A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Deals

Tradeloop's new Broadcast layout shows you who you're dealing with - literally. Now you'll see a member's photo next to his/her Broadcast message - but only if they've uploaded their photo to Tradeloop. Have you? Your picture on Tradeloop makes your Broadcast stand out and increases your credibility with other members.

In studies of online reading patterns, most readers focused first on pictures with human faces. And, as much as people like the wide selection and immediacy of the Web, they also like to deal with "real" people. Your photo attached to your Broadcast will help call attention to your content and increase your interactions with other Tradeloop users.

Uploading a photo is quick and easy. Just visit your profile page and follow the instructions. Photo upload requirements:

• File type: For best results, we recommend one of the following formats: JPEG, GIF, or PNG.
• Image size: 85 x 85 pixels
• File size: 100k

You can delete your photo and/or upload a new photo at any time. Modify your privacy settings to set rules for who can - and can't - view your profile picture.

Ok, so your picture on Tradeloop may not be worth a thousand deals - but even if it attracts just one new customer, well, that's time well spent!

Set Your Own Tradeloop Start Page

What page would you like to see first when you log into Tradeloop? The Trading Floor? The Dealer Directory? You choose. All Tradeloop members can now customize their home pages.

Visit your Member Dashboard (Home) to select your start page. Custom home page options include:

• My Account
• Trading Floor
• Dealer Directory
• Broadcasts
• Member Dashboard

The Member Dashboard also has a list of great tips to help increased the value of your Tradeloop membership. You'll find suggestions and tools to help:

• Improve your member profile and increase your credibility with other members
• Use Connections to create a trusted network of Tradeloop dealers
• Post inventory
• Control your email inbox with Broadcast filters
• And more!

All of these improvements were made in response to member requests and suggestions. Tell us what other features or changes would you like to see on Tradeloop!

Learn More About Your Account Status With the Member Dashboard

Tradeloop's "Member Dashboard" is a new tool that helps you get maximum value from your membership. Each time you log into your Tradeloop account, you'll see your personalized Member Dashboard automatically. It displays your account status at a glance:

• Is your account profile missing some information?
• Are you using Tradeloop features like saved search, the Connections system, Broadcast filters, and other tools that help you monitor the market?
• Have you uploaded inventory to Tradeloop's Trading Floor?

Here's a screen shot:


There's even a short training video to help new members learn about Tradeloop. Long-time members might enjoy it too. The video describes many of our tools and options that help you manage your account, watch the market, and connect with other buyers and sellers. It's a quick reminder about features that are automatically included with your Tradeloop membership.

Are there any additional features you'd like to see on this page? Please send your comments (good or bad!) to Customer Service or share them here at the member blog.

Create Your Own Dealer Network With Tradeloop's New Connections System

Use Tradeloop's new Connections system to form your own personal network of trusted dealers and find new business opportunities. The Connections system is similar to LinkedIn, but offers more security because it's limited to the Tradeloop community.

You can invite any Tradeloop member or registered user to join your network. Here's how:

1. Go to the person's profile page and click on the "Add name to your Network" link.
2. That link takes you to the "Request Connection" page where you can type a short personal invitation.
   
   
3. Visit your account's "Manage Connections" page to check the status of your invitation.

The Manage Connections link on your Tradeloop Account Home page shows you the members you've already connected with, members you've invited to join your own network, and who has issued invitations to you.
You'll receive a notification email when other members invite you to join their networks. Accept their invitation using the "Accept Connection" button in the email invitation you receive. You can also join from your account's "Manage Connections" page. The middle column lists "Pending Approvals," which are invitations you've received but not accepted yet.

Tradeloop's Connections system is launching today. Check it out and share your comments here at the member blog. We want to you what you think!