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. Remember if you're already a member then "Sign In" instead of "Sign Up."
2. If your a New member go to the "Sign Up" for your respective Source Center at:
   Ashland Source Center
   Gold Country Source Center (Grass Valley/Nevada City)
   Sedona Source Center
   Cascadian Source Center
   Hawaiian Islands Source Center
   Global Source Center
3. Enter your Email address and Password twice.
4. Enter your Birthdate, type in the Capcha code, then "Sign Up" to create a new account.
5. You can also "Sign Up" and create a new account with Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo or LinkedIn.
6. Enter your Full Name (or the Organization/Business/Brand Name instead).
7. Enter your Gender and Display or Not Display. Required.
8. Enter the Country. Required.
9. Upload your Profile Photo (or the Organization/Business/Brand Logo instead). Required.
10. Complete the Profile Questions and Website/Facebook links at this time, OR do it later under "Settings" if you prefer. Not required for "Sign Up" though highly recommended.
11. Select the "Join" button at the bottom of the page, AND wait for us to approve your free membership.
12. After approval, you can proceed to design your "MyPage" website and social media portal, post events and news, upload photos, embed videos, and begin to connect with our community for the emerging culture.

Beginner's Tip: Record Your Email & Password

• 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 OR Source Center as you'd like providing you have a unique Email Address for each.

Forgot Which Email You Used?

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

Forgot Your Password?

• Go to the "Sign In" for your respective Source Center at:
  Ashland Source Center
  Gold Country Source Center (Grass Valley/Nevada City)
  Sedona Source Center
  Cascadian Source Center
  Hawaiian Islands Source Center
  Global Source Center
• 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.

Completing the Profile Questions

1. Profile Questions are a great way for the SOURCE CENTER and other members to get acquainted with who you are and what you have to offer. This also helps us detect and eliminate spammers from the community. So please answer at least one if not all the Profile Questions.
2. Your Responses to Profile Questions can be seen by anybody visiting your "MyPage."
3. Edit your Profile Questions from your "MyPage" OR within your "Settings" at any time

Our 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.

Changing Your Settings

1. After your "Sign In", you can select "Settings" in the top right corner of the Home Page to Change/Upload your Profile Photo OR Logo, Change Your Email Address and Password, OR Respond/Edit the Profile Questions under "Profile"
2. Change your Privacy settings under "Privacy"
3. Change your Email Notifications under "Email"
4. Change the Website Address (or URL) of your MyPage under "MyPage"
5. Sign In to Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo or LinkedIn under "Connections"
6. Share Content with Facebook or Twitter under "Connections"

Design & Format MyPage Website in the "Text Box"

1. Your MyPage Website & Social Media Portal has Multiple Boxes with "Edit" in the top right corner of the Left and Middle Columns to configure your Website, Events, Blogs, Profile Questions, Photos/Albums, Videos and RSS feeds.
2. Your MyPage Webpage is Designed in the "Text Box" Located near the Bottom of the Middle Column. 
3. You can move the "Text Box" OR move any other box by hovering your mouse over the colored header, click, hold, drag and drop the box anywhere on the Left or Middle column. The Right Column is the "All Page" view and cannot be changed or moved.
4. First, Move All the the Boxes where you'd like on your MyPage in the Left and Middle Columns .
5. Second, go to the "Text Box", then select "Edit". You'll notice the Visual Editor and the HTML Editor Button on the far right. Review the Icons on the Visual Editor by hovering over them.
6. As a suggestion Organize your Content in advance and layout your "Text Box" Webpage in three or four short sections. Use Other Boxes for most of your photos/albums, videos, events, blogs, etc.
7. Third, Insert, Arrange & Format the Content (e.g., text, photos/graphics, alignment, sizing, links) you'd like on your Webpage in the "Text Box" Visual Editor.
8. Add Text. Make Bullet Lists or Blockquotes. Select Text and make Live Links. Format Text with Bold, Italics or Underlines.
9. Select a few Photos or Graphics. Insert your Cursor in the Location Desired, Select the "Image" tool from the Visual Editor. Browse and Select your Photo or Graphic. Then Align Right, Size and Enter a Live Link if desired. Then Upload your Photo or Graphic. You can Edit a Photo or Live Link in the Visual Editor at any time afterwards by hovering and selecting "Edit"
10. For an Email Address, click on the "Link" tool in the Visual Editor, delete the "http://" and enter "mailto:email@address.com"
11. Add Section Headers <h1><h2><h3> or other refinements in HTML Editor.

Beginner's Tip

• Remember to push the "Save" button after all changes, preview and adjust as needed.
• It is best to "Clean" All Text from other Programs (e.g., Microsoft Word) with a Text-Only Editor to strip out any HTML code.
• You can Select and Copy Content directly into the "Text Box" from either the Visual or HTML mode on other websites, blogs, etc. This is an extreme shortcut in building your social media portal.

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.

Posting or Editing a Blog or News Article

1. For your first Blog Post go to the "MyPage" pulldown menu and select "+ Blog". You'll notice a Visual Editor to compose and format your blog with the appropriate icons.
2. A Blog is a short news item, a News Article of general interest (not an advertisement or sales pitch). All blogs are subject to approval by the organizer.
3. Enter a Blog Title with the Author and/or Source credited, Format the Text with bold, italics and underlines, center or right align the text, add bullet lists where desired, add live links or email links from the Visual Editor toolbar.
4. Add and upload images by inserting the cursor where desired, then select the Visual Editor "image" icon, browse and upload the image. You can align the image center or right and set a width for the image when uploading. Note: Full Width = 525 pixels width.
5. Customize the URL if desired.
6. Add tags and privacy settings for your blog.
7. Either "Save as Draft," "Preview" or "Publish Post"
8. To Edit a Blog you've posted, select the title and under the "Options" pull-down menu select "Edit Post".

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.

Posting or Editing an Event

1. For your first Event Posting go to the "MyPage" pulldown menu and select "+ Event".
2. Enter the Event Name, Event Image, Description, Event Type, Start and End times, Location, Website, Phone Number with Email Address and the Organizer Name.
3. 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).
4. Enter an Event Name, not your personal name.
5. Upload an Event Image which will automatically resize itself into a 250 pixel square (so make certain this graphic can be cropped accordingly).
6. Insert the Cursor, then Upload your Full-Size Event Flyer under "Description" with the Visual Editor toolbar (camera icon). Browse and Upload. Note: Event flyers must be in a graphic format such as JPG, GIF or PNG, not a PDF (which is a document not graphic format).
7. Add text and format with bold, italics and underlines from the Visual Editor toolbar under "Description." Note: There is a 4000 character limit in the "Description" box.
   
8. Select any live links or email addresses in the "Description," then push the Visual Editor toolbar "link" and enter the URL.
9. Enter Event Type, Start and End times, Location, Website, Phone Number with Email Address and the Organizer Name.
10. To Edit an existing Event, select the title of the event and under "Options" select "Edit Event."

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

Inviting People & Uploading Your Lists

1. After Posting your Event under the "MyPage" pull-down menu you can Invite People directly to your Event by "Inviting More People" to the left of "Options" pulldown menu.
2. You have multiple options including uploading your own mailing list, selecting who you'd like to invite and a personal message.
3. Utilize All Our Source Centers to promote your Event (e.g., Pacific Northwest, Ashland, Grass Valley/Nevada City, Sedona, Hawaiian Islands, etc.)
   • Global Source Center ~ E-Calendar
   • Global Source Center ~ Event Promotion (application)
   • Global Source Center ~ Advertising (application)
   • Global Source Center ~ Sponsorship (application)
4. Utilize Facebook and other social media to promote your Event.

Effective, Low-Cost Marketing involves Managing Multiple Channels of Communications

1. Rule of Thumb: People often need to see an announcement coming from five or six places to really tune in and take action.
2. Personal Email (free)
3. Broadcast Email (monthly fee)
4. Word-of-Mouth & Referrals (free)
5. Posting Flyers and/or Postcards (low-cost for design, printing and distribution)
6. ICR's Source Center "MyPage" website and "Event" listing (free)
7. Facebook/LinkedIn Pages and Event Listing (free)
8. Facebook and Social Media Advertising Campaigns (for a fee)
9. Traditional Advertising or Sponsorship (for a fee)
10. Posting Your Events on Other Online Calendars (some for free, some for a fee)
11. Event Promotions, Advertising & Sponsorship (for a fee)
12. 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 home page of the website. Please contact us at (800) 640-5947.

Upload Your Photos

1. Select Either the Flash Uploader to Drag & Drop Your Photos OR the Simple Uploader
2. To Upload your first Photo go to the "MyPage" pulldown menu and select "+ Photo".
3. After selecting your Photos, then Title, Describe and Tag photos. Then either select an existing Album or create a new one.  Note: Each photo may be up to 10MB in size in the JPG, GIF and/or PNG graphic formats.
4. To Edit, go to "Photos/MyPhotos," select a Photo title and "Edit Details."
5. Configure viewing Photos on your "MyPage" by selecting the "My Photos" box, Edit and choose from the options given.

Advanced Tip

• Photos can be resized or batched in Photoshop or another program to suggested 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. You can Create a new Album OR Slideshow when you select and Upload Photos for the first time OR you can create an Album afterwards under “MyPage" pull down menu then "+ Album."
2. Create, title and describe the Photo album. Select photos from yours OR everyones photos, drag them 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.

Embed Your Videos

1. For your first Video go to the "MyPage" pulldown menu and select "+ Video".
2. Find the Embed Code on YouTube (under Share), Vimeo, Hulu or another compatible video service.
3. Copy & Paste the Embed Code, Title then select the "Add Video" button.
4. Add Title, Description and Tags.
5. To Edit your Videos go to "MyVideos", select a Video Title and "Edit Video" under "Options"

Advanced Tips

• You can "Get the Embed Code" for any Video on the Source Center "Video" page, 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.

Copyright Notice

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

Upload Music or Audios

1. Go to the "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. Listen 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 New Members & Friends

1. For your first New Member & Friend Invitation go to the "Invite" pulldown menu and "Invite Your Contacts"
2. Select one of seven ways to invite people:
   1) invite your Facebook friends
   2) invite your LinkedIn associates
   3) invite your friends via your Google or Gmail account
   4) invite your friends via Yahoo account
   5) enter email addresses manually OR
   6) upload a .CSV (Excel Spreadsheet) file and select from the list to invite all
3. You can also "Share this Invite Link" in an email to your friends
4. Manage friends under "Members" from the pulldown menu.

Advanced Tips

1. Upload your lists from your Web Address Book: Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail or AOL by exporting the .CSV file and uploading under the "Address Book" icon
2. Uppload your lists from your Address Book: Apple Address Book, Microsoft Outlook, Excel or any .CSV format directly
3. The system will allow you to choose which contacts from your list to invite.

Posting a Free Announcment

• For your first Free Announcment go to the "MyPage" pulldown menu and select "+ Free Announcements"
• Then select one of the following and Post as a Reply to the Respective Announcement:
  (1) General, Community & Business
  (2) Housing Wanted or Offered
  (3) Jobs/Employement Wanted or Offered
  (4) Items for Sale

Creating an 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 automatically post the URL with an available photo icon 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.