Exactly How Do I Fill In the Paid Listing Form?

Filling out the Listing Form takes 13 Short and Easy Steps:

Note: These instructions assume that you are already registered and logged in to ValleyLists, that you have gotten yourself to the category you want for your business, and that you have clicked on the "Create here to Create a New Posting/Listing in this Category."

1. Enter the email address you want ValleyLists to use in its communication with you.

2. Enter the name of your business.

3. Enter a “catch phrase” or "tag line" or "headline" for your ad. The catch phrase, tag line, or headline is what visitors will see, along with and after your business name, as they browse through the Listings on ValleyLists. For example, the  tag line for ValleyLists is: “Get Connected Where You Live.” Try to put something into your catch phrase, tag line, or headline so that people will be drawn to click on the short form of your Listing and read your full Listing.

4. Enter your contact information, including a link to your website if you have one, in the appropriate boxes. If you wish, your public email address can be different from the email address you entered under Step 2.

5. Listing Sponsors are people or non-profit organizations which help ValleyLists obtain paid Listings by spreading the word about ValleyLists. They will receive a commission (currently about $10/listing) out of your Listing fee if they have introduced you to ValleyLists. If you have a Listing Sponsor, he, she, or it you should have given you a business card or brochure with their Listing Sponsor ID on it.

If you have a Listing Sponsor, enter his, her, or its Listing Sponsor ID into the box. If you have a Listing Sponsor but do not remember his, her, or its ID, you can click on the list of Listing Sponsors and browse to find your Listing Sponsor’s name. Click on it to enter the ID.

If you do not have a Listing Sponsor, you may, if you wish, click on the list of Non-Profit Organizations which are Listing Sponsors and designate an organization to receive the commission from your Listing. You may also leave the Listing Sponsor ID box blank if you wish.

6. Enter the description of your business. You have unlimited space. As a practical matter, you are limited by what you think people will read on a single page of a web site. You can type in the information directly or “cut and paste” in an existing file - which can include HTML programing. You will have the ability to edit this description any time you wish. Click “Next.”

7. Create your slide show, if you wish, by uploading up to 25 photos or graphics images. You select and upload one photo or image at a time. The photos or graphics will show up in the slide show in the order in which you upload them.  You will have the ability to edit this slide show by deleting and/or adding photos or graphics any time you wish. You are not required to upload any photos or images. When you have finished with the “Upload your photos or images” page, click ‘Next.”

8. Select the Service Area for your Listing. Your Listing must define the geographical Service Area which your business serves - defined by one or more ZIP Codes.

People visiting ValleyLists will be searching by a specific Search Area - defined by one or more ZIP Codes. If a visitor's Search Area overlaps your Service Area, they will find your Listing.

Indicate the geographical Service Area you serve by selecting one of the following:

- one or more ZIP Codes,

- one or more counties,

- one or more bioregions,

- some combination of all three that accurately describes your Service Area; OR

- the entire ValleyLists.com service area - which is currently the entire Connecticut River Valley from Canada to the Long Island Sound.

Note: When you select one or more counties or bioregions you are selecting all of the ZIP Codes in the selected counties or bioregions.

When you have indicated your business’ Service Area, click “Next.”

9. Put your business on appropriate Special Lists by clicking on the applicable boxes. Visitors to ValleyLists will then be able to use the Special Lists as another way to find your Business Listing.

10. Read and Agree to the "Limitations on What I Can Post," Limitations on Who Should be Using Business Listings,: "The Financial and Other Rules Affecting Business Listings," and the "Rules for Using ValleyLists." Click “Next.”

11. You will see a preview of your Listing as you have created it. If you want to make any changes, use the “Back” button on your browser to return to the pages you want to change. If you are happy with your Listing, click “Next.”

Note: If you go back to change something, you must click "Next" on each of the pages to get back to the preview page.

12. You will be taken to the Shopping Cart where you will pay for your Listing.

13. Check your email for a message from ValleyLists. The message will contain a link back to ValleyLists. If you return to ValleyLists, by clicking on the link, you will be able to view either your Listing on the site or your Listing’s headline as it appears in your Listing’s Category menu. This email will contain links which will allow you to: (a) edit your Listing, (b) view your entire posted Listing, or (c) view your Listing’s name and catch phrase/tag line/headline as it appears in your Listing’s category menu.

This email will also contain suggestions for actions you can take to enhance the value of your ValleyLists Paid Listing. Everything you do to tell others about ValleyLists will draw more traffic to the site and thus more potential people to view your Listing.