How To Create Main Page Updates - A Tutorial

[Running With Scissors]

This tutorial will show you exactly how to complete an update that is adequate for the main page. This has been created to help not only the budding bloggers out there, but to aid the Bandaids staff in their blogging. If you have any questions or problems regarding anything I am about to explain, feel free to pm Andrew(aep89), jeffrey17 or myself.


Before you start

Before you begin to read, it is important to know that an average/above average standard of English grammer and spelling is one of the most important skills needed in update writing. And even if your English is acceptable, your update may still be edited. It's not a stab at you, it's just something we may need to do to maintain a certain style in the news writing. But don't worry, this will be covered in more detail later on.

Step 1: Finding Some News

• The first question you must ask yourself before deciding on what topic to write about is: What do Avril fans want to read about? One of the main reasons most updates compiled by regular bandaiders never make it to the main page is because they are simply unsuitable. For example, try to steer clear of writing update after update about new photoshoots, paparazzi pics, or whatever.

This may sound obvious, but it is important to only compile updates which concern Avril Lavigne/Avril Bandaids directly. You may think I'm just patronising you, but you'd be surprised that some people seem to overlook this, e.g. most of us don't want to read an update which is solely about an Avril Lavigne lookalike, a cover artist, Evan Taubenfeld's new album, etc. However, you CAN work these in if they are directly related to something concerning Avril herself.

• Negative News - It's a no-no.

This is also pretty obvious, but it must be said. In updating the site, we, as a fansite, are also promoting the goddess that is Avril Lavigne! Positvity is of the upmost importance here. Try to adopt the "Always look on the brightside" approach


Step 2: Style of Writing

• Keep it detailed, yet light-hearted.

While the main pretence of actually writing an update is to inform, throwing in a (clean) joke or two is always appreciated. Again, ensure it's pro Avril. On the flip-side, blatantly insulting other artists is definitely the wrong approach to adopt. Still, supporting friendly comptetition is fine, e.g. "It's time Avril got her own back on .....", etc.

Keep your sentences short and to the point.

Apart from this, we're not too hard bent on how exactly we want you to write your updates. There's a LOT of room to breathe, believe me.

Step 3: Formatting your update

• Create a hyperlink.

To make a hyper link, simply go to the 1st page of the thread the news has been posted in and copy the URL from the search bar at the top of the page.

Come back to your update (having a second window open to write your update is wise, as it allows you to insert a link from said thread without losing your update) and highlight the text you want to insert a link into.

Click the icon circled here:



You should then see the following:



Remove the http//: that is already there, and paste in your copied url. Then click "ok". Do not change the type.

• Insert the hyperlink into a suitable place

Instead of simply inserting a link into the word "here", e.g, Go here to find out more!", link the thread to a phrase or statement, eg. "Go here to congratulate Avril on winning 4 grammys!".This way, the reader will know exactly where they are being sent to.


*Try not to link to our competitors - i.e. if Alavigne.com.br posts a link to new photos on their site in the media forum, wait until they get posted in Bandaids' Gallery before updating about them.

As a standard, all hyperlinks are in bold.


Step 4: Inserting an icon

You will find a huge selection of icons at:

www.avrilbandaids.com/iconography

When you have selected the icon you think is most relevant to the update(if you are unable to find a relevant one, one of the pictures of Avril will suffice), copy the url from the top of the page and do the following:

Simply tag the url with [*imgl]insert complete url here[/imgl] (the "l" in the [img] tags ensures that the picture will appear in the top left hand corner, and the text will surround it).

*Remove the star ("*") I have placed into the code to enable it to work.

Then, copy and paste this complete code into the beginning of the update, before all of the text.

If this confuses you, you can also upload a relevent icon to photobucket/imageshack etc. and paste the [img] code into the update in the same way.

NOTE: This part is alternative. If you are unable to/don't want to do this, the staff will insert a suitable icon before approving the update for the main page.

Step 5: Think of a title

The final part of your update is to think of a suitable title. Try to make it catchy, i.e. grammer is not very important here. Some change around words, quote song lyrics, etc for a humerous/interesting effect. Your main aim for a title is to ensure that the reader will want to read more.

Where possible, try to include "Avril Lavigne" rather than just "Avril". Writing her full name will aid in search engine optimization.

Finally...

Not every update you submit is guaranteed to make it to the main page. It may have been previously posted, or it's content may be unsuitable, etc.

Remember, as an incentive to keep Avril Bandaids up to date, you will recieve 1000 bandaidsbux for each and every update you submit!

There's nothing left to say except GET BLOGGING!