Introducing Community Blogs!


Kat

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The Community Blog module allows you (if the board administrator has given you permission) to create a personal BLOG (also known as weblog).

Go to the Blogs

Creating a Blog

In your User Control Panel (My Controls), you will see a Community Blog menu group. To create a Blog click on Blog Settings. When authorized you can create your Blog by agreeing to the Blog Terms and Rules. You will be asked to provide a name for your Blog and a description (optional). You are able to choose between a local and external Blog.

Local Blog: A Blog hosted on the board which includes all features to create entries, comments, content blocks, etc.

Link to external Blog: A link to a Blog which is hosted elsewhere.

When you click 'Finish' your Blog will be created.

Blog settings

When you have an active Blog, there will be more settings available in the User Control Panel.

Your Blog Settings: Here you can setup your Blog, Customize the look of your Blog and create entry categories.

Content Block Settings: From this screen you can manage your content blocks (the little blocks of information that are displayed on the left or right side of your Blog page).

About Me Settings: From this screen you can enter information which will be displayed on your Blog's About Me screen.

Community Blog List

When clicking on the 'Blogs' link on the links bar you will be taken to the Community Blog list page. This page displays all available Blogs with some information about them. Both external and internal Blogs are shown. The screen also includes some search and filter options. Clicking on a Blog's name will take you to that Blog.

Adding entries to your Blog (local Blogs only)

When you go to your Blog you have a special content block called 'Your Blog Options'. This contains links to manage your Blog. Click on Add Entry to add an entry to your Blog. You will be provided with a post form, including all the options you are used to when posting a topic in Invision Power Board. You can post the entry as Draft (not yet viewable by other members/guests) or Published (viewable by all who are allowed to view your Blog).

Adding comments to Entries

When clicking on a Blog entry name or the comments link of an entry, you will be taken to the entry view page. This page contains a quick reply form, or you can click on the Add Comment button to be able to add a comment to the Blog entry.

Happy bloggin'

Kat

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Just a few words about the new Blog feature on Objectivist Living.

1. Get your existing blog listed. If you currently have a blog, please take a few moments to have it added to the OL blog page by going into "My Controls" and setting up a blog. It is just basically creating a name and short description and then providing the url of your current blog. This is a great way to promote your blog and drive traffic directly to your site.

2. Get blogging! If you want to try blogging and would like OL to host your blog, set up a new blog. Again, go to "My Controls" and follow the instructions for setting up a blog. If you get an error message and need permissions set in order to do this, please send me a personal message asking to be put in the bloggers group. It is a great way to keep all of your writing in one place, even when you are discussing topics in different threads (or anywhere on the internet for that matter) it is nice to be able to link from your own little space.

House Rules

Bloggers cannot be anonymous and should be established members of Objectivist Living (have at least two dollar signs under their name), or receive a special invitation from us. If you are not registered under your own name, please provide your full name in your profile and let the site owners know by personal message so you can open your blog.

Bloggers are expected to follow our basic posting guidelines. The same rules of civility to other OL members apply to blogs. Think of your blog as a guest suite in our house.

Bloggers are responsible for maintaining and moderating their own blogs. Although OL has a wonderful automatic backup system through our host, Invision Power, further backups are recommended. As with any long posts, it is always a best practice to keep a file of your writing on your hard drive. Opinions expressed in blogs are those of the person writing and are not necessarily endorsed by OL.

Kat & Michael

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