Positive Real Estate Professionals

When you are ready to create your blog you must first log into Positive Real Estates Professionals (PREP). You have registered and chosen a blog name “Big Sky Country Realty” (or whatever) and clicked on the confirmation link that was automatically e-mailed to you upon completing registration.

The first thing you want to do is log into the main site. Where to find it and how to log in:

1. Start at the main page: http://positiverealestateprofessionals.com/

2. The graphic below comes from the main page of Neighborhood Expert Online (NEO); this will be Positive Real Estate Professionals (PREP) on this network. See the red arrows in the graphic below, that is where you login using the username and password that you created.

3. Once you are logged in you will see your avatar and name; you can see mine in the graphic below.

4. You are now logged in to PREP but you must create your blog to begin the customization process of it.

5. Once logged in look for the gray bar at the top and locate the words My Blogs. When hovering over My Blogs, a submenu with the option Create a Blog! will appear; click on this link. This will allow you to create your blog.  Once your blog is created follow the onscreen intructions on how to get to your dashboard.

Complete/Edit your profile.

1. To access your profile information including your avatar click on your name from the main PREP screen after you have logged in (see the red arrows in the graphic, this is where you click).

2. Your main profile screen will open. From here you can access a multitude of functions (see the graphic of the tabs to the right) This portion of the tutorial is only focusing on editing your profile.

3. To edit your profile information you can click either the edit profile tab (see the red arrows in the graphic, this is where you click) or you can click the edit profile button (see the button below)

4. To edit your avatar (maximum size is 150 x 150) you click change avatar tab (see the red arrows in the graphic, this is where you click)

The next tab on the main profile screen is the Blogs tab. To access your blog information click Blogs. You can see all your PREP blogs from here with a hyperlink that will allow you to open each of your blogs. The next tab in this section is titled Recent Posts. If you click on this you will see the full text with images of your most recent posts. The next tab is Recent Comments. If you click on this you will see all the recent comments on your blog posts. The final tab is Create a Blog. If you click on this tab you can create an entirely new blog in addition to the one you already have. Below is a screenshot of how this section looks.

The next tab on the main profile screen is the Wire tab. This allows you to broadcast a message to the entire community. This function should be used sparingly.

The next tab on the main profile screen is the Messages tab. This is where you compose, send, and receive messages.

The next tab on the main profile screen is the Friends tab. This allows you to keep track of business acquaintances, friends, and others whose blog you enjoy reading. You also receive friend requests under this tab.

The next tab on the main profile screen is the Groups tab. This allows you to create, join, and invite others to join different groups.

The next tab on the main profile screen is the Settings tab. This tab allows you to change your account e-mail and password. The notifications section of this tab is comprised of yes or no questions that allow you to determine how you want to receive communications. And the final section of this tab allows you to delete your account. *DELETING YOUR ACCOUNT REMOVES ALL OF YOUR POSTED MATERIAL AND CANNOT BE UNDONE*

The final tab on the main profile screen is the Log Out tab. This tab logs you out of PREP.

Getting to Your Dashboard once you have logged into the main NEO site. Your dashboard is the place to make most of the changes to your blog’s appearance and function. The graphic below comes from the main page of Neighborhood Expert Online (NEO), this will be Positive Real Estate Professionals (PREP) on this network, once you are logged in to your account. The red arrow to the left of the screenshot shows your blog’s name. This appears from a drop down tab under the main My Blogs tab. The red arrow to the right shows your Dashboard. This tab is a drop down tab under your blog’s name. By clicking dashboard you will be taken to your blog’s dashboard.

Once you are on your blog’s dashboard you will have virtually everything you need to control your blog. Here is a screenshot of my dashboard.

If this is your first time to your dashboard you will want to choose a theme. To choose a theme you will want to locate the Appearance tab about 2/3 of the way down the column on the left hand side of your dashboard. See the graphic with Appearance circled in red to the right. Beneath Appearance you will see the Themes tab. See the graphic to the right, this is where you click. When you click on themes you will be taken to a screen with several pages of themes to choose from. Each theme is titled and has its own unique characteristics. There are both two and three column themes; this refers to the number of side columns that can be used for widgets. Under the title of each theme is a brief description that gives that theme’s main features. Below is an example of a three column theme with a customizable header.Simply click on whichever theme you like and it is yours to use on PREP. Please note, many of these themes have been created by R & D Art for the exclusive use of PREP members.

Next is when you add widgets to your blog’s sidebar(s). Under the same appearance tab is the Widgets tab. See the graphic to the right, this is where you click. Widgets allow you to add things to your sidebar(s) that can personalize your blog, help visitor navigation, and allow for a wide variety of features. I would recommend reading the description of each widget and adding it if it sounds like something for you; they are easy to remove. If you add a widget it will appear in the current widget list to the right. * NOTE: If you are using a three column theme, you will have sidebar 1 and sidebar 2 for widgets. Be sure you are adding widgets to the correct column*

If you are adding something like My Blog Log, Entrecard, or other HTML, it should be added under the Text tab widget. See the graphic to the right. When you hit Add a text tab will appear on the right of the dashboard. You will want to hit Edit to add the HTML. See the graphic to the right, this is where you click.

Another very important widget that you will probably want to use is the Links widget. This widget is your Blogroll. It is added under widgets but its function is accessed under the Links tab rather than the widgets tab; it is technically a widget. See the graphic to the right, this is where you click. It is straightforward in that you have the ability to edit your links and add new links. You can also categorize your links.

If you have chosen a theme that allows you to choose a Custom Image Header you will want to click on that tab under Appearance. See the graphic to the right, this is where you click. When you click on this tab the screen that allows you to customize your header image comes up. *Before Uploading your desired image you will need to make sure the image fits within the pixel image size allowed. If it is a little big, you will have to crop it. If it is too small it will be stretched to fit which may cause some distortion.*

The next part of your blog’s functions that you will need to set up is under the Settings tab near the bottom of the column on the left hand side of your dashboard. There is a lot to explore under the Settings tab but the only two sections that should be of major concern is the General tab and the Permalinks tab. Below is first a screenshot of the General tab with the important items circled in red.

Next is a screenshot of the Permalinks tab where you must change the Default to Day and name.

When this is complete and your blog has the look and feel that you want, you are ready to start writing posts!

To get started with writing a post simply click on the New Post button. A screen will appear with a box to write your posts. See the graphic below with the red arrow, this is where you click!