 New ALL-STAR Package:
Customize Navigation: You can now add, remove, sort, and rename the links in your navigation bar. If you aren't using a feature, you should take it out to keep your site less busy. Users can even change the labels to their own language.
Custom Pages: Create your own custom pages such as "Rules" or "Handouts". You will get a blank page which uses our special text editor tools (like the home page) to put whatever content you want on these pages.
Sponsors: Give your sponsors and supporters some recognition. You can put a text message or an image, and link to their website. This page displays the sponsors ads in two columns on one page.
News: You can now archive and save all the stories you write with the news feature. The articles are sorted into categories and easily organized.
Guestbook: Give your fans a chance to write back and share their thoughts and feedback on your website. (We allow you to review the messages before they are posted to the site to prevent any abuse.)
Links: A convenient page to list links with descriptions to sites you recommend to your visitors.
The structure of the websites is continually being improved to allow even more new features to be added. We hope to release an exciting new "template" option to users in the next 3 to 6 months. This will allow choices for further customizing your pages. This feature will be available to the ALL-STAR and CHAMPION users as soon as it is released.
 Maximize Your Site:
We try to provide our users with sharp-looking templates that make posting data for the fans to see as quick and easy as possible. However, it's up to the administrator to add the spirit and flair that makes a site exciting so people look forward to coming back. The following are some tips to help make the best user experience:
- Make sure you choose text colors that are easy to read on the background. (Make sure the links are readable on both color backgrounds).
- Resize your images before you upload. Large images take a long time to download and can be frustrating, especially for people with slow internet connections. In general, 200 or 300 pixels wide should be large enough for use on the Web.
- Use pictures. Pictures add life. Even if you don't have images, just search the internet for some fun images (search for free clip-art) and put them on your site.
- Keep your information up to date. If people visiting your website see old information each time they check it they wont bother coming back.
- Try to put game write-ups on your site. Even if you're not the best writer, it still makes a big difference having at least a paragraph summing up the recent game or events. It is exciting for players to see their name on the site, and re-cap the experience.
- Spread the word about the site. It's frustrating to maintain a website if no one is viewing it. You can order or print Web info cards to hand out, use the email tools, or just remind people at games or practices to check the site and tell their friends about it.
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 Fundraising:
Organized sports has its expenses, and we have added more fundraising options to help make things easier for you. We have developed a Magazine Fundraising program - simply toggle on your store and put in a PayPal address to receive payments, and you are ready to raise funds.
We have also teamed up with eFundraising.com, a division of QSP Reader's Digest. They have the classic "World's Finest Chocolate" candy bars along with scratch cards, cookie dough, and gift brochures. Click Here to get your FREE information kit and gift! Now available for Canadian users, too!
Remember, the success of any fundraising program depends on the initiative of the coach and players to promote the program. We hope we can help you find fundraising options that fit well with your organization.
 Communication:
The websites are a great way to communicate all your information to the players and fans. The main catch is, they need to actually visit it. Based on the feedback from our users, we have developed new Email and Phone tools. The email tools will allow you to easily organize the contact information for everyone. Then you can create emails and blast them out to your list.
We have also added the new HTOphone system that allows you to place only one phone call, and then have it relay your message to everyone on your phone list. This is great for easily letting folks know about practices times, schedule changes, and other notices.
 Coding Tips:
There are lots of neat scripts on the Internet that can add some fun functionality to your site. Doing a search for things like "javascript tricks" can help you find fun tools ready to be plugged into your page. To use them, you must first click the View HTML source button in the text editor (looks like two brackets <>). Then paste at the bottom of your page after the other code. Make sure you are careful when copying code onto the page like this to avoid creating an error on your page. The most common mistake is leaving out a final bracket.
For more tips, you can view the flyer we send out with the Web info cards:
Brochure Front - Brochure Back
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We hope everyone is enjoying their websites. This is the first official newsletter from HomeTeamsONLINE since we began operation in 2000. We dislike spam as much as you do, but we hope our emails are welcomed and useful. If you do not want to receive our newsletters, click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email.