12 Ways to Use Southwest Minneapolis Patch

We here at Southwest Minneapolis Patch are so pleased you're checking out our stories, adding to the directory, and following us on Twitter and Facebook. But, did you know there are even more avenues for users to get involved?

Here are 12 ways to get more engaged with Patch—and other community members—which we believe will make this an even more vibrant and interactive news hub for the community.

1. Comment on an Article

We subscribe to the idea that "news is a conversation." A good portion of our reporting stems from what readers tell us in conversations around town, in e-mails and comments on our sites. Please feel free to share your thoughts and reactions to our articles by posting a comment directly below each story. 

2. Start a Blog

From cooking tips and crafting ideas to book reviews and political commentary, you could turn your passion into a blog and community discussion board on Patch. Get started today by applying at richfield.patch.com/blog/apply.

3. Post an Event 

Do you know of a book signing by a local author at the library, a comedy show that will raise funds for area schools or an amazing art exhibit in Richfield? Is there a holiday concert or awards ceremony coming up? If it's not on our Patch calendar, it should be. Feel free to add events to our site and point out things we might have missed at richfield.patch.com/search/events.

4. Send a News Tip

At the bottom of the homepage, there's a link that says, "Send Us News Tips." Tell us about stories you feel we should cover. The tip will be sent straight to Caitlin Burgess, local editor of Richfield Patch.

5. Post an Announcement

We love to share in your good news! Post births, engagements and weddings in our announcements. Tell us who made the honor roll or share school awards. Inform the community on who has been newly promoted, or give a public thank you. If you're looking for volunteers or searching for your lost dog, we welcome you to call on your community for help. Just remember, announcements should be for personal use and not for advertising. Go to richfield.patch.com/search/announcements.

6. Sign Up for Newsletters

The daily Richfield 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. Sign up at richfield.patch.com/newsletters.

7. Claim Your Directory Listing 

Our business and organization listings are a free service to all in the community. Our team of researchers actually hit the streets and visited businesses, schools, parks, libraries and more so we can provide photos as well as detailed information such as products sold and hours of operation. To contact us about the listing for your business or organization, e-mail us. If you own or manage a business or organization in our directory, claim it at richfield.patch.com/search/listings.

8. Upload Your Photos and Video 

Upload videos of high school soccer goals or your little ballerina's first recital. Post photos from local festivals, or send in a snapshot of your favorite local hikes. We invite you to share with the rest of the community the memories you've caught on camera.

9. Advertise With Us 

For all advertising queries, please send an e-mail to Richfield Senior Ad Manager, Tony Raiber, at tony.raiber@patch.com or call him at 612-381-6343.

10. Review Restaurants

Do you want to be the first to tell your friends whether the new restaurant in the area gets a thumbs-up? You can post a review of your favorite (or not-so favorite) restaurants at Richfield.Patch.com/restaurants. You can also search to find what you're craving, filtering results by cuisine, price or seating accommodations. 

11. Social Media Engagement

You can "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@RichfieldPatch). Immerse yourself in our content, actively contribute and engage on a more informal level via social media. Let's start a conversation.

12. Send a Letter to the Editor or Submit a Guest Commentary

Patch would like to invite every member of the Richfield 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. Try to keep it under 300 words, and e-mail it to Caitlin at caitlin.burgess@patch.com.

The more Richfield Patch serves as an online center for community dialogue, the more useful our site will be. So next time you have something to share with your neighbors, consider taking a moment to send a letter to Patch. Chances are, you're not the only one who feels that way. You can reach Caitlin 612-965-5715.