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Express Yourself …

Dec 22, 2010 | 9:33 AM

Well – it’s been just over a month since we officially launched the panow.com website. What do you think? Based on the response – we are a big hit already and people are coming to visit often.

     My primary area is the Community Group News – As of today there are 139 separate community groups listed within – and well over 400 blog entries.

     Now I am taking the opportunity to use this column space to make some suggestions for viewers of the Community Group News and other areas of panow.com.

     There are 25 blogs per page in the Community Group News. Once they disappear from the page – they haven’t left the building so to speak. Each blog is saved within a “page” from the Community Group, which provided the information.

 Therefore, it is an interesting way to find out about your community by going along the right hand side where the groups are listed. Clicking on any group will take you to their page where there is a compilation of each blog they will ever have entered in panow.com. There is also information on the Community Group found on the upper right hand corner and includes in every case – some form of contact information – even if it is simply an email form.

     This is a tremendous way to research groups in the community – groups which you might want to be a part of, or which you may require the services of. It is a fantastic way to really get to know about a group – what they do – who they are … before leaving home and actually getting involved. It is very comfortable.

     That being said, there are many blogs loaded onto the page a day…for the most part, about 10. Therefore, it is important to scroll through the entire page – right down to the bottom – because to just look at the top entries will mean you could be missing out on information that is important to you.

     For example – right now there are several Christmas Greetings on the page – but also lots of information on winter safety, upcoming workshops (several that are free), church service times and so on.

 

     As for the rest of the panow.com media source – to say what we put out every single day is vast is a tremendous understatement.

     Take time away from Facebook to explore all the tabs. Even I was surprised when I looked under the COMMUNITY Tabs and found a new service – flyers from our local stores! They are also under the BUSINESS tab. That is awesome.

     I love the “talk box” i.e. palive, and see wonderful debate there. That is incredible and I am pretty sure readers keep coming back to see responses to various statements. But remember under the NEWS tab, is a section forLetters to the Editor, for more lengthy and detailed expressions of opinion.

     Even though I am part of the panow.com team and have been working on the site for a while – I am still awed when I am reading the front page and it changes – and it will change continually through the day.

     Panow.com is a living thing. It grows moment by moment whether it is front page news, community group blogs, special events, classifieds, new vehicles for sale, new flyers, letters, palive, see click fix —it is in a constant state of flux. That is what makes it so wonderful.

     Panow.com – to me – is an updated version of an old idea – involving the community in its production.

    It is like the Wake Up Shake Up! Show with J.J. Cennon.

People could call in about any number of subjects – or call in to respond to another caller – just like palive.

 If there was a bus not running, it would be announced on the show – just like it is announced in a red breaking news line across the top of the front page.

 There were stories and other bits of entertainment – just like on the site; people could call in from their community groups to discuss what they had going on …just like panow.com.

     As a kid, I grew up listening to JJ as we got ready to go to school – every morning – hoping our bus was cancelled or wondering if we would hear someone we knew calling into the show.

     Already – this is what panow.com is becoming for families.

     And it is only getting better.

     So take some time and really, really explore the site. If you have questions – send them into palive and someone will respond. It is an incredible resource.

     Have a great week!