12 Ways to Use Iowa City Patch in 2012

The caucuses are over but, more importantly, it's a new year, and we're ready to serve the Iowa City community in a bigger and better way — but we need your help.

Iowa City Patch is as much your site as it is ours. Here's how you can use Patch to make an impact.

Share the news. When we know about community news, we're on the case. From important city announcements ranging from power outages and crime, Patch is covering news 24-7. See something you think others should read? All you have to do is click the Facebook "recommend" button above an article or blog to share it with your neighbors and friends.

Comment. If you have relevant information to add to an article, jump in and make a comment. We'll follow up and possibly add it to related articles in the future. Most community stories continue to evolve after they are reported—you can be a real-time source by commenting.

Connect with the local editor. Email Iowa City Patch site editor Stephen Schmidt at stephen.schmidt@patch.com if you have any tips or information to share. 

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. When we write an article, we tweet the news and share it with our followers. Want the info the fastest way possible? Follow @IowaCityPatch on Twitter or like us on Facebook.

Get the iPhone or Droid app. Your smartphone is an awesome tool for getting the info on what's going on in your community. Click here to get the Patch app for free on iTunes. Not only can you read news on it, but post photos and videos as well. For information about the Droid app, click here.

Take photos. Patch has launched a new community gallery, where you can post any of your own photography. Have a cool photo of something you spotted around town? Share it with us.

Contribute to Iowa City Patch Eyes & Ears. Reach a larger audience by sharing your news, announements and photos on Iowa City Patch Eyes & Ears, hosted on the popular microblogging site, Tumblr. This page makes it super easy for you to take part in sharing the stories happening right in your neighborhood and makes you a citizen journalist in your own town.

Shoot videos. The community gallery is not just for photos—send clips of anything around town you think is newsworthy. If you also give us a heads up via email that you're uploading a video, we can feature it prominently on the homepage.

Add to the events calendar. Have an event you want to make the community aware of? Don't be shy. Post it in our events calendar for all to see. It's free!

Post a classified ad. Is your company looking to hire a new employee? Do you have something your hoping to sell? Post an ad in Iowa City Patch's classifieds and increase your chances of getting a response. Just like our events calendar, classified listings are free!

Volunteer. The same goes for our announcements section on Patch. Are you looking for volunteers for a service project? Share it.

Blog. Everybody in any community has a story to tell. Don't keep them to yourself. Sign up to be a blogger on Patch.