Are you using Patch.com to your best advantage? We hope you will, so we're offering this quick rundown of all the ways Patch can help you. 

Simply put, Patch is about you and your community.

Readers can post Upcoming Events,  Announcements and Local Voices comments. We hope that our site will strengthen the community, but we can't do it without you. So get to it!

1. Post an Event

Do you know of a concert or fun happening? Is there a garage sale or graduation ceremony coming up? How about a fundraiser for a local charity? If it's not on our Patch calendar, it should be. Feel free to add events to our site at http://niles.patch.com/events/new.  (Free)

2. Post an Announcement

Did you get promoted, or did your company promote someone? Did your student win an honor? Maybe you opened a new office or got an award. Also, post births, engagements and wedding announcements. If you're looking for volunteers or searching for your lost dog, we welcome you to call on your community for help. Free, but just remember, our Terms of Service  say announcements should be for personal use and not for advertising.

3. Sign Up for Newsletters

The daily Niles Patch newsletter brings you (some) articles and announcements that have been posted in the last 24 hours. It is delivered to your email every day. It's a great idea; you won't miss any important news. Sign up at niles.patch.com/newsletters. (Free)

4. Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter

You'll find a lot more here than what's on the Patch site. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NilesPatch and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/nilespatch. 

5. Got something to say? Say it in our Local Voices section. 

Maybe you want to comment on something happening in town or offer expertise from your business or personal background. People write about everything from auto care to planning fun activities for kids to local observations to...whatever. Make your statement at niles.patch.com/blog/apply.

6. Claim Your Directory Listing

To create our comprehensive directory, our team of researchers hit the streets and visited businesses, schools, parks, libraries and more to provide photos and detailed information from products sold to hours of operation. To contact us about the listing for your business or organization, email us at directorysupport@patch.com. If you own or manage a business or organization in our directory, claim it at http://niles.patch.com/search/listings  and begin managing and updating your own content— at no cost!

7. Upload Your Photos and Video

Upload videos of the high school football touchdown or your Niles Little Leaguer's first home run. Post photos from local festivals, or send in a snapshot of your best holiday recipes. We invite you to share the memories that you've caught on camera with the rest of the community.

8. Comment on an Article

We subscribe to the idea that news is a conversation. Share your thoughts and reactions to our articles by posting a comment directly below each story. 

9. Advertise With Us

For all advertising queries, please email Jill Dillingham at jill.dillingham@patch.com .

10. Review Businesses

Do you want to be the first to tell your friends whether the new restaurant in town gets two thumbs up? You can post a review of your favorite (or least favorite) restaurants at http://niles.patch.com/restaurants . Or, search to find what you're craving— you can filter results by cuisine, price or seating accommodations.

11. Send a News Tip

At the bottom of the homepage, you'll find a link titled "Send Us News Tips." Tell us about stories we should cover. Your tip will be sent straight to Niles Patch's (extremely grateful) editor.

12. Send a Letter to the Editor

The more Niles Patch serves as on online space for community dialogue, the more useful our site will be. So the next time you have something to share with your neighbors, email Pam DeFiglio at pam@patch.com.