Adding The Spotlight Project to your Blog

There are a few easy steps required in order to add The Spotlight Project to your blog.

1. Contact us!
   
   Send an email to wantspot at thespotlightproject dot org.
   
   To enable your blog, The Spotlight Project must add your blog to our internal list of supported blogs. In addition, we like to test things before a blog goes live with The Spotlight Project to makes sure that everything is working correctly.
   
   We will send you an email when things are ready.
   
   
2. Test for support
   
   Use the blog test page to check support for your blog. Do not go to step 3 until the test page indicates that your blog is supported. Also, make sure that the extracted post looks ok.
   
   
3. Add the Spotlight link to your blog
   
   Including The Spotlight Project to your blog requires adding a single link near every post's permalink. A generic example:
   
       http://www.thespotlightproject.org/tsp.php?blogUrl=http://www.yourblog.com/PERMALINK
   
   An example for a www.mydd.com post:
   
       http://www.thespotlightproject.org/tsp.php?blogUrl=http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/8/8/104833/9956
   
   Of course the link needs to be part of an <a> tag. For instance: (line wrapped for readability)

      <a href="http://www.thespotlightproject.org/tsp.php?blogUrl=
                   http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/8/8/104833/9956">Spotlight</a>
   

   Most blogs use a blogging software package such as WordPress or MoveableType. Each blog application has its own method of generating and automatically embedding permalinks for each blog post.
   
   The blog integration page provides instructions for common blogging software packages.
   
   
4. Test
   
   Make sure that:
   1. Clicking on the Spotlight link on your blog takes you to The Spotlight Project
   2. The extracted post matches the one you clicked on
   
   
5. Announce
   
   Post an announcement on your blog telling your readers about The Spotlight Project.
   
   It would be helpful if you highlight a few simple things to your readers.
   
   
   • Please encourage people to be polite, professional, and to use facts and avoid name calling
   • Remind your readers that reporters and the press are real people. We want to influence not alienate
   • The Spotlight Project is a serious tool not a toy. Misuse will lessen its effectiveness
   • Please report any problems to help at thespotlightproject dot org