Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the more frequent questions about the ruralnet|online 2.0 service. If you have others please send them to support[at]ruralnet[dot]org[dot]uk

What is ruralnet|online 2.0?

ruralnet|online 2.0 gives those living in, or working for, rural people or communities the tools they need to operate more effectively and efficiently online. You don’t ‘join’ ruralnet|online you just tell us what tools you need and we provide them for you. However, by operating as part of ruralnet|online you are automatically linked with other people doing similar things through the ruralnet|online dashboard. (more…)

What can I use ruralnet|online 2.0 for?

At its most basic level, ruralnet|online 2.0 gives you space on the internet to do what you want. You might want to set up a community website, or a website to support a project. You can use the web space we give you to support an event or even deliver a service to rural people or those who support them. You might want to use it to run a consultation or run a blog. Have a look at the case studies to see how others are using ruralnet|online.

I’m not at all technical. Will I be able to maintain a website or blog on ruralnet|online?

Yes you will. ruralnet|online 2.0 has been designed for use by anybody living in or working for rural communities. Anyone who can use a mouse and keyboard (or is prepared to learn) will be able to manage their own webspace using ruralnet|online.

What is the ruralnet|online dashboard?

The ruralnet|online dashboard is located here: ruralnet.org.uk. It is like the ‘homepage’ of the whole network. The dashboard automatically summarises all the activity going on in ruralnet|online webspace, as it happens. This is explained in more detail in this annotated screenshot (pass your mouse over the screenshot to see an explanation of the different areas).  The dashboard is the place to send your colleagues and friends who want free webspace.

Why should I setup webspace with ruralnet|online when I can get free webspace through my ISP (Internet Service Provider)?

Free webspace is available from many places. Here are a few of the benefits of taking up the ruralnet|online offer:

1. Without having to do any extra work you are part of a rural development network and so what you do gets a higher profile:
   1. The changes you make automatically appear on the ruralnet|online dashboard
   2. Your webspace is included in the ruralnet|online search
   3. Your webspace appears in the ruralnet|online blue bar (see below)
2. We provide you with support:
   1. Free access to the ‘Webspace support’ area with Experts Online
   2. Regular training courses
   3. Bespoke one-to-one support
3. ruralnet|online runs on the latest Web 2.0 technology and is very easy to use - no special programs or technical skills are required.

What will my web address be?

The format of web addresses (url) is:
http://<webspace name>.ruralnet.org.uk
Some current examples include:

1. http://collaborate2008.ruralnet.org.uk - an event
2. http://ruralnetuk.ruralnet.org.uk - a website
3. http://rusource.ruralnet.org.uk - an information service
4. http://simonberry.ruralnet.org.uk - a blog

Can I change the web address (url)?

You can superimpose another domain name onto your ruralnet|online url and if you know how to register domain names and manage them you can do this yourself. You don’t know how to do this you can ask a question in Experts Online. If you’d like us to do it for you we will do it on a time an materials basis and give you a quotation ‘up-front’. We have superimposed the url ruralnetuk.org on to ruralnetuk.ruralnet.org.uk

Is there an ongoing charge for the “free” webspace?

No. ruralnet|online 2.0 webspace is free.

Is there a limit to how much content I can put on my web space?

Each user is limited to 100Mbytes of webspace which is a lot and enough cover all reasonable needs.

Is there a limit to the number of pages I can have?

No.

How does the ruralnet|online search work? Will my webspace be included?

The search function on the homepage (the ruralnet|online dashboard) of ruralnet|online searches across all ruralnet|online webspaces and ruralnet|uk’s services including: xPRESS Digest and Experts Online. It’s a fantastic facility, try doing a search on ‘broadband’ or ‘rural services’. There are filters available within the search function so that you can display separate results from the four main areas: xPRESS Digest; Experts Online; ruralnet|online and the ruralnet|uk website.

Can I take off the ruralnet|online blue bar?

All ruralnet|online free webspace comes with the blue bar as standard. It pulls the network of activities together and provides a quick way to get to all elements of the ruralnet|online network. However, we can remove your website or blog from the ruralnet|online network and remove the bar. There is a ‘time and materials’ charge for doing this.

If I set up my webspace up here (on ruralnet|online) what would happen if I wanted to move it later on?

All the webspace we provide has an import and export function and so you can ‘export’ the content of your website and import it into other compatible Web 2.0 systems. Our system is based on Wordpress. However, there are pitfalls which you need to be aware of and seek to avoid from the outset. The export function will export the html code and the pictures but this code will not change during the export process and so will continue to retrieve the images from their original location. To ensure the maximum flexibility we would recommend that you store your images, videos etc on a third party site (like Flickr or YouTube) and pull them into your webspace from there. This is good practice for other reasons too as it gives a broader exposure for you and your work. There are instructions on how to do this in Experts Online.

Can I migrate my current website to ruralnet|online 2.0?

Many communities have websites already but they may be costly or difficult to maintain. ruralnet|online webspace is designed to be simple to use. Keeping ruralnet|online webspace up to date and publishing new material is NOT a technical process, it is a process that is in the hands of those in charge of the webpace content.

For these reasons you may want to move your website or blog or other type of web presence to ruralnet|online 2.0. The additional benefits of doing this include: increased exposure for the work you are doing, the ability to easily network and get support from others and the support services available to you.

Migrating to ruralnet|online may be a simple import/export process or a ‘copy and paste’ job. However, the ruralnet|online system offers so many new opportunities for engaging your visitors that you might want to use the migration as an opportunity to re-think the way you are doing things. You might want to come on one of our ‘primer’ training courses to get you satrted and thinking about your web presence in a more creative way. Call or email Serena Malone for information on the current training opportunities: s[dot]malone[at]ruralnet[dot]org[dot]uk and 0845 1300 411.

What support can you offer to help me get my webspace setup?

ruralnet|online 2.0 uses state of the art technology but at the same time is very easy to use (once you get the hang of it!). We can provide free support through our Experts Online service and support blog here. Here you can ask a specific question and get an answer or you can browse and search answers already given. We are also building up online training resources within Experts Online which you will have access to.
We also run regular, affordable training courses which you can attend and we are also able to design bespoke training for you, either at your place or ours (in Stoneleigh or London). If you have further questions regarding the training we offer please contact Serena Malone: s[dot]malone[at]ruralnet[dot]org[dot]uk or 0845 1300 411.

Do I get access to the whole of Experts Online as part of the support package?

We are always seeking funding to be able to provide free access to Experts Online to all those working for the good of rural communities and opportunities will arise from time to time for ruralnet|online users to get access to the full Experts Online for themselves and those who visit their webspace. However, as part of ruralnet|online 2.0, we will provide you with access to the ‘Webspace support’ area of Experts Online completely free of charge. Here you can get answers to your questions and browse and search those questions asked by others. This area also contains online training resources and materials.

How can I get access to the full Experts Online service?

You can upgrade your access to the full Experts Online service at any time at a cost of £10/month. We will simply upgrade your ‘Webspace support’ account, you will not have another ID and PW to remember. The full Experts Online service is extremely comprehensive and covers: Business planning, Community Engagement, ICT, Employment Issues, Finance Management, Grant Funding, Legal Issues, Rural Services, Board Recruitment and Project Planning.

Can I purchase certain elements of Experts Online and not the entire service?

For individuals, Experts Online comes as a complete package. However, we are able to tailor the service and filter it for specific networks of users. For example, we deliver the Rural Services element of Experts Online through existing websites supporting communities through the Post Office closure programme and beyond. See for example the Essex Rural Partnership (the Experts Online ‘widget’ displaying the latest Rural Services questions is on the bottom left of the page). If you run a website providing this sort of support to rural communities, we are able to provide free access to Experts Online to you and the visitors to your website. This free offer has been made possible thanks to support and funding from the Commission for Rural Communities and the Post Office to the RSSupport Project. If you’d like the Experts Online widget on your website please email rssupport[at]ruralnet[dot]org[dot]uk or call 0845 130 5480.

Can ruralnet|uk help design my webspace?

Yes we can but you don’t have to worry too much about your design before you get started because the design and content elements of ruralnet|online webspace are independent of each other. When you set up your ruralnet|online webspace you can choose from a selection of designs (called ‘themes’) that we have set up for you. Changing from one theme to another takes just a few minutes.

How do I embed a video into my webspace?

Just the sort of question for Experts Online and it’s already been asked and answered here. Here is an example of a video and Powerpoint presentation embedded into a page within ruralnet|online. The Powerpoint presentation is held at slideshare.net (a free service) and the video is stored and delivered using the free Qik video hosting service. Other free hosting options, like YouTube and Vimeo are available to you.

What technology does ruralnet|online 2.0 use?

ruralnet|online 2.0 is built using Wordpress Multi-user (WPMU). We have added some extra features such as the blue bar and the aggregation function to enable links across the different online activities we support. The Experts Online service is based on Drupal (a different type of software package for websites).

What is an RSS feed?

An RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed is a notification system which is built in to the latest web hosting systems like ruralnet|online 2.0. It notifies people (or other websites) when a change has been made. All ruralnet|online webspace has RSS built in so that visitors to your website can ’subscribe’ to your RSS feed so that they can keep up to date with changes you make without having to remember to visit your website or blog everyday. The ruralnet|online 2.0 aggregator (homepage) uses the RSS notification system to pull together changes as they are made by ruralnet|online 2.0 webspace users. This provides a snapshot of all activity at any point in time. Clever!

How can I get an RSS feed from another site onto my webspace on ruralnet|online?

Again this is another great question to ask in Experts Online and a quick search on ‘rss feed’ within Experts Online lists the answer. You could, for example, incorporate the latest rural news from our xPRESS Digest Service into your webspace using this technique. Remember that we run regular training courses on how to get the most out of your ruralnet|online webspace. Call or email Serena Malone for the latest details: s[dot]malone[at]ruralnet[dot]org[dot]uk and 0845 1300 411.

Can I have one of my own RSS feed on the ruralnetonline homepage?

This happens automatically. When you update your webspace.