Five More Ways to Get the Most Out of Patch

On Friday, we told you that New Milford Patch has been around for nearly nine months. So we wondered--do readers knew all of the ways to take full advantage of New Milford Patch? We shared five tips on Friday on how to maximize your Patch experience.

Here are five more--from blogs to breaking news alerts to smartphone apps and much, much more the things savvy Patch readers need to know.

Get your news and information on the go: It’s an app-happy world and we’re just living in it. Luckily, Patch goes everywhere your phone does. We have free apps for iPhones and Androids. The iPhone version gives access to news, photos, the business listings and more. The Android app, called Patch Places, is a full list of the businesses in your area. You can change your location on the apps when you’re traveling to give you the best local information from our nationwide Patch network.

Share, share, share: Do you have a news tip? Or a photo or video that would make a story better? Patch makes it easy for readers to get involved by sharing their knowledge. Contact your local editor for any news tips or story ideas—we want to hear from you. You can also upload your own photos and videos to any story by clicking on “add your photos & videos” under the main picture. Let us know what’s happening in the shot by adding a caption.

You can also share your personal news with the community. Are you getting married? Having a baby? Perhaps you want to share an obituary with the community, thank your neighbors or brag a bit about your child’s award. Do it all for free in our Announcements section. Click on Announcements under the “News” drop down menu and announce away.

Find, review and follow local businesses
Does Fido need a shampoo? Do you need a shampoo? From pet salons to human salons, restaurants, mechanics and more, our Places page has New Milford businesses galore. Don’t forget to rate your experience after you visit a local merchant. Plus, you can follow your favorite businesses in town, and you’ll be notified every time they’re mentioned in a Patch story, whether that means a profile of the establishment or special deals we find.

Maybe you own a business in New Milford? This tip is just for the business owners out there. We strive to list every New Milford business in our directory. You can claim your listing and add more photos, update details and so on. Just fill out the “Claim It” form on your business’ listing.

Advertise with us—you too, nonprofits!
While we’re on a business kick, we’d be remiss not to mention advertising opportunities on Patch. This goes for local businesses of course, but candidates for political office, theaters and other groups also may want to consider advertising on Patch. Patch also has a deal to provide free ads to qualifying nonprofits. Contact Matt Lucivero at matthew.lucivero@patch.com, for all advertising information.

Stay connected with Patch
Our Facebook and Twitter pages have the latest New Milford news. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @newmilfordpatch to stay in the know.

Bonus tip: Did you know the idea for Patch first sprang from one of our founders’ difficulty in finding local volunteer opportunities? Volunteerism—participating in it and supporting it—is vital to Patch’s business values. We feature local volunteers who give back to their community, plus we give back as well—each Patch employee volunteers a minimum five days per year in our local communities. You can find volunteer opportunities or post volunteer needed announcements under the “Volunteer” section on the top banner.