If you couldn't attend last night's Patch Academy, here are some highlights we shared with those who attended. We hope these tips help you navigate Patch and contribute to the site.

1. Become a user. Sign up for an account on Patch if you don't already have one. This allows you to interact with others on the site through comments, posting and more. Also, as you join, sign up for our daily newsletter to receive Patch right in your inbox.

2. Events. Users may post their own events to our calendar by clicking here and filling out all the fields. This is especially useful for those organizing community events. Don't forget to upload a photo to make your event look more eye-catching.

3. Announcements. Users may post their own announcements by clicking here and filling out all the fields. Whether it's sports scores, a press release, a photo from a local event or a birth announcement, all of those items belong in our Announcements section. Choose the category that best describes what you'd like to announce, enter a short description and a photo, and you're done.

4. Claim your listing. If you are a business owner or manage a non-profit with a listing in our directory, claim it for free.

5. Blogging. If you're interested in blogging about your job, your hobby or anything else related to Chelmsford, e-mail krista@patch.com. If you already have a blog, why not cross-post to Patch? Blogging on Patch offers a wide audience for your blog, but also a local one.