Community Corner

How Can I Use Salem Patch to My Advantage?

Have a questions about using Salem Patch? Find everything you need to know here about Salem's online gathering space.

Each day, we receive dozens of inquiries from readers interested in sharing their stories, news and events with Salem Patch.

Salem Patch is your place to get the news, but it's also your place to share news too.

With so much going on in Salem and so many daily requests, we can never get to everything. That said, we want to make sure everyone has a voice. In order to do this and to make your life ridiculously easier, we're helping you learn how to use the site to your advantage so that you can contribute your own content with satisfying and instant results.

If you provide us with the content, we have more time to highlight it and spread the word across town. We promise, once you get the hang of sharing on our site, you might never want to stop.

So, if you've ever asked yourself How Can I Use Salem Patch to my Advantage? Check out our tips below. If you don't find your answer, feel free to email aubry@patch.com.

Actions I Can Perform On Patch


A. I Want Patch News in My Email Box

  1.  Click this link and let us know how and what news you wanted delivered to your inbox.


B. I Want to Comment on a Story

Find out what's happening in Salemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  1.  Join the Patch community by clicking on this link.
  2. Once you've joined, and you are signed in, click on the story of your choice. Write your comment in the white "Leave a Comment" text box, and then hit "submit." Be sure you are following our Acceptable Use Policy or your comments may be removed, and you may risk suspension from the site.


C. I Want to Post an Event

  1. Join the Patch community by clicking on this link or may sure you are signed in.
  2. Add your event by clicking this link.


D. I Want to Post an Announcement

Find out what's happening in Salemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  1. Join the Patch community by clicking on this link or may sure you are signed in.
  2. Add your announcement by clicking this link


E. I Want to Add a Photo or Video to a Patch Story

  1. Join the Patch community by clicking on this link or may sure you are signed in.
  2. Click on the story to which you want to add media. There will be a button at the top of the story or under the images in a story that says "Upload Photos and Videos" in green lettering.
  3. Click on the button and select the image or images you wish to upload. Your name will be provided as the credit of the media you upload. Make sure you are the owner or have permission to use the images you share with us on in the site.


F. I Want to Blog on Patch

  1. Make sure you are a member of the Patch community.
  2. Contact Editor Aubry Bracco with your name, Salem connection and topic you wish to write about.
  3. After Aubry approves your request to blog, you will receive an email with information on blogging.
  4. Go to salem.patch.com and log in. 
  5. At the top of the page you should see a button that says "Blog Central." Be sure you've filled out your biography and added a photograph first. To create your first post, click "Write a New Blog Post." Once you are finished, hit submit. You should receive an email when your post has been reviewed and is posted on the site.


G. I Want to Claim My Business Listing on Patch

  1. Your business or organizations listing on Patch is totally free. Advantages include — sharing your business events with the community, increasing your visibility on Google searches, adding your own photos to customize your business listing and your own personal space on the internet (think of it as your own mini website!) Further, all events and announcements posted for your business or organization will show up on your listing page.
  2. Watch the video attached to this article for complete instructions.


H. I Want to Advertise


Please contact Salem Patch's ad manager Huntley Rainville at Huntley.Rainville@patch.com. She's incredible helpful, super-friendly and able to answer any question you may have.

Which Options Best Fit My Needs When Using Patch?

Different people in the community have different needs when it comes to letting Salemites know what they're up to. This section will help you think creatively and direct you to the functions on the site that will best suit your needs as a Patch user.


I Am a Business Owner

If you are a business owner, make sure you have claimed your listing. (see G. above).

If there is a food special or a special sale you would like to share with the community, you may post it as an announcement (see D. above).

On occasions where your business is hosting an event such as live music or a social gathering you may post your event (see C. above). Please note — advertisements including specials and promotions are advertising and are not permitted in our events section.

The more announcements and events you post, the more active your listing page that you have claimed will be.


I Am Part of a Nonprofit

Make sure the appropriate person at your organization has claimed your listing. (see G. above).

If you are part of a nonprofit, you may want to consider blogging (see F. above). You can share events, solicit community input and let us know what you're up to in text and words.

You may also post events (see C. above) and announcements (see D. above).


I Am a Real Estate Agent

We receive numerous emails from real estate agents and agencies interested in listing homes on Salem Patch.

If you're interested in getting the word out about a rental or open house, you are in luck. On Tuesdays at noon we run our section Rent It! On Fridays at 1 p.m. we run our section House Hunt.

To add a home to Rent It! — Sign into Patch after noon on Tuesdays, locate the Rent It! article for the week, and upload homes you are interested in renting (see E. above). Be sure to write the description of the rental, including the price and contact information to the caption of the photo.

To Add a Home to House Hunt — Sign into Patch before noon on Thursdays and add your open house to our calendar (see C. above) OR sign into Patch after 1 p.m. on Fridays, locate the House Hunt article for the week, and upload homes you are interested in showcasing as open houses (see E. above). Be sure to write the description of the open house, including the price of the home, time of the open house and realtor contact information in the caption of the photo.


I Am a Parent, Teacher or PTO Member

We are very interested in school news, but we need your help to make sure we can keep up on everything going on.

Blogging is the best way to provide content we can highlight on the site whether it's on recent achievements, stuff the kiddos are studying or an upcoming event you would to draw attention to. See F. above for blogging information. On blogs you can provide text and photos to share your school news with us..

You can also add an event to the calendar (see C. above) to get the word out on school events.


I Want to Contribute Sports News

Blogging is the best way to share sports news and achievements on the site. See F. above for blogging information. On blogs you can provide text and photos to share your athletic prowess with us.

You can also add sporting events, including games and tryouts to our calendar (see C. above).


I Have a Cool, Random Photo I Want to Share

Make sure you're a Patch user by joining the community. Click our Neighborhood Gallery and upload your photo.


I Want to Share my Thoughts on Salem or I want to Write About Salem

Apply to be a blogger on Salem Patch (See F. above). Our bloggers range from people interested in chicken wings, to music lovers and a nonprofit that works to help animals. If you are a Salemite or you are writing about Salem without an advertising agenda, anything goes.

Blogs can be short or long. They can include photos or just be text. You can write once a year or you can write once each day. It's up to you.


I Want to Let People Know About my Yard Sale

Post your yard sale as an event (see C. above).


Other Information
:

To Connect on Twitter:  Follow us @SalemPatch

To Connect on Facebook: Like us at Salem Patch

To get questions that are not answered here: Email Editor Aubry Bracco for editorial issues. Email Ad Manager Huntley Rainville for advertising questions.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here