Want to know how to get the most out of IB’s forums? Check out the handy guide below—just reading it will make you smarter and better looking. Actually, that’s totally made up. Nonetheless, this killer guide will help you bottom line!

1. Getting Started
2. Set up your Profile
3. Set up Vendor Directory
4. Set up Keyword Alerts
5. Navigating the Forum
6. Forums, Threads, & Posts
7. Attachments & Images
8. Private Messages
9. Glossary

Getting Started

 Logging in

Start off by editing your profile. To do this, click the ‘User Control Panel’ link that appears after logging in.

The User Control Panel (User CP) allows you to alter personal preferences, manage posts you are watching, send and receive private messages, and change the way information about you appears to other users.

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Set Up Your Profile

Tell us about yourself. Where are you from? What are some of your hobbies? How can customers and community members contact you?

Edit Your Details

• In this section you can tell us everything about yourself.
• This is also where you can add links to your social media platforms (Ex. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Website). This will allow your customers to keep in touch with you.

Profile Privacy

• Remember, you’re a public figure. Blocking yourself can hamper your exposure.

Edit Profile Picture

• Post a picture that represents your brand the most. Be sure to follow the guidelines.
• You can also link your profile picture to your website or where you would like to direct your customers.

Setting & Options

Edit Avatar

• This is the image that is seen in all your posts.
• Just like your profile picture you can link customers to your website.

Edit Signature

• Use this section as a sweet and simple sales pitch or an area to list your contact info. It will appear after every post you make.
• If you choose to upload a picture, be sure to follow the posted guidelines. Also do not forget to attach a link to where you would like to direct your customers.

Note: Turn on your signature through your settings option.

Edit Email & Password

• If you would like to make any changes to your password or email use this section.
• If you are having an issue logging in please feel free to reach out to accountmanagement@internetbrands.com.

Edit Options

• Browse this section for your login & privacy, messaging & notifications, thread display options, and date & time to tailor your site experience.

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Set Up Vendor Directory

Once you are logged in, using the menu bar at the top of the page, locate and select the link that directs you to the Vendor Directory page of the site. Here you will find all active vendor listings viewable to site visitors.

In the top right corner of the VD page you may now select the Manage Your Listing link, which will take you directly to the editing tool. The screenshot below shows what this link looks like.

As shown below, the editing tool allows you to input and edit your company information. You may now save the listing once all changes have been made and your listing will then begin to display on the main VD page permanently until your account has been downgraded for non-use.

My Vendor Directory

• Your vendor listing allows site visitors to view your information.
• Your business description is an important way to reach potential customers and let them know who you are. Be sure to include what you specialize in.
• If you have a Premium or Platinum package, you also have the option of adding a banner to your listing. Please follow image guidelines.

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How to Set Up Keyword Alerts

1. Click User CP on the Navigation Bar. You can find this option on the far left side of your navigation bar after logging in.

2. Once you are on your User CP page, scroll down until you reach the Vendor Control Panel section and click on Keyword Alerts.

3. Eureka! You will have the option to edit your keywords and add new ones in order to find the right conversations.

Note: We recommend you receive keyword alerts daily and through PM and Email. This allows you to better keep track of conversations and mentions.

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Navigating the Forum

The bulletin board as a whole contains various categories (broad subject areas), which themselves contain forums (more specific subject areas) which contain threads (conversations on a topic) which are made up of individual posts (where a user writes something).

The board home page has a list of categories and forums, with basic statistics for each – including the number of threads and posts, and which member posted the most recent message.

Forum Index Page

The forum index page is the homepage to forum content. This page with help you find specific Sub–Forums.

Sub-Forums
Sub-Forums are specific forums that gear discussion around a general topic. Sub-forums are indexed to specific car models, auto information and parts, geography, news, and even hobbies!

Thread

When clicking on a specific sub-forum, you’ll then find a list of threads that narrow down discussion further to a specific topic. You can find sub-forums for pretty much anything automotive related.

Navigation Bar 1

Home Button – Directs you to the CMS (Content Management System) page where you may find articles and blog posts pertaining to the forum’s specialty. Note, not all forums contain a CMS page.

Forums – By clicking this link you can always be directed back to forum index page.

Gallery – You may find photos from forum users and upload your own too!

Members – Learn more about users with the member directory.

Tools – Useful links to keep track of forum members, search threads, and stay updated with events.

Marketplace – The marketplace is where you’ll find products and cars for sale from vendors and users.

New Posts – This link will direct you to the most recent threads.

How-Tos – How-Tos are helpful articles to help you do practically any automotive job yourself!

Navigation Bar 2

The second navigation bar at the top of forum page allows you to edit more personal settings and has several helpful links. Clicking on some links once will also bring up a dropdown menu for site specific options.

User CP – Directs you back to your User Control Panel page where you may edit your profile & settings.

Events/Calendar – Find events members are hosting near your area.

Store – Let others know you’re an enthusiast by sporting some sweet site swag.

Search – Find topics, members, and listings through our search engine.

Quick Links – A useful link to direct you to the most common areas on the forum.

Vendor Directory – Find products and services for all your automotive needs.

Log out – See you again soon!

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Forums, Threads & Posts

Start a New Thread

Click on the ‘New Thread’ button

Please watch the following video for a detailed demonstration on how to post a new thread on the forums:

Reply to a Post

Click on the ‘New Reply’ button.

Note: If the ‘New Reply’ button does not appear, it means: You are not logged, you do not have permission, or that the thread has been closed to new replies.

Quick Reply

To reply to an existing thread, click on the ‘Quick Reply’ button in a post to activate the quick reply box before you can type into it.

• With this option, you may quote a particular post if you are replying to something someone wrote.

 Reply to Multiple Posts

To reply to multiple posts, click on the ‘Multi Quote’ button.

• This button will change to indicate that you’ve selected it.
• Clicking post reply will then bring you to the full editor with all the posts quoted.

Please watch the following video for a detailed demonstration on how to reply to posts on the forum:

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Attachments & Images

Files and Attachment Sizes

There are a list of allowed file types and their maximum sizes in the attachment window.

Note: Files that are larger than stated sizes will be rejected.

Attach a File to a Post

1.Using the main ‘New Post’ or ‘New Thread’ page (not ‘Quick Reply’), click on the ‘Post Reply’ or ‘New Reply’ button. You can find this option on the top or bottom of the thread page.

2. Click on the Attachment Icon or ‘Manage Attachments’ below the message box.

3. A pop-up window will appear and allow you to upload attachments from either your computer or through a URL

4. Click on the ‘Choose File’ button and locate desired attachment

Note: To upload a URL file, enter the full URL of the file in the second box of the page.

5. Once you have selected or entered the URL of your attachment, click ‘Upload’.

Note: When the attachment is uploaded, the file name will appear below the input boxes of the message window.

Insert Image to a Post

1. Click on the ‘Insert Image’ icon. A pop-up window will appear and give you the option to upload photos from your device, online album, or through a URL.*You may also type [img] before the URL and [/img] after it (ensuring that you do not have any spaces before or after the URL of the image)*

2. Once the image is inserted, click ‘Upload’.

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Private Messages

Send Private Messages

Private messages work a little like email, but are limited to registered members of the forum. You may be able to include BB code, Smilies, and Images in private messages that you send.

1. On your User Control Panel page, scroll down to your ‘Private Messages’ section and click on the Send New Message link. The link will direct you to the private message window below.

2. You may also click on the ‘Send a Private Message’ link on the drop down menu that appears on a member’s posts upon clicking their username.

Folders in Private Messages

You have two folders in your private message area: ‘Inbox’ and ‘Sent’ Items folders:

• Inbox folder: Contains any new messages you receive.
• Sent Items folder: Contains a copy of the messages you sent and wish to save.
• Additional folders: Create new folders by clicking the ‘Edit Folders‘ link.

Deleting Messages

Please delete old messages periodically to adhere to a set limit of private messages. If the number is exceeded, you will not be able to send or receive new messages until you delete some old ones.

Downloading Messages

Click on ‘Download as’ to store a copy of your messages onto your computer.

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Glossary

• Avatar: A small image that appears next to the vendor’s username when they post a thread.

• Banner Impressions: This measures the number of times a banner is displayed, either on a web page or in a separate browser window as a pop-up or pop-under advertisement. For example, 1000 impressions mean that the banner has been displayed 1000 times.

• BB Code: A special set of codes similar to HTML that can be used in posts to the board.

• Bulletin Board: An online discussion site. It’s sometimes also called a ‘board’ or ‘forums’. It may contain several categories, consisting of forums, threads and individual posts.

• CTR (Click-through Rate): It is a ratio of the number of times the banner was clicked on by the viewer and the number of times the banner was displayed. Thus, if a banner has been clicked 50 times and has been displayed 1000 times, its CTR is 0.05%.

• Forum Posting Privileges: This gives a vendor the right to post as a sponsor. A vendor can discuss sales/group buys, new products, or answer any questions – it allows them to conduct business on the open forum or through private messaging. (Note: Vendors must follow all site rules. Posting privileges vary by site and vendor group). Packages: Basic/ Premium/ Platinum.

• Forum Sponsorship: As a vendor, you may purchase any unsponsored section on the site. Sponsored forums say ‘brought to you by [your company name]’.

• Geo Targeting: The method of determining the geolocation of a website visitor and delivering different content to that visitor based on his or her location, such as country, region/state, city, metro code/zip code, organization, IP address, ISP or other criteria.

• Keyword Alerts: This allows a vendor to enter in keywords that they’d like to track. Once those words are mentioned on a thread by other members, the forum will notify the vendor via email or PM. This helps vendors find relevant threads and posts according to their interests.

• Link in Signature: Each vendor account/username is allowed to have a link back to their website in their signature. Just like an e-mail signature, a forum signature attaches itself to all posts made by a vendor.

• Posts: A user-submitted message that are found within threads.

• Private Messaging (PM): This is similar to e-mail, in which vendors and users on the forum can interact privately about small inquiries; this can pertain to a sale, or a direct question.

• Profile Photo: This is what other members on the site can see when they visit a user’s page.

• Smilies: A small graphical icons which you can insert into your messages to convey an emotion or feeling.

• Threads: A conversation between multiple people. It can be relevant to the topic and in forums which they are in and contain a collection of posts.

• User Control Panel ‘User CP’: This allows each user to access private messages, change their signature and avatar, and update their business information such as their vendor directory and keyword alerts.

• Vendor Directory Listing: A placeholder in the vendor/sponsor section of the forum. Members use this guide to find vendors and their posts quickly.

Still not finding any answers? Check out our detailed forums guides located in our FAQ page. This link can be found on your second navigation bar. You may also contact accountmanagement@internetbrands.com for more help.

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Our interactive Vendor Directory increases your exposure to more customers by listing your services and products with a direct link to send you an inquiry. Customers in your local area can also find you by clicking on the map feature. Continue reading →

We realize your time is valuable. Thread Subscriptions are a useful tool in eliminating the time you spend searching for threads where you are tracking the conversation. Subscriptions are designed to ensure you never miss a response to your sales threads or important conversations. Continue reading →