Every now and then, I get an email or a call from a reader asking how some kind of information can be added to the site so that the community at large could be made aware of something new happening in San Bruno.
The good news: Anyone can actually contribute to the site on their own.
The better news: There are a number of different ways to contribute to the site on your own.
So here's a little refresher guide about why Patch is here and what this site is all about. Simply put, it's about you.
We've built Patch so that you have plenty of opportunities to comment on stories, share your opinions, post photos and announcements and add events to the community calendar. We hope that our site will strengthen the community, but we can't do it without you. So get to it!
1. Comment on an Article
We subscribe to the idea that "news is a conversation." Much of our reporting will emanate from what readers tell us in e-mails, comments on our sites, and in conversations around town. Share your thoughts and reactions to our articles by posting a comment directly below each story.
2. Post an Event
Do you know of a book signing at our local bookstore, a celebrity chef appearing at a cooking store or an art exhibit at a local coffee shop? Is there a garage sale or graduation ceremony coming up? If it's not on our Patch calendar, it should be. Feel free to add events to our site at sanbruno.patch.com/events/new.
3. Send a News Tip
At the bottom of the homepage, there's a link that says, "Send Us News Tips." Tell us about stories we should cover. Your tip will be sent straight to me, San Bruno Patch's (incredibly grateful) editor.
4. Post an Announcement
Post births, engagements and wedding announcements. Tell us who made the honor roll or share school awards, social notes and thank you shout outs. If you're looking for volunteers or searching for your lost dog, we welcome you to call on your community for help. Just remember, our Terms of Service say announcements should be for personal use and not for advertising.
5. Sign Up for Newsletters
The daily San Bruno Patch newsletter brings you all articles and announcements that have been posted in the last 24 hours. It is delivered to your email everyday at 6 a.m. You can also sign up for the weekly newsletter, which shows a subset of the content created and featured on our site over the last few days. It is delivered every Thursday at 10 a.m. Look for the Follow Us and Newsletter links in the right column of this and most every page.
6. Claim Your Directory Listing
Our business and organization listings aren't skimpy. Our team of researchers actually hit the streets and visited businesses, schools, parks, libraries and more so we can provide photos as well as detailed information such as products sold and hours of operation. To contact us about the listing for your business or organization, email us at directorysupport@patch.com. If you own or manage a business or organization in our directory, claim it at sanbruno.patch.com/search/listings.
7. Upload Your Photos and Video
Upload videos of PTA events, your AYSO soccer player's first goal or your San Bruno Little League player's first home run. Post photos from local festivals or send in a snapshot of your best holiday recipes. We invite you to share with the rest of the community the memories you've caught on camera.
8. Advertise With Us
For all advertising queries, please contact our very hardworking San Bruno Patch Ad Manager, Peter Conway, at Peter.Conway@patch.com. Find out more information at sanbruno.patch.com/advertise.
9. Review Restaurants
Do you want to be the first to tell your friends whether the new restaurant in town gets a thumbs-up? You can post a review of your favorite (or not-so favorite) restaurants at sanbruno.patch.com/restaurants. Or, search to find what you're craving—you can filter results by cuisine, price or seating accommodations.
10. Social Media Engagement
You can "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SanBrunoPatch and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SanBrunoPatch. Immerse yourself in our content and actively contribute and engage via social media. Let's start a conversation.
11. Send a Letter to the Editor
Patch would like to invite every member of the San Bruno community to submit a . Express your thoughts or concerns about anything that might be stirring up conversation around town, and we'll post it. Make sure it's not longer than 300 words if it's written and email it to me at martin@patch.com. You can also send video letters to the editor as long it's not longer than two minutes.
The more San Bruno Patch serves as on online space for community dialogue, the more useful our site will be. So next time you have something to share with your neighbors, consider taking a moment to contribute to Patch. Chances are, you're not the only one who wants to know.
