U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

A WordPress blog is a content management system website. It is different from the classic static html pages used in our previous site. Using a content management system more attention is given to the content of the site and far less time and effort to the technical details of building an html page. More members are able to contribute content in their own time, in their own words without having to rely on one editor. CMS allows us incredible flexibility as well as a very timely way to get out public messages regarding boating safety,  safety classes and flotilla activities.

This FAQ provides basic information about WordPress and our new Internet presence and how you can use it.

(Updated 12/31/09)

1. How do I get started creating content?

Answer: Flotilla Staff Officers are encouraged to register at the site. Push the “register” menu selection and follow the instructions.  Once the account is confirmed by the FSO-CS your status on the site is changed to Author or Editor and you are ready to create posts about your specific job function.

Let’s use an example. Let’s say you are responsible for Vessel Safety Checks, FSO-VE. You plan to visit a particular marina and you want the Southern Maryland community to know. You should always let the FSO-PA know and you can also log on to the website and create a post about your VE event. The Internet search engines find your post and anyone searching for vessel safety checks at so-and-so harbor know you are going to be there! The local media also knows because each post is sent out via Twitter. Local media now follows our Twitter tweets! You are wired!

Likewise the FSO-PE can update public class schedules as needed and so on. The FSO is empowered!

2. Do I have to use my regular email address on this site?

Answer: No. Members of the flotilla can request a drumpoint.org email address which can be used for flotilla business and public contacts.  Members that do not want a drumpoint.org email address but that also have FSO responsibility can still have contact form queries directed to their regular email accounts. Your regular email address is hidden from view.

3.  Is the site protected against spam?

Answer: Yes. WordPress has a number of sophisticated plugins that protect the site against scrapers, harvesters and spammers. The member is not required to know anything about this functionality. What you should always do is avoid formatting email messages in classic formats like [email protected] Format them like fso-cs at drumpoint.org.  That will minimize spam to your new drumpoint.org email account.

4. So what is this website? A script?

Answer: Yes, but it is quite a bit more sophisticated than just “a script.” WordPress is a again a CMS application written in PHP that uses a mySQL database. It is far more sophisticated and useful than the cgi scripts of the past. The members are only concerned with creating and reading content and not in learning other than very simple editing skills.

5.  So how do I use this new email account?

Answer: However you would like.  Once created you can check the account in a browser or you can add it to your POP3 client.  Using a browser is much simpler.  Think smarter, simpler and not harder. The FSO-CS sets up your email account and you maintain it.

6. Our old website had was limited to fifteen megabytes of space. Is there a similar limitation here.

Answer: No.

7. Is there any training available on using the website?

Answer: Not yet, but that can certainly be done.  Using the site is not as hard as you might think so as FSO-CS I encourage all of our members to create an account and start reading and commenting on articles that interest you. By not using the site you only limit your possibilities.

8. Who develops the content for the site?

Answer: All of our FSO’s and leaders should! Our PA staff is busy working with events and the media and can use the website to obvious advabtage but our own members that have responsibilities can talk about the jobs that they do for the Auxiliary! That’s the Coast Guard way.  One FSO is already posting his monthly reports.

To get us all started and thinking in terms of building content for the site the FSO-CS (me) has created posts and pages of content to demonstrate how the site can be used.

9. Are there any content rules?

Answer: The Auxiliary IT department likes us to always get permission before posting anyone’s email address in a public place. There is also a requirement that photographs of facilities not include visible registration numbers (though I am unable to find this in official text anywhere as of 9/27/09.) There is a Link Policy that must be followed so you should read that and be aware of it. Also review the Post Policy page. You can also refer to the CGAUX PA Guide to learn more. The most important thing is to ask the question if you are not sure. Please read the article on OPSEC for the blog format under the Anout tab at the main menu.

10. How is the public going to use the site?

Answer: Thee public will find our Flotilla Calendar of Events, our class schedules, contact forms for the VE, PE, PA, and others. There are useful boating safety links, articles about our flotilla, recruiting materials. News Releases from the Coast Guard that are relevant to boating safety and/or the Baltimore Sector are posted here. Only your imagination is the limit to what we can do on line to get out the boating safety message.

11. We need links to the national VE site.

Answer: Those links are already on the site.

12. We need a card we can give out with our telephone numbers.

Answer: Good idea, but that is a printed document that is not indexed by Google. Whatever you do print put the website URL on the card! Marketing and promotion in the Internet age has changed. Today’s boaters use the Internet including the web and Twitter. You want to make sure the Internet savvy find your message.

13. I’m an instructor. How can I use the site?

Answer: Encourage your students to use it. Communicate with them using the site. Use your imagination. You could certainly announce your class date and times, post the schedule so students can find it easily and post any course requirements and reminders.

14. Can I see the site with a Blackberry or an iPhone?

Answer: Yes.  The site uses a special WordPress plugin that formats the site for both mobile phones.

15. How popular is our site?

Answer: The FSO-CS is gathering statistics on popularity. Generally speaking we are growing in popularity. Since the site went live in September and achieved final approval in November we achieved a Google rank of 2 and are still doing well in the Alexa rankings. The most popular page on the page is the Uniform FAQ so right away we can tell that Auxiliarists are frequently interested in that topic. A few of the Coast Guard Press releases have also brought readers to the site. We have a number of people that regularly use RSS readers to look for new articles. We are visted by Google, Yahoo, CUIL, MSN, and ASK so our content is well indexed.

16 How is Twitter interfaced with the site?

Answer: Each time a new article is written the site sends a Tweet out via our Twitter account. Local media follows our Tweets. Other Coast Guard and Auxiliary organizations also follow our tweets.  We also some of our own members reading the Twitter site.

17. Where does some of our website traffic come from?

Answer: Anytime a post is made encouraging readers to visit another Coast Guard site like the Compass blog a “ping” is sent to the other blog notifying them that we have written a post about their article. Our link is inserted as a reply to their article. This brings us traffic from the Compass or other blogs when readers of those blogs click on our link.  Most of our traffic comes from members using RSS readers, search engines and Twitter.

Copyright (c) Drum Point Flotilla 23-06