Help Out the New Guy: What Would You Like to See on Marion Patch?

Hello Marionettes! Marioners! Marionians?! It's time for another edition of Help the New Guy. This week I am asking for input on what you want to see on the site from now on.

But first, that's another question to ask: what is the proper singular and plural term for a citizen from Marion?

For example, I, Stephen Schmidt, am a Solonite, hailing originally from the land of the Solon Spartans. Please don't hold it against me if your high school lost to Solon sometime in the past in a sporting event of some kind. I assure you I had nothing to do with it.

Back to the question at hand. I attended a Marion Main Street meeting last week, and one thing that people mentioned caught my ear: Although Marion is a vibrant and growing community, there is seemingly no single source for all the different groups in Marion to use to publicize their events and issues and come together on the Internet.

I would like Marion Patch to eventually become that source.

Now you can help me out by uploading your own events and announcements and photos using the instructions below. But beyond that, I would like to know what sorts of things you want to see on the site every week from me and my fellow reporters. Do you want previews of events? Crime coverage? Local human interest stories? News on school board or city government?

In short, what would you like to see more of?

Let me know what you'd like to see by e-mailing me at stephen.schmidt@patch.com or by leaving a comment below, and I will endeavor to get more of what you want on the site. Thanks much!

Upload instructions: You can influence the content on Marion Patch by providing your own to the mix. The very best way to upload items onto the site now is to post it, photo included if you have one, and then just send me the URL for that event -- I will ensure that it is featured on Patch, and that of surrounding towns' Patches if it's a regional event, as well as in our daily electronic Newsletter, which has more than a thousand subscribers.

To post, all you need to do is:

1. If you haven't already, create an account on Marion Patch by clicking here
2. Three ways to post:
   
   1. Click here to create a new Event if you would like it in the community calendar.
   2. Click here to create a new Announcement, which may be more appropriate for information, such as letting people know about a birthday, obituary, award, a new hire, or a press release.
   3. Click here to create a Blog. If you plan to post frequently, it may make sense to start a blog under your name or the name of your organization. Blogs tend to get the most notice on the site, and it can help you build familiarity with our audience. 
   4. Make sure to add photos where it says "Choose file to upload"
   5. Once you click "Post" at the bottom, you will come to the page that features your post. ... Just send me the URL.
   6. Share the link with your colleagues, family or friends through the Facebook, Twitter or email portals connected to the post, or copy the URL and send it out how you see fit.