September 2008 -- Resize and refresh. After resizing images, click the Publish changes button. Then, refresh your browser, either by clicking the refresh button, or by right-mouse clicking on the page somewhere other than a picture and clicking Refresh.
Get your site noticed. Put links on your site to your club, other tennis sites, or your tennis YouTube videos, and get others to link to your site. Then submit your site address to Yahoo, Google and other search engines.
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Yahoo. Go to yahoo.com and scroll to the bottom of the page. Click "Suggest a site." When the page opens, click on "Submit your site for free."
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Google. Go to google.com and click on About Google. In the "For site owner" section, click Submit your content to Google. Click on Add your URL to Google.
Use tables. When listing information in several columns, use tables instead of multiple spaces. It will look much cleaner with everything lined up properly. For detailed information on how to use tables with the Web page editor, click on Edit help in your menu, then click on the "How to build tables link" at the top of the page.
If you already have a table on your site, but can't see the lines, click the Show table button. Also, if you are having trouble selecting or moving something, click the Show table button. There might be a table there you forgot about.
Working with Word. Microsoft Word is great for typing up your personal and facility information because you can spell and grammar check it. However, wait until you are in the Web page editor to do any formatting (font sizes, colors, bold, italics, etc.). Word unfortunately adds a lot of unnecessary code that, when pasted into the page editor, can cause problems for your site. Also, make your tables with the page editor tools on your Web site.
Log off. If you have to leave your computer while working on your site, be sure to log off. If you do not, the next time you come back, your computer may think you are still logged on, but the Web site thinks you are not. If this happens and you can't edit your site, delete your cookies. In Internet Explorer, go to Tools/Internet options. On the General tab, go to Browsing history and click Delete. Go to the section called Cookie and click Delete cookies. Click Yes when it asks, "Are you sure you want to delete all cookies in the Temporary Internet Files folder?" Click Yes, Close and OK, then close your browsers. Open a new browser and you should be able to log in and edit.
Facility and contact me pages. The phone and fax numbers, company name and address that you have on your facility page also appear on your contact me page. In addition, the phone and fax number fields will take only the standard number of digits, so if you use more numbers or type in words, they will not appear correctly. Special hint: If you would like a cell phone number listed on your contact me page, send it to usptapro@uspta.org with your name and member number.
Automatic updates. Several components of your personal Web site are automatically updated during the weekly database upload. These include your business phone and e-mail address. In addition, if you change your first name (e.g., Thomas to Tom) or you upgrade your certification rating, these are also updated on your site. Furthermore, if you update your e-mail address, first name or business phone on your Web site, that new information is updated in the database and in Find-a-Pro.
Drop the Ws. It is not necessary to use the "www" in your personal Web site address. In fact, in order to log into Tennisplayer.net, you should not use it, as the system does not recognize it as part of a legitimate USPTA personal Web site address.
Be very careful. If professional Web designers, co-workers or friends help you with your site, be very careful about giving out your USPTA membership number. You should treat it as you would your Social Security number. Not only does it give them access to your Web site, but also your personal data that is accessed through your member profile on uspta.com. If someone is helping you at your computer, you can log in for them. If you have an outside person helping you, ask them to send you Word or HTML files for each page. Then you can just copy and paste into your site.
Images only. The upload fields on your USPTA Web site will only take .JPG and .GIF images. If you try to upload anything else, it will not display. Also, the only way you can add pictures to your site is by using an image upload field, either on your About me, Facility or Upload pictures page.
Personalize it. By default, your personal Web site address is your first name and last name put together, followed by .usptapro.com. However, you can request a personalized name before the usptapro.com. For example, if your name is Theodore Wallace but you go by Ted, you can change your Web address to TennisWithTed.usptapro.com. Just send your request to usptapro@uspta.org. As long as the name isn't already taken, we will be happy to oblige you. (Your Web address will automatically be updated in Find-a-Pro.)
