminate spammers. So please answer at least one profile question.
2. Answers to profile questions can be seen by anybody visiting your "MyPage."
3. Edit your "Profile" questions from your "MyPage" or within your "MySettings" at any time

Advanced Tips

• For those members versed in HTML you can insert CODE into a larger box in the profile (e.g., photo, live links, even embedded media)

Privacy Policy

• The information from your profile questions is not used for any other purpose except directory resource sharing and networking. You can view our privacy policy online.

Settings

1. Once logged in, select "Settings" in the top right corner to upload your personal photo or business logo, or go to "Manage MyPage or Photo" on your "MyPage."
2. Change your Profile, Privacy, Email and Connections
3. Change the URL of your "MyPage"
4. Change your email address and password under Profile
5. Add photos or videos via mobile phone under Profile
6. Edit your "Profile" questions
7. Change your appearance

Design & Format "MyPage" Text Box

1. Your "MyPage" website and social media portal has multiple containers with "Edit" in the top right corner of the middle and left columns on your "MyPage" to configure your text box, RSS feeds, profile, music, photos and videos.
2. Your "MyPage" webpage and social media portal is located in the "Text Box" near the bottom of the middle column. You can move this box to the top of the middle column or move any other container by hovering your mouse over the header, click, hold, drag and drop the container anywhere on the left or middle column.
3. The right column is the "All Page" view and cannot be changed.
4. Select "Edit" from the "Text Box".
5. First locate and insert the text you 'd like on your webpage. Note: It is best to "clean" all text from other programs with a text-only editor to strip out any hidden code.
6. Then copy and paste the desired text, format with bold (B), italic (I) or underline (U) by selecting the appropriate icon on the wiki editor.
7. You can also make a bullet, numbered list or blockquote by selecting the appropriate icon on the wiki editor.
8. You can align the text left, center, right or justified by selecting the text and selecting the appropriate icon on the wiki editor.
9. Select any text or a URL, click on the "link icon" on the wiki editor and enter the address to make it a live link.
10. Select any email address, click on the "link icon" on the wiki editor, delete the "http://" and enter "mailto:email@address.com" to make it a live link.
11. Insert your cursor in the text in the location you want to add a graphic/photo, then click on the "image icon" on the wiki editor, browse and upload your graphic. Before uploading you can align your photo and make the image a live link. Note: See advanced tips for resizing, aligning and embedding media in the HTML mode.

Beginner's Tip

• Remember to push the "Save" button after all changes, preview and adjust as needed.

Advanced Tips

How can I drag and drop a photo to my desktop?

• If you need a photo you can find one anywhere on the Internet (providing you give credit to the source).
• Find the photo, point your cursor, click, hold and drag the image to your desktop. Note: The only images you cannot do this with are database-driven images.

How can I take a screen shot?

• Most computers have programs for taking screen shots of your desktop. This is built-in to the Macintosh.
• Bring up the area of your desktop you want to take a screen shot of.
• From the keyboard, select the "apple+shift+4" keys simultaneously. You'll notice the cursor changes into a cross. Select the area you want to take a screen shot and hit "return". The screen shot will appear on your desktop as a .png file.

Facebook/MySpace Tips

• For Facebook/MySpace users with a bookmarklet installed on your browser, you can "Share to Facebook"  or "Add to MySpace" your "MyPage" and it will automatically post to your Facebook/MySpace profile page.

Blogging

1. A blog is a short news item, an article of general interest (not an advertisement or sales pitch). All blogs are subject to approval by the organizer.
2. For your first blog posting go to the "MyPage" pulldown menu and select "+ Blog". You'll notice a wiki editor to compose and format your blog with the appropriate icons.
3. If you want to edit a blog you've posted, select the title and select "Edit Post" under the "Options" pull-down menu.
4. Enter a blog title with the author or source, format the text with bold, italics and underlines, center or left align the text, add bullet lists where desired, add live links or email links from the wiki editor toolbar.
5. Add and upload images by inserting the cursor where desired, then select the wiki editor "image" icon, browse and upload the image. You can align the image left, center or right and set a width for the image. Note: Full Width = 525 pixels width.
6. Add tags and privacy settings for your blog.
7. Either "Save as Draft" or "Publish"

Beginners Tip

• Tagging is one of the most powerful features of blogging. This is how people will find you and your postings over the Internet. So add as many tags as you'd like separated by a comma.

Copyright Notice

• Respect other authors and copyright holders by always citing the author and source including a website link to the original material.

Facebook Tips

• For Facebook users with a bookmarklet installed on your browser, you can "Share to Facebook" your blogs and it will automatically and seamlessly post to your Facebook profile page like any other webpage.

Event Posting

1. For your first event posting go to the "MyPage" pulldown menu and select "+ Event".
2. If you already have events and want to edit them, select the title of any event you've posted and under "Options" you'll be able to "Edit Event."
3. Use the simple wiki editing toolbar to add "Event Image,""Description," event type, start and end times, location, website, phone number and the name of the organizer.
4. Events can either be public (for all members) or private (for your invited friends only). We suggest most events be public (otherwise they won't show up on the overall calendar).
5. Enter an "Event Name," not your name.
6. Upload an "Event Image" which will automatically resize itself into a square (so make certain this graphic can be cropped).
7. Upload your full-sized event flyer under "Description." Upload images by inserting the cursor, then push the "camera" icon on the wiki editing toolbar, browse and upload. Note: Event flyers must be in a graphic format such as JPG, GIF or PNG, not a PDF.
8. Add text and format with bold, italics and underlines from the wiki editing toolbar under "Description." Note: There is a 4000 character limit in the "Description" box.
   
9. Select any live links or email addresses in the "Description," then push the wiki editing toolbar "link" and enter the URL.
10. Enter event type, start and end times, location, website, phone number and the name of the organizer.

Beginner's Tips

• You can invite people directly to the event posting by "Inviting More People" to the left of "Options." Then you have several options to including uploading your own mailing list and selecting who you'd like to invite.
• You can manage your RSVP and guest list.

Facebook Tip

• For Facebook users with a bookmarklet installed on your browser, you can "Share to Facebook" your events and it will automatically and seamlessly post to your Facebook profile page

Event Promotion & Advertising

1. For your first event posting go to the "MyPage" pulldown menu and select "+ Event".
2. You can invite people directly to the event posting by "Inviting More People" to the left of "Admin Options." Then you have several options to including uploading your own mailing list and selecting who you'd like to invite.
3. Promoting your event  accomplishes three things: (1) You invite more people to the social media network; (2) You promote your event and build a friend list; (3) Other members can promote your event by forwarding to your lists and friends. 

Effective, low-cost marketing and advertising involves managing multiple channels of communications

1. Personal Email (free)
2. Broadcast Email (monthly fee)
3. Word-of-Mouth & Referrals (free)
4. Posting Flyers and/or Postcards (low-cost for design, printing and distribution)
5. ICR's Resource Center "MyPage" website and "Event" listing (free)
6. Facebook/LinkedIn Pages and Event Listing (free)
7. Facebook and Social Media Advertising Campaigns (for a fee)
8. Traditional Advertising or Sponsorship (for a fee)
9. Posting Your Events on Other Online Calendars (some for free, some for a fee)
10. ICR's Advertising & Sponsorship (for a fee)
11. For greater exposure and promotion you can schedule an additional spotlight feature on the weekly broadcast email and/or have your event flyer posted on the website. Please contact us at (800) 640-5947.

People often need to see an announcement coming from five or six places to really tune in and take action.

Photos

1. For your first photo go to the "MyPage" pulldown menu and select "+ Photo".
2. After upload, then title, describe and tag photos and/or select an album. Note: Each photo may be up to 10MB in size in the JPG, GIF and/or PNG file formats.
3. To Edit, go to "Photos/MyPhotos," select a photo title and "Edit Details."
4. Configure viewing photos on your "MyPage" by selecting the the "My Photos" container, Edit and choose from the options given.

Advanced Tip

• Photos can be resized or batched in Photoshop or another program to standard widths of 144, 288 and 525 pixels before uploading.
• You can add photos by phone or email.
• You can add photos from Flickr.

Copyright Notice

• Respect other authors and copyright holders by always citing the author and source including a website link to the original material.

Photo Albums

1. Photos can be configured for an album or slideshow when you first upload the photos OR all your photos can be viewed as a slideshow OR you can create an album afterwards under “MyPage" then "+ Album."
2. Create, title and describe the photo album. Select photos from yours OR everyones photos, drag into the album and save.
3. All photo albums are linked back to your social media network "MyPage" if you embed them on other sites.

Advanced Tip

• You can "Get the Embed Code" fromm any photo album and insert into any "Text Box" or HTML.

Videos

1. For your first video go to the "MyPage" pulldown menu and select "+ Video".
2. Add the embed code, title with description and tags.
3. To Edit your videos go to "MyVideos", select a video title and "Edit Video"
4. Configure viewing videos on your "MyPage" by selecting the the "MyVideos" container, Edit and choose from the options given.

Advanced Tips

• You can "Get the Embed Code" for any video here, share via email or add to a favorites list.
• You can add the embed code by copying and pasting to any "Text Box" or HTML through the simple wiki editor toolbar.
• You can add video by phone or email.
• You can add video from YouTube, Hulu or Vimeo.

Copyright Notice

• Respect other authors and copyright holders by always citing the author and source including a website link to the original material.

Music or Audios

1. Go to "MyMusic" player on your "MyPage," and "+ Music." Note: Upload up to 100 MP3s! Each MP3 file may be up to 20MB.

2. Give the song name, artist, album and upload artwork to spice it up.

3. Configure listening to music on your "MyPage" by selecting the the "MyMusic" container, Edit and choose from the options given.

Copyright Notice

• Please only upload songs you have permission to do so from the artist or copyright holder.

Advanced Tips

• To convert audio CD's into mp3 format the easiest way is to import your music into iTunes or a comparable program.
• Before importing go into the iTunes preferences and change the "Import Settings" to mp3 encoder. Import the CD and it'll be part of your iTunes library.
• Then just drag a song from iTunes to your desktop and upload.
• You can add music from another website by pasting a link from the MP3.

Invite Friends

1. For your first friend invitation go to the "Invite" pulldown menu and "Invite Your Contacts".
2. Select one of three ways to invite people: (1) enter email addresses manually; (2) import from an address book application; or (3) share this invite link.
3. Add a short message and select which emails you'd like to invite
4. Manage friends under "Partners" from the pulldown menu.

Advanced Tips

1. Upload your lists from your Web Address Book: Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail or AOL
2. Uppload your lists from your Address Book Application: Microsoft Outlook, Apple Address Book, Excel or any .CSV format directly
3. The system will allow you to choose which contacts from your list to invite.

Discussion or Forum

• For your first discussion go to the "MyPage" pulldown menu and select "+ Announcements", "+ Jobs/Employment," "+ Housing/Rentals" or "+ Items for Sale".
• Add a title, topic, tags and upload files if you'd like with the simple wiki editor toolbar.

RSS Feeds

1. RSS means "really simple syndication"
2. An RSS feed is an automatically generated content source that propagates live on your "MyPage."
3. Each "MyPage" has one RSS feed in the left column. You can insert any RSS feed in this box
4. Configure placing an RSS Feed on your "MyPage" by selecting the the "RSS container, Edit and choose from the options given.
5. Enter title, URL of RSS feed, display and number of items then save.

Advanced Tips

1. When you see the orange icon on the right on any webpage on the Internet, you can copy the link location or URL (with the right click on the mouse) and paste it into the RSS box in the left column of your "MyPage." For example: You can go to a media source, such as the New York Times, and copy any RSS feed and paste it on your "MyPage"
2. Open a free account on "www.delicious.com", then begin bookmarking and tagging great websites, links and other articles of interest on the Internet. Then each tag or bundle of tags can become a unique RSS feed for your "MyPage."
3. Select any tag or bundle of tags, then copy and paste the RSS feed link location or URL (at bottom left of your "MyDelicious" page) into the RSS box (at bottom left of your "MyPage").
4. This RSS feed will now go live to your "MyPage." http://feeds.delicious.com/v2/rss/icresource/imdb-film

Share on Facebook

1. For the easiest and fastest posting on Facebook or MySpace "Profile" page, go to any web page, or URL,  click either the "Share on Facebook" bookmarklet, or "Add to MySpace" bookmarklet from your browser toolbar. This will post the URL with a photo icon (if one is available) to your Profile page, or in the case of "MySpace" the post will be to your blog. You must have installed the "bookmarket" for this shortcut.
2. Then in the pop-up window, follow instructions, select a photo icon, "Post to Profile," or "Send a Message."
3. You can post any blogs under the "Blogs" menu tab, then "Post to Profile."
4. For Facebook "Like" or "Group" pages you can post by entering the URL of any web page directly.

Beginners Tips

• On Facebook find the "Share on Facebook" bookmarklet at: http://www.facebook.com/share_options.php 
• On MySpace find the "Add to MySpace" bookmarklet at: http://www.mitchelaneous.com/2008/03/13/add-to-myspace-bookmarklet
• For bookmarking on Delicious find the "Bookmark on Delicious" and "MyDelicious" bookmarklet at: http://delicious.com/help/bookmarklets
• These are the shortcuts for posting to Facebook/MySpace, or bookmarking any URL on Delicious

Caveat

•  There's a Facebook limit on certain activities such as posting on walls (@40 in two hours) within a certain time frame. If you exceed certain limits they may block or cancel your account.