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SETTING UP ARTICLES FOR COMMUNITY SITES

An article is a type of content or you could call it a webpage that has a section for making comments, it also has a Location setting that will place the address on a map with a link back to the page you created.

This is where the marker will show up if you placed it in the proper place   http://metroecho.com/at/ga/carrollton/map/node# 

First you need pictures... I went into Carrollton one afternoon and stopped at almost every business on the way and snapped a picture, I then walked around the square taking pictures then headed back also taking pictures. ( you want your photos to be of a low resolution).  I have put up maybe 25% of the pictures I took. I still have the rest of Bankhed into town, stores around the square and businesses as I returned on the Carrollton Villa Rica Hwy.

Then upload the pictures to your computer into a folder by themselves.  Now you should have all the pictures you took in order of when they were taken and will follow the path you took when taking the pictures.  Start with the first picture and open it in paint. There you can look to see if you like how your picture looks,  you can select what you like of the picture and "crop" it.  It will most likely have the name of the business of street address visible ...  I use this as a new name for the picture file and change the name in "save as".  

Now you have a picture ready to upload to an Article.

Next you will want to get more information about the business so Google search the name you gave your picture ... like "All About Animals Veterinary Services"  Carrollton Georgia  when you find the info you are looking for mainly the address and something about the business. Just copy that information to put into the Article you are creating.

You will need to have editing permissions to do the following. 

To make your first article you go to the upper left and click where it says "Add content"  and select "Article"  

There give it a name or Title, with the format  "name ", "address"

Select the proper fields in "Directory" and "Streets"    ... if you need me to add new ones tell me these are called Taxonomy  and can be configured any way you wish, it simply will catalogs the page.  

In the Body section paste the information you chopped earlier.

Below the body you will see "Location " click and you will see fields that need to be filled in for it to show up on the map.

When done click save and the page should now show up as a marker on the map with a link to the page. 

Now if you were any other business then you can use this for marketing. Call the location you just created and tell them who you represent, and that  you are building a site for this community and have included them. It is a free site for the purpose of stimulating business activity. That you would like to give them permission to make comments on the page in the event they would like to improve it. 

If you have an email for them...

"I found this email on the web for you, and will set up an account for you with it as your email so that you may comment on your ad to make any additions or corrections."

If you don't have an email...

"I would like to give you permission to make comments on your page in the event you would like to make changes and improve it... what is your email"

You may ask them if they have a website, if they don't and decide to get a website from us you make $100.00... in any event if they get a website later you make $100.00 because you made the Article for them. Also if there is income generated by this website you receive a portion that is proportionate with the amount of articles and participation you have done.

At this moment it is good to tell them about yourself and the product that you may be marketing... say you have a barbershop, are selling Avon, or looking for Ron Paul Supporters.

Then you say thank you, make friends with them, we are here to help and build community!  

You can make notes about the call on the comment (in code) or on the user page field that is there for you. These notes will help remind you of the last conversation you had with them. So, when you call them back in a few months to see how they are doing, and to tell them some more about your business or a special you are offering you will have a reference.

There is much more that can be done with this data. But for now you have your first article posted.