13 Ways to Make Ocean City Patch Your Own

The best thing about the Web is that everybody gets to participate, and the best sites are always the most inviting. So come on in and share your thoughts, your news and anything else that strikes your fancy.

Here's how:

1. Comment on an article

Yes, we'll admit it. Reader comments are often more insightful and interesting than the news articles themselves. They provide facts and perspectives to add context to any story, and, because they're genuine, they're fun to read. They're also great sources of information for developing more stories. So don't keep those thoughts inside. Type away.  

2. Get it where you like it

If Facebook is part of your daily routine, you can follow our real-time news updates by clicking the "like" button at Ocean City Patch and then checking back when you want to see what's happening. If you want news updates by text message, follow OceanCityPatch on Twitter and make sure your mobile notifications are enabled.

3. Claim your directory listing 

Ocean City has two vibrant and unique shopping districts–downtown and on the boardwalk. Many other year-round and seasonal businesses dot the island. Our researchers traveled door-to-door visiting businesses, parks, libraries and other city facilities to collect information and photographs as a service to our website users. But we're asking business owners to let us know what we missed and to help us update listings as information changes. If you own or manage a business or organization, search or browse for it in our directory, then click on the "Claim it" link. To contact us about missing listings or other issues, e-mail us at directorysupport@patch.com. 

4. Ask a question

If you have a question about anything in town, visit Patch's Q&A section to post it ... or to answer someone else's ... or to participate in a conversation about any of the topics.

5. Post an event 

If the public can attend, we want to know about it. Feel free to add your own events to our listings. 

6. Advertise with us 

For all advertising queries, please send an e-mail to our Ocean City Patch Ad Manager at sales@patch.com.

7. Send a news tip

At the bottom of the homepage, there's a link that says, "Send Us News Tips." Tell us about stories we should cover. 

8. Post an announcement

Post births, engagements and wedding announcements. Tell us who made the honor roll or share school awards, social notes and shout-outs. If you're looking for volunteers or searching for your lost dog, we welcome you to call on your community for help. 

9. Sign up for newsletters

The daily Ocean City Patch newsletter brings you all articles and announcements that have been posted in the last 24 hours. It is delivered to your e-mail every day at 6 a.m. You can also sign up for the weekly newsletter, which shows a subset of the content created and featured on our site over the last few days. It is delivered every Thursday at 10 a.m. Look for the Follow Us and Newsletter links in the right column of this and most pages.

10. Shout it out!

You now have a way to have your say on the site without having to add a comment to an existing article. You can tell us anything by using the new shout box at the top of the Activity Stream on the homepage. Whatever you "shout" will go directly into the stream, right on the homepage.

11. Upload your photos and video 

Upload videos of high school football touchdowns or your little surf rat's first big wave. Post photos from local festivals, or send in a snapshot of your best holiday recipes. We invite you to share with the rest of the community the memories you've caught on camera.

12. Review restaurants

Do you want to be the first to tell your friends whether the new restaurant in town gets a thumbs-up? You can post a review of your favorite (or not-so favorite) places on our restaurants directory. Or, search to find what you're craving–you can filter results by cuisine, price or seating accommodations.

13. Send a letter to the editor

Patch would like to invite every member of the Ocean City community to submit a letter to the editor. Express your thoughts or concerns about anything that might be stirring up conversation around town, and we'll post it. Make sure it's not longer than 300 words and e-mail it to Editor Doug Bergen at douglas.bergen@patch.com.