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Creating Your Bead Store Profile
If you are a bead store that is just signing up and are unsure about how to create a profile for your store - this is a quickie tutorial to get you started.
To add your store - you can do a number of things. First off - if you have a small graphic you can use for your store logo - you can add that as your profile picture (similar to how mine is the graphic for BLN). Try to make sure it is square - because Ning will automatically make it square so if it's not - it will have a warped look or get partially cut off - so it's best to start with a square before you upload it.
Then click on 'My Page' (look for it in the menu items across the top of screen just below the banner that says 'Bead Lovers Network'). You should see either a '+ Add Text' or 'Edit' box on that page. Click on one or the other and it will allow you to type in a description of your store and information like store hours, address, etc.
Then look for 'Photos' in the left margin. If you're new to uploading pics - skip the Java (orange) thing and choose 'Return to our simple uploader' and then add some pictures of your store (maybe outside storefront and inside store photos). Once you upload the pictures - you have the option of adding captions if you'd like.
All of this is optional and can be done one step at a time - try one thing at a time and you can do it over the course of multiple visits - it doesn't have to all be done in one sitting if it seems like a big task.
Once you get comfortable with the site, you can add 'Events' like upcoming classes or sales (look for 'Events' in upper menu) and you can create a group - such as a regional group to attract 'friends' near your store or if you have a specific expertise such as polymer clay beads or whatever your interest - you can create a group.
If you have an email mailing list of your customers - you can 'invite' them (look in upper right margin) to join and if they do using the invite they will automatically be in your 'friend' list so you can send them a store newsletter using the site. If they find the site on their own or if you just include the site address (http://beadloversnetwork.ning.com) in a newsletter or flyer, you will want to tell them to look for your profile and click '+Add as a Friend' to become your online friend so you can include them in emails about store news.
There are many more things you can do with the site to promote your store - but hopefully that will get you started. :) Let me know if you have questions as you work on your page.
To add your store - you can do a number of things. First off - if you have a small graphic you can use for your store logo - you can add that as your profile picture (similar to how mine is the graphic for BLN). Try to make sure it is square - because Ning will automatically make it square so if it's not - it will have a warped look or get partially cut off - so it's best to start with a square before you upload it.
Then click on 'My Page' (look for it in the menu items across the top of screen just below the banner that says 'Bead Lovers Network'). You should see either a '+ Add Text' or 'Edit' box on that page. Click on one or the other and it will allow you to type in a description of your store and information like store hours, address, etc.
Then look for 'Photos' in the left margin. If you're new to uploading pics - skip the Java (orange) thing and choose 'Return to our simple uploader' and then add some pictures of your store (maybe outside storefront and inside store photos). Once you upload the pictures - you have the option of adding captions if you'd like.
All of this is optional and can be done one step at a time - try one thing at a time and you can do it over the course of multiple visits - it doesn't have to all be done in one sitting if it seems like a big task.
Once you get comfortable with the site, you can add 'Events' like upcoming classes or sales (look for 'Events' in upper menu) and you can create a group - such as a regional group to attract 'friends' near your store or if you have a specific expertise such as polymer clay beads or whatever your interest - you can create a group.
If you have an email mailing list of your customers - you can 'invite' them (look in upper right margin) to join and if they do using the invite they will automatically be in your 'friend' list so you can send them a store newsletter using the site. If they find the site on their own or if you just include the site address (http://beadloversnetwork.ning.com) in a newsletter or flyer, you will want to tell them to look for your profile and click '+Add as a Friend' to become your online friend so you can include them in emails about store news.
There are many more things you can do with the site to promote your store - but hopefully that will get you started. :) Let me know if you have questions as you work on your page.
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