some furture stuff

Monthly Roundup - April

April 2015

Connect with Your Neighbours on 18Blocks

Better weather means more opportunities to meet and exchange resources and ideas with the neighbours. A post on 18Blocks is the first step to actually meeting the people in your community: organize a running club, a block party, or a car pool; launch a community garden, or a fundraiser. Or, simply start a conversation - get local advice; share gardening tips or recipes; start a mini blog; lend a hand; or post a photo of a local landmark. Whatever your interests, and however you'd like to connect with your neighbours, you can do it on 18Blocks.

How to Create Notes Your Neighbours will Read

Your note deserves to get noticed. Here are some tips to make sure it does:

1. Create an Intriguing, Informative Headline

   • Use numbers to draw your audience in.
   • Posting an event? Don’t forget the date and location.
   • Pose a question using words like “how,” “what,” or
     “where.”
   • Use juicy adjectives like “new”, “free,” “fun,” or
     “irresistible.”

2. Add Images
   Photos, drawings, charts, diagrams, and infographics belong in your note.
   

   • Pictures add vibrancy and interest.
   • Remember to include your images in jpeg, gif or pdf format. (Currently, we do not support pdfs.)
   • Use images with a vertical orientation, rather than landscape, as wider images will be cut off

   Here are some awesome notes recently posted:
   Incidentally, we create extra “lift” for your notes with local segmentation on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, guaranteeing you maximum exposure in your neighbourhood.

3. Turn on Notifications!
   Remember, neighbours can interact with your note by “liking” it, posting a public comment, or replying privately. Get instant feedback by turning on notifications. Here’s how:

   • From the drop-down menu under your user name, select “edit profile”
   • Select the “Alerts” tab and indicate your preferences.

Don’t forget to privately “reply” to, publicly “comment” on, and “like” your neighbours’ notes too!

Happy posting!

Monthly Roundup

March 2015

Close Encounters of the Neighbourly Kind

If you’re wondering how to go about meeting your neighbours, maybe we can help. Think of us as a sort of ice-breaker – a gateway to face-to-face meetings with neighbours who share your passion for running, cooking, reading, parenting, or whatever interests you. Believe it or not, there are bookworms one street over; foodies right around the corner; jogging enthusiasts on the next block; and parents – well – all around you.

There’s really no need to trudge across town to do the things you love. Save time. Stay local. Strengthen your ties in the community. It starts with a single post.

Sharing your time, resources and interests with those that live around you helps build stronger connections.

What’s a Post, Anyway?

On 18Blocks, a post is a note you create and publish on your neighbourhood’s notice board. It’s absolutely free, but you must be registered to create one. You can design a note with text, colours, and photos using our Note Creator. Your neighbours can see your note and like it, comment on it, and respond to it publicly or privately. Currently, we have active boards in 13 neighbourhoods across Toronto. To see whether your neighbourhood has an 18Blocks notice board, or to suggest a board in your area, visit 18blocks.com

What Can I Post About?

Actually, the sky’s the limit – provided you observe our terms of use. Looking to borrow or lend a tool, move something heavy, rent a parking space, or share a carpool? Need a babysitter, a pet sitter, a dog walker, or a recipe? Post a note. It’s free, fun, and easy. Love something local, promote your cause, advertise a residents meeting – you can do it all on 18Blocks.