It's getting really old seeing the same questions being asked over and over. In the upper right hand corner is a dialogue box with "search Art Fair Insiders." Before you post the same question for the 100th time, do a search. You will find more posts on your subject than you have time to read.
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Hmmm. I find the search engine to be luke warm. Just now in the search box i typed--recent blogs by Nels Johnson--search pulled up one, only one, from a gazillion yeats ago. I rephrased the question three different ways and got ka-ka. What gives? If I ask for a recent blog, why doesn't one come up say, that I just did on New years Eve. That's all I am saying folks.
The easiest way to find blog posts by a specific member is to do a member search. Go to the members page, where posts are listed chronologically. The member search is separate from the content search. Go to the "Members" link in the main navigation bar at the top, and click the tab. On the Members page, there is an advanced search that will find specific members.
I am ALL for searching for info on a topic first. AND...I agree with Larry that there is value in posting a question even if it's been asked before.
* The answers to some questions (like what tent to buy) stay "fresh" for a long time because there isn't a lot of new product development. So a search for "tent" or "Trimline" will pull up lots of 2 year old data that's still useful.
* On the other hand, if your question relates to credit card processing or Internet technology where there are rapid-fire advancements and new stuff all the time, a two-year-old comment is likely to be 'way out of date and not terribly useful.
The problem for newbies is: As newbies, they won't necessarily know how to interpret the "freshness" of the comment. So I'd recommend: Search first. Read. And then, re-post your question if you're not satisfied or still want more information.
And posters: Do remember to tag your posts. And include multiple-word tags between quotation marks (for example: "credit card processing") .
However, when you SEARCH for a tag in the search window, DON'T include quotation marks. Just enter the text:
credit card processing
If you include the quotes in your search window entry, the engine won't return the results you're looking for.
Pretty funny, Barry. We are just adding this to the welcome letter we send to new members. I was pretty surprised the other day when someone asked about Howard Alan. Geoff Coe sent to the search box and put in Howard's name -- pulling up a whole lot of information, all in one place. Who knew?
Another tip, to aid search when you add a post or a discussion please fill in the box right below where it says "tags." For example, if your post is about credit card information, put this in the tag space: "credit card information". If you look at the tags for Barry's discussion here you'll see ten "tags" or words. If he had written it like this: "art fairs", "credit card information", "merchant services" it would make it much more searchable.
There you got two lessons today.
Thanks, sorry my bad, only saw this now. Thanks for the advice, sure Barry gave a grumply sigh when i asked a question that's been asked a 100 times over im sure:) Will use that lil button from now on to search:)
Actually I'm going to disagree. For every question asked, there are many new people thinking the same thing but haven't asked (or searched) yet. So even though it may have been asked a hundred times before, your question is probably shared with a hundred new people. And if it's a question I don't want to answer, I just ignore it.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Hi Larry, i just went to your website, halleluya, feel like i found gold in a haystack. I'd love for you to fix up my pics for zapp. Until what time can i call you tonight or would you rather me call you tomorrow. Let me know please. I havent applied to any spring shows and i need to get a move on fast. I just realised today that one of my best shows of last year has now also joined zapp and i had a little panic attack....By the way, my husband is from Pittsburgh (Bethal Park)....so gotta say this still loooove our STEELERS....danggg Tebow!! We go to Pittsburgh almost every 4th of July and most likely will go again this year, so I might come see you up there if i need new shots taken, but for now need my old shots fixed up and make them "prettttyyyy". Get back with me, thanks Larry!
Call me anytime. I turn off the phone when I go to sleep. I'm usually up until at least 11:00.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100