about maneuvering around GeoCities?
Sometimes it's hard to ask for help. Or maybe you've decided to take the bull by the horns, grit your teeth, and take the plunge into this web page thing by learning as much as possible by yourself. Well, that's what these links are for. I
hope that if they don't solve all of your problems, that you will contact me, one of your Leaders, or a fellow Homesteader. That's what being in a community is all about... sharing, learning, teaching, and helping out a neighbour! Let's make GeoCities the best community on the Internet. Ready? Go!
Remember - don't panic! At the top of each Yahoo!GeoCities page is a link to the main Homesteader's toolbox... click on the Home link (found at the top right hand corner - across from the header) to get there.
The GeoGuide is voluntary, but it's still a good idea to place it on your index page - it was specially created for ease of navigation through GeoCities and interaction between you and your visitors. On top of that, you'll increase your visibility through the Community. Probably the most pressing reason for adding the GeoGuide is that those annoying pop-up ads will appear on all pages that don't have the GeoGuide placed on them (although subscribers to GeoPlus don't have to deal with the pop-ups).
Current Netiquette ("internet etiquette") topics:
Whether you are new to the Internet, need to brush up on your Netiquette, or have a specific question you need answered, you'll find what you want in these how-to pages.
What is SPAM and how can I do my part?
What is Netiquette and how does it affect me?
Best GeoCities Places to have bookmarked:
The Announcement page for up-to-date GeoCities information and system status The Members Page contains useful links to help you get started being a member of the community. Bookmark this page for easy access to all homepage-making utilities within GeoCities. To get into your account to edit your webpages or personal information, click on the link beside the "Welcome" at the top left hand side that says [Sign in]. If this is your first login since the Yahoo!Geocities merger, then you will need to re-register first. The Online 'Help' Area lists links for help for specific problems. If you don't find an answer in the help files, use the online feedback form to contact someone directly about your difficulty. The Neighbourhood Directory lists all of the GeoCities Neighbourhoods and their descriptions. To find the best pages in all of GeoCities, visit the Landmark Sites from each neighbourhood. For a look at what's happening in your suburb, check out the Paris Community Pages, a wealth of community info. Find out who is your block leader, submit your site for various awards, and some useful links. Unfortunately, most of it isn't kept current, but you'll find a few things to help you out. The Content Guidelines Page (aka Terms of Service) is where you can find out what is considered a GeoCities violation and where to report those you find. As a Homesteader, it is your responsibility to make sure your page(s) fall within the guidelines!
Some great HTML links:
HTML Goodies is a laid-back, well-explained site for
beginners and experts alike! JavaScript, HTML, and tutorials. Always something new, always fun! Rapidly becoming the biggest HTML resource online.
How do they do that with HTML? Wide range of topics, excellent for beginners, and available in German as well. Lots of links. Athens 2090, the "Home Page homepage" is the link that GeoCities provides on the File Manager's 'HTML Editor' page. Very useful and great as an HTML refresher source.
GeoGuide
The GeoCities GeoGuide has been retooled as of December 1997, and is now all new and much improved. Currently, any banner you submit must fit into its new required dimensions: 468x60 pixels.
Wondering what the GeoGuide looks like? Scroll down to the bottom of this page. If you are encountering any problems with the GeoGuide, please email a Community Leader, contact GeoCities, or search the Help Forum for specific information.
Get the scoop on the GeoGuide
Set up and get started with The GeoGuide Manager
Submit your banner into the GeoGuide Banner Exchange program
Need help creating a banner? Find a volunteer through this list (please only ask one!)
When all else fails, read the GeoGuide FAQ
Paisley's "Real Estate" Office
Setting up a Homestead (aka webpage or website) is like visiting a Real Estate office, but much simpler. You need to stake a claim, you have neighbours, you are part of a community, and there are certain "rules" that absolutely must be followed. Here's what you should know:
You cannot link to or steal graphics from someone else's webpage. "Linking" means using the HTML <"IMG src="//their.domain.com/directory/image.jpg"> to put an image on your page. This is bandwidth theft (yes, theft!) and also puts you at risk for a broken image to appear on your page, not to mention whatever image the owner feels like. "Stealing" refers to right-clicking on an image and taking it for your own use without asking permission... it's illegal, not to mention bad karma to not respect copyright. For example, if you took any of the images from my site you are in violation of copyright.
Free Webpage Graphics
The following pages exist so that you can save their original graphics to upload to your server and spice up your own webpages. Only use graphics on your site from pages that offer free images and follow the rules of usage!
The best free graphics site on the planet, Ann-S-Thesia's, offers several unique, funky, and delicious graphics sets all in exchange for a measly link back to her site.
Moyra's Web Jewels has a ton of fabulous free graphics as well as information on the Eleventh Commandment.
Full of original, free graphics and set, the Groan Zone will also give you JavaScript and Java code, CSS, and their unique "Menuz".
Be kind to your visitors... don't place 50 banner ads on a single page, don't overload them with animated .gifs, don't use blinking text, separate long pages into a few smaller ones, and if you are a member of a Webring then put the code on the page you listed (otherwise the ring is broken, and visitors can't go from page to page). Never lure people to your site with false advertising, promises, links, or content. Think about what you like to see on webpages when you surf the web!
Always (and I repeat: always) give credit where credit is due.
If you've borrowed some code, found a tip helpful, or been inspired by someone or something you've seen online, it's great karma and only fair that you go of your way to try and help someone else. If someone emails you for help or asks a question about your site, give them all the information you can. Set up your own page with helpful hints or tutorials in whatever your forte is - be it recipes, graphics, or folding the perfect diaper.
Well... hopefully this general information will help you out with any GeoCities and Internet questions you might have. Of course, feel free to contact me with any concern you might have and I'll try to get you an answer. Thanks for visiting, and good luck!