Chapter 1 - Getting Started

Users Guide

SoNET Powered Websites

Introduction

Thank You for using this SoNET Powered Website. By now you have figured out that your new website is all about providing you the most bang for your buck, so lets get into all the good things you can do with it. First off, you can upload Pictures, Video's and even Mp3 files so others can not only read what you have to say but see and hear it too. Your new site can even have its own members and allow you to build your fan club or email list and send messages to all your members. You can change whether it is public or private as well as change how it looks in just a few seconds without losing any of your information. In addition to that you can add, edit, spell-check and customize all the text on your website in multiple languages. You can insert pictures into your front page text, write a Blog and even post classifieds ads on your site. You can even get comments and ratings on all the content you post and those who post can follow the conversation from anywhere. Additionally you can post journal notes, make public announcements across the entire network and communicate with other site owners on the network via email messaging. Your site even has its own user management and each member of your site gets a profile. The custom contact forms and invitations mean that you can build your own hub of activity and communicate with all your members, generate leads for your business and more. PayPal support means you can even sell stuff on your new website. These and many more features are yours when you own a SoNET powered website. There is nothing, that compares to your SoNET powered website at anywhere near the price you are paying :) So tell a friend!

Chapter 1. Getting Started


The very first thing you will need to do once you have created your website is to add a TITLE & DESCRIPTION. This will help you know what your website is all about (we know it was kind of sudden how fast your site was created and that you may need a little time to figure out what pictures, videos, music, text and features you should add next, so adding a TITLE & DESCRIPTION now, will help you figure it out).

Once you have filled in a title for your site and entered a brief description into the wizard, you need to click the ADMIN link on the top navigation menu to get to the Admin controls.


From here you can control most of the functions of your web (This is NOT where the Customize Front Page options are, to get to those you need to click the HOME link on the top navigation menu) The Admin controls menu is on the right side (default) or left side (depending on what Template you have chosen)  and is clickable.

NOTE: Newer networks will show the ANNOUNCEMENTS (broadcast a public announcement to the front page announcement area on the network) tool in the Admin controls area.

The Edit Site control

Edit Site will allow you to RENAME the buttons/pages on your website and use basic text editors to place content  into the home page area (text and pictures as well as embeded content like videos and even inline frames), the side top (picture OR text) and side area (text and pictures) and if your website is private, the login area (text only). You may also change the TITLE, SUBTITLE, FOOTER and AUTHORS NAME area. You may also change the way your site looks by swapping the TEMPLATE. You may also change your sites PRIVACY LEVEL.

a. Continued screenshot of bottom section (Public Sites ONLY)

b. Continued screenshot of bottom section (Private Sites)

NOTE: More advanced and full featured editing of the Homepage Text area is available using the Customize This Page control.

NOTE: Newer networks let you build several additional CUSTOM PAGES (full width pages that allow you to add more content and edit your content using the advanced editor).

NOTE: To put pictures into text areas on your website you will need to use the UPLOAD buttons before you try to Save Settings.

NOTE: To save the page after you have customized it you will need to use the Save Settings link (picture of a Floppy disk next to it)

Privacy Settings.
You can select one of four (4) different PRIVACY settings for your website and they are useful for different reasons. Below you will find explanations for the various settings.

I would like my website to:

1. be Public (content available to everyone)
This means that there is NO security on your website and ALL your content is visible to ANYONE who chooses to look at it. No registration is possible and you will NOT see any new users added to your site if you check your User Management area.
2. be Private (access by invitation only)
This means that MAXIMUM security is set on your site and NONE of your content other than you Login area content is visible to ANYONE. You will need to manually add each and every user to your site using an email address. Your site will then automatically send an invitation containing the users USERNAME and PASSWORD to them. You will then see all users in your User Management area. You will be able to message these users from within your User Management area.
3. require Registrations (users are automatically approved)
This means that there is NO security on your website and ALL your content is visible to ANYONE who chooses to look at it. No registration is possible and you will NOT see any new users added to your site if you check your User Management area. Your site will then automatically send an invitation containing the users USERNAME and PASSWORD to them. You will then see all users in your User Management area. You will be able to message these users from within your User Management area.
4. require Registrations (I must approve all users)
This means that MAXIMUM security is set on your site and NONE of your content other than you Login area content is visible to ANYONE. You will need to manually approve each and every user who registers to your site using by using the User Management area. Your site will then automatically send your user a notification that their account is now active and they can use your site. You will see all your sign ups in your User Management area. You will be able to message these users from within your User Management area.

NOTE: Users on your website each have a profile that includes, an about me /description, photo and some demographical information like sex and location, in addition to this you can add a note to each profile that the user will not see.

NOTE: Users can not communicate with each other directly but may communicate by using comments and following conversations on your site.

The My Profile, Find Others, Help, Feedback, Change Password and Logout controls.
Once you are logged in, you will notice that your website shows a greeting of "Welcome Admin" (this is the best way to tell if you are in the Admin Area and Logged In). Next to that is the MY PROFILE control which lets you define a profile for yourself on your own site. You may notice that your location has already been selected based on where you were when you created the site, but you are free to change this on your own. The FEEDBACK link will allow you to send a message to the owner of the .com you got this website from. Change Password lets you do just that. Finally, pressing the Logout control will stop your ability to edit your website.

The MY PROFILE section allows you to add some typical items to help others on your site know a little more about you. Your websites user can also make one if you have a Private site or a Public site that allows registrations. Your current subscription status is shown if you are on a network that charges for website use. You can select if you want others to be able to see your profile information as well by selecting between the Others Can See My Profile and the Others Cannot See My Profile Privacy selections. Be sure to press the UPLOAD button before you press the SAVE CHANGES button in order to save your picture.

NOTE: How-To use the image UPLOAD button - Wherever you see an UPLOAD button, you can upload a picture. The two places that will only allow you to upload a single picture are in MY PROFILE (This picture will show when you make a comment and in the members area of your website) screen and in HEADER INFO (This picture will show on every page of your website if loaded instead of text). You will need to remember to press the UPLOAD button and then the SAVE CHANGES link. You can save text without using the UPLOAD button (this means for text only, press the SAVE CHANGES button at any time).

The FIND OTHERS control lets you look for other website owners on the same network and send them messages. Your websites members CAN NOT send messages to each other or to website owners like you, they can however communicate with you via comments and by following conversations on your website.

To message another website owner on the network, simply click the SEND MESSAGE control. You can also View that persons website by clicking VIEW SITE.

NOTE: The HELP control takes you to this manual and is also where the videos to the section you are in are located.

NOTE: Clicking the FEEDBACK control will allow you to send an email message to the admin of the network you are on.

The CHANGE PASSWORD control will allow you to set or change a password for your Administrator account (the account you use to edit your site). You will need to type in the current password first in order to make any changes.

The LOGOUT control will end your session as an Administrator and you will no longer be able to edit your website.

NOTE: If you forget your password simply click the PROBLEMS SIGNING IN control below the login area.

NEXT, enter your email address and click the RETRIEVE MY PASSWORD button..

If there is a match then your password will be send to you.