Where Knowledge Rules

Zones Content Blocks

Blocks are what make up the bulk of all Zones, and there are currently 28 different types of blocks.  Each block serves its own purpose which dictates what kind of information and content the block displays.

 

Link List Blocks
This is the probably the most common block out of all 17 because you can upload links to other pages as well as search Helium and Google database for links. This block can also include an attached image at the top of the block.  The links will flow around the image to ensure your Zone is aesthetically pleasing. A link list block allows you to upload a URL, title for display, and optionally a brief description as an abstract.


Helium Title Blocks
Upload any Helium article or debate to your Zone. Great way of increasing traffic to Helium articles, but mainly for informing the users.

Forum Block
Upload the latest posts from any forum that is public and as viewable content right onto your Zone. Have a group that you'd like to showcase, upload the forum and let people get a taste of what your group is really about.


Tag Clouds
The Tag Cloud block shows a list of other Zones that are related to this Zone and weigh their importance and popularity by size.

Build Your Own Content

HTML Block
An HTML Block allows the user to have full control over the html displayed within the block.  However, <SCRIPT> tags are not allowed.


How- To Step
Coming in Zones 1.3!

 
Poll
Engage your viewers by asking them a question and which yields instant results.


Blog Item
This block shows the latest blog post from your Helium Zone.


SlideShow
Coming in Zones 1.3!


Blog Archive
Show months of previous blog posts from Helium.
 

Top Submitted Links
This is a list of links that have been submitted by users.  A user must be logged in to submit a link.  The user does not have to be an editor of the Zone.

When suggesting links for other pages, there is a maximum per Zone and a maximum per day. You are only allowed to upload two links per page and four links for the whole day.

 
Tools Block
Automatic list of social networking links such as Digg, Facebook, Delicious, Stumbleupon, Reddit, Magnolia, and Google.


Related Search
Use this block to enter the exact titles of Zones and visitors can easily click on the link which directs them to other Zones. Great way to build a mini-community of Zones.

 
Google Maps
This will display a miniature Google Map.  You can customize the address that the map shows and you may add description text after the map.


Google Chart
Enter raw data, axis labels, and a description, and “Voila” you have a chart imbedded right into your Zone.


Manager Credit
Give yourself a little credit for a Zone well done. This block uploads username, photo, stars, badges, and other Helium goodies right from your Helium AboutMe onto your Zone. Great block to add to the smaller columns of any Zone. Also, if you want to add more information to this block, simply add it into the description portion of the edit mode, and it will show up right in the middle of the block.

Sell Stuff or Show Ads

Mashup Content from Web

Stock Quotes
Upload a company’s stock ticker into this block and get the latest price and stock information straight to your Zone.


Sphere
The sphere block doesn’t read the keywords directly, but crawls the page to figure out related content.  So it may not work until the zone is published.
 

Delicious Links
You may show the most recent public links added to an account on the delicious web site or choose a keyword to for Delicious to automatically grab bookmarks from. To do that, provide the username from Delicious when prompted in the block’s properties form. To grab tags simply type the word you wish to have the tags show for in the box.  It will automatically show the last few bookmarked.


RSS Feed
Upload other updated content to your Zone


YouTube
YouTube videos can be embedded and watched directly on your Zones. You can search for any topic, view the videos, and then choose the video for your Zone without ever leaving Helium.


Flickr
Add free and completely legal photos from Flickr.  Click on the Flickr block and type in a search topic. Then scan through all of the possibilities, find one you enjoy and click “Choose this for Page”, and you’re done.

Weather Blocks
Upload any city’s weather onto your own page by using a zip code or latitude and longitude 

5 Min Video
Upload the latest instructional and DIY videos.  

News
This is automatically populated by a news feed with the top several news stories.  The frequency of the news refresh is hourly and automatic.

Twitter
You may show the most recent tweets you've posted from a Twitter account.  To do that, provide the username from Twitter in the block’s properties form.  It will automatically show the last few tweets.

Still have questions?

If you can't find the help you need in our community of Zones dedicating to helping you, then check out the Betaville Help and Feedback groups.

Comments (1 to 3 of 3)

Tiku
Feb 09, 09 at 03:41 AM
I want to know if we can create one more link block.I needed to put some links of my articles elsewhere. thanks
Just another writer
Feb 04, 09 at 08:23 AM
Is it possible to change the size of a content block once it has been created? Thanks Karyn...
Jerry Curtis
Jan 27, 09 at 04:50 PM
Please explain how to embed a news block in a zone.
Journalist: Sarah Bedrick
Company: Helium
Title: Social Media Community...
Education: University of Florida Bachelor of Science in Marketing
Helium member since Sep 09, 08
Number of Zones: 100
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