As usual I'm not delusional enough to think that I can prevent spam- of course not!
But I get so tired of seeing the same things over and over in my updates and then typing the same stuff over and over. Also people dont seem to grasp the use of keywords so maybe this will help some in that respect,too.
Now I know the searchbar is scary! I saw it for the first time myself when I was a new user and was reluctant to try it. Who knows what might happen when you click that search button!?! But one day I summoned all my courage I tried and it didn't hurt. Now there was a surprise! Back then there was only one..now we have TWO search options and I know that is even scarier. But be assured I have been using the search for ages now and nothing bad has ever happened to me.
Seriously I give you my word: IT WON'T HURT! PROMISE!!
Searching for content on this site is a little wonky at times I admit that. But over time you will learn how to get better results AND and this is the w.i.e.r.d.est part (I know its spelt weird but come on..nobody likes a Ted!) you will also learn how to label the content you submit so that other users can find it as well.
1) The search across fanpop
On top of the page on the far right end of the black bar of doom we have the search for the whole site. This is a great tool you can use when you want to find spots already available. You hate repeats, you know you do, so before creating a new spot you will use this search.
Also you want to find all content on fanpop for something/someone in this example Katherine Heigl.
There will be content in the "Katherine Heigl" spot and the "Movies" spot but since she is both on TV and in movies you will also find images of her on the "Grey's Anatomy" spot and the "Television" spot. Maybe there is also content in places you hadn't thought of: the "Hottest Actresses" spot or the "Knocked-up" spot. So instead of going to all these spots separately and clicking yourself through all content you use: TADA!! The search across fanpop!!
You type in Katherine Heigl click "search" and this will lead you- in theory- to all content submitted on fanpop concerning Katherine Heigl.*nods* I KNOW, RIGHT??
It has been neatly organized these days: You can filter your search results by category so if you're looking for images only you can even choose to get sub-results organized by image type (icons,wallpapers etc). ALL THAT with a few clicks!
You can also use the advanced search to filter answers,links, forums, picks etc
So much for the theory of it.
What you won't find are images posted but have no keywords and "KH <3<3" as the title. The searchbar is friendly but let's face it not very clever. It doesnt recognize Katherine on a picture..it will only give you results if the image is somehow marked with the words "Katherine Heigl".
That is the reason by the way why people keep moaning aboot keywords! Not to be bossy or rude but because you need to add keywords so your friend the searchbar can find things!
And you see in the image above that you get Ellen Pompeo and Sandra Oh results, too, when searching for Katherine Heigl..Why you ask? Because someone added the wrong keywords!
Also just putting "KH <3<3" in the title of the picture will not result in people being able to find the image when looking for "Katherine Heigl". It just won't! Now maybe you say: All fans call her KH - like we call "How I met your Mother" HIMYM- but try that, type in KH, and you might get some Katherine Heigl pictures along the way- but mostly a lot of "Kingdom Hearts" ( I don't even know what that is to be honest) results to click through.
Wouldn't it be MUCH easier if all images with Katherine Heigl on them would pop up when you want them to and NO Kingdom Hearts results? Isn't that what you would expect? Why on earth would you want "Kindom Hearts" results when looking for Katherine Heigl?
( I researched: Its a game..now the woman is busy but I'm pretty sure she isn't in that.)
That is why when submitting an image or any other type of content think of your fellow fans. Think of new users who come here and want to find things they are a fan of. Mark your content so it can be found with the help of your friend: The dense but well intentioned searchbar!
2) Searching on a spot
Now this search hasn't been around as long as the other. On each spot on the top right under the banner there is another search one that is restricted to the club you're currently in. (if you accidentally use it to search across fanpop you can alter the search by clicking on "search fanpop" the f4 are clever like that and knew we get confused easily).
It's great for finding things that are restricted to a certain spot.
So for example: you want to make a REALLY original pick with awesome images.
You think for a while and come up with "Do you think Katherine Heigl is hot?"
You have become close friends with the searchbar and want to see if anyone else was clever enough to come up with such an unusual question.
Don't try to search the whole question, instead use the main words of your question and type that into the clubsearch so in this case Katherine hot . You probably find *gasp* that 4 people before you had the same idea and you rest assured that great minds think alike. Normally you would leave it at that but that question just HAS to be asked again so you go to the "Hottest Actresses" club and try again. Just for the sake of the example let's pretend you try the search there and it brings back nothing (*coushyeahrightcough*).
So you post this question and want some awesome images to go with your options. Again you can use the clubsearch because most images of Katherine will be in the "Katherine Heigl"spot and more likely of Katherine alone rather than searching across fanpop where you will also get a lot of images with her as Izzie (probably together with Alex who really has no business being on your pick.) You can filter your search again by category and choose icons since those will already have the square format you need.
But what if you want to ask a more specific question aboot e.g. a dress she wore? You want to ask which dress looked better on her the one she wore to the "Academy Awards" in 2008 (no idea if she was invited to that but please play along) or the one she wore at the "Knocked up" premiere? You want your options and the images to match of course since people might not remember them both. Also you're pretty sure pictures of both events were posted on the spot but you really don't remember when and don't want to click through endless results you get when looking at the images section.
Wouldn't it be just insanely helpful if you got the results you needed when searching for "Academy Awards" or "Oscar" on the Katherine Heigl clubsearch? Just imagine the person who uploaded the images was kind enough to put "oscars" "academy awards" "2008" "kathrine heigl" (and maybe some more that fit like "red carpet")in the keywords! You would find what you need instantly!
So remember when adding stuff to fanpop: think aboot your friend the searchbar! Be kind! Help the poor thing to do its work. It doesn't only operate on keywords but also on titles so pay attention to both (for spots/clubs it also works with the submotto for some reason I can't quite grasp :S...just type in "love" and you will see what I mean.).
Don't PLEASE just don't tag stuff thats NOT in the image/video. If you're uploading "Izzie" icons to the Grey's Anatomy spot don't tag other characters.
Don't use all keywords available just to put some. Also and this might to news to some: you can type your own keywords! So you can actually type in "oscar" "academy awards" etc yourself separating them by commas! Bulk uploading kills keywords as Snerkie once said but I won't stop you from doing that anyway but please at least don't tag things that AREN'T in the picture. That is just frustrating to everyone else.
As for titles: its never a good idea to put "OTH <3<3" or "LYK OMG SO HAWT" or any other abbreviations or textspeak. Try to make the titles simple and "searchable" (why THAT'S not a word in the English language is beyond me..but you know what I mean). The "KH" example or putting "GG" which can be Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls or even GOLDEN GIRLS for that matter shows you how it might confuse things for people.
I think its fine to post "updated" repeats but be sure to mark them as such. So instead of asking "Is Katherine Heigl hot?" you could ask "After Katherine Heigl dyed her hair, got plastic surgery and is now a dude: Is she still hot? and it wouldn't really be a repeat.
So next time you want to add something to fanpop please do two things use a touch of common sense and PLEASE use your friend: The Searchbar!
But I get so tired of seeing the same things over and over in my updates and then typing the same stuff over and over. Also people dont seem to grasp the use of keywords so maybe this will help some in that respect,too.
Now I know the searchbar is scary! I saw it for the first time myself when I was a new user and was reluctant to try it. Who knows what might happen when you click that search button!?! But one day I summoned all my courage I tried and it didn't hurt. Now there was a surprise! Back then there was only one..now we have TWO search options and I know that is even scarier. But be assured I have been using the search for ages now and nothing bad has ever happened to me.
Seriously I give you my word: IT WON'T HURT! PROMISE!!
Searching for content on this site is a little wonky at times I admit that. But over time you will learn how to get better results AND and this is the w.i.e.r.d.est part (I know its spelt weird but come on..nobody likes a Ted!) you will also learn how to label the content you submit so that other users can find it as well.
1) The search across fanpop
On top of the page on the far right end of the black bar of doom we have the search for the whole site. This is a great tool you can use when you want to find spots already available. You hate repeats, you know you do, so before creating a new spot you will use this search.
Also you want to find all content on fanpop for something/someone in this example Katherine Heigl.
There will be content in the "Katherine Heigl" spot and the "Movies" spot but since she is both on TV and in movies you will also find images of her on the "Grey's Anatomy" spot and the "Television" spot. Maybe there is also content in places you hadn't thought of: the "Hottest Actresses" spot or the "Knocked-up" spot. So instead of going to all these spots separately and clicking yourself through all content you use: TADA!! The search across fanpop!!
You type in Katherine Heigl click "search" and this will lead you- in theory- to all content submitted on fanpop concerning Katherine Heigl.*nods* I KNOW, RIGHT??
It has been neatly organized these days: You can filter your search results by category so if you're looking for images only you can even choose to get sub-results organized by image type (icons,wallpapers etc). ALL THAT with a few clicks!
Image results for Katherine Heigl
You can also use the advanced search to filter answers,links, forums, picks etc
Question that has been asked and answered sufficiently now!
So much for the theory of it.
What you won't find are images posted but have no keywords and "KH <3<3" as the title. The searchbar is friendly but let's face it not very clever. It doesnt recognize Katherine on a picture..it will only give you results if the image is somehow marked with the words "Katherine Heigl".
That is the reason by the way why people keep moaning aboot keywords! Not to be bossy or rude but because you need to add keywords so your friend the searchbar can find things!
And you see in the image above that you get Ellen Pompeo and Sandra Oh results, too, when searching for Katherine Heigl..Why you ask? Because someone added the wrong keywords!
Also just putting "KH <3<3" in the title of the picture will not result in people being able to find the image when looking for "Katherine Heigl". It just won't! Now maybe you say: All fans call her KH - like we call "How I met your Mother" HIMYM- but try that, type in KH, and you might get some Katherine Heigl pictures along the way- but mostly a lot of "Kingdom Hearts" ( I don't even know what that is to be honest) results to click through.
Wouldn't it be MUCH easier if all images with Katherine Heigl on them would pop up when you want them to and NO Kingdom Hearts results? Isn't that what you would expect? Why on earth would you want "Kindom Hearts" results when looking for Katherine Heigl?
( I researched: Its a game..now the woman is busy but I'm pretty sure she isn't in that.)
That is why when submitting an image or any other type of content think of your fellow fans. Think of new users who come here and want to find things they are a fan of. Mark your content so it can be found with the help of your friend: The dense but well intentioned searchbar!
KH= Katherine Heigl?
2) Searching on a spot
Now this search hasn't been around as long as the other. On each spot on the top right under the banner there is another search one that is restricted to the club you're currently in. (if you accidentally use it to search across fanpop you can alter the search by clicking on "search fanpop" the f4 are clever like that and knew we get confused easily).
It's great for finding things that are restricted to a certain spot.
So for example: you want to make a REALLY original pick with awesome images.
You think for a while and come up with "Do you think Katherine Heigl is hot?"
You have become close friends with the searchbar and want to see if anyone else was clever enough to come up with such an unusual question.
Don't try to search the whole question, instead use the main words of your question and type that into the clubsearch so in this case Katherine hot . You probably find *gasp* that 4 people before you had the same idea and you rest assured that great minds think alike. Normally you would leave it at that but that question just HAS to be asked again so you go to the "Hottest Actresses" club and try again. Just for the sake of the example let's pretend you try the search there and it brings back nothing (*coushyeahrightcough*).
So you post this question and want some awesome images to go with your options. Again you can use the clubsearch because most images of Katherine will be in the "Katherine Heigl"spot and more likely of Katherine alone rather than searching across fanpop where you will also get a lot of images with her as Izzie (probably together with Alex who really has no business being on your pick.) You can filter your search again by category and choose icons since those will already have the square format you need.
But what if you want to ask a more specific question aboot e.g. a dress she wore? You want to ask which dress looked better on her the one she wore to the "Academy Awards" in 2008 (no idea if she was invited to that but please play along) or the one she wore at the "Knocked up" premiere? You want your options and the images to match of course since people might not remember them both. Also you're pretty sure pictures of both events were posted on the spot but you really don't remember when and don't want to click through endless results you get when looking at the images section.
Wouldn't it be just insanely helpful if you got the results you needed when searching for "Academy Awards" or "Oscar" on the Katherine Heigl clubsearch? Just imagine the person who uploaded the images was kind enough to put "oscars" "academy awards" "2008" "kathrine heigl" (and maybe some more that fit like "red carpet")in the keywords! You would find what you need instantly!
So remember when adding stuff to fanpop: think aboot your friend the searchbar! Be kind! Help the poor thing to do its work. It doesn't only operate on keywords but also on titles so pay attention to both (for spots/clubs it also works with the submotto for some reason I can't quite grasp :S...just type in "love" and you will see what I mean.).
Don't PLEASE just don't tag stuff thats NOT in the image/video. If you're uploading "Izzie" icons to the Grey's Anatomy spot don't tag other characters.
Don't use all keywords available just to put some. Also and this might to news to some: you can type your own keywords! So you can actually type in "oscar" "academy awards" etc yourself separating them by commas! Bulk uploading kills keywords as Snerkie once said but I won't stop you from doing that anyway but please at least don't tag things that AREN'T in the picture. That is just frustrating to everyone else.
As for titles: its never a good idea to put "OTH <3<3" or "LYK OMG SO HAWT" or any other abbreviations or textspeak. Try to make the titles simple and "searchable" (why THAT'S not a word in the English language is beyond me..but you know what I mean). The "KH" example or putting "GG" which can be Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls or even GOLDEN GIRLS for that matter shows you how it might confuse things for people.
I think its fine to post "updated" repeats but be sure to mark them as such. So instead of asking "Is Katherine Heigl hot?" you could ask "After Katherine Heigl dyed her hair, got plastic surgery and is now a dude: Is she still hot? and it wouldn't really be a repeat.
So next time you want to add something to fanpop please do two things use a touch of common sense and PLEASE use your friend: The Searchbar!
