Helpful Tip: To quickly learn about the ins and outs of YODL, check out our YODL 101 Page. This is where you'll find video tutorials, glossaries, and information on how to get started. General
Contacts / Connections
Library / Resources
General | Top
Q: What is YODL?
A: YODL is an online community, exclusively for CFIN members. This interactive, self-serve platform will help CFIN members access new ideas, partners, funding, and resources to grow their business and increase their innovation capacity.
Check out our YODL video here.
Q: What can I do on YODL?
A: CFIN members can access daily content, find new partners, and access valuable resources. You can also find information about CFIN programs, events, members and staff – including our five Regional Innovation Directors who are eager to connect with food innovators in their regions!
Q: Why does YODL exist?
A: When CFIN conducted focus groups in 2020, we received a loud and clear message from food professionals that finding innovation resources and collaboration partners was too hard. YODL is our solution to this challenge and our way of bringing Canada’s vast and diverse food sector together under one (digital) roof.
Q: How is YODL different than LinkedIn?
A: YODL offers a unique solution to solving some of the food sector's biggest challenges of finding the right partners and resources to adopt innovation. Through YODL, CFIN members will be able to:
- Access original content focused on food innovation
- Find and connect with curated partners in the food ecosystem who can help solve your most pressing challenges
- Create meaningful connections across the food value chain, from farmgate to dinner plate
- Belong to a community of food innovators across the country
Q: What does that mean? A YODL glossary.
A: There are lots of things to do on YODL. To help you understand everything you can do, here’s a helpful glossary of the key terms you'll come across on YODL.
Discussion Post: Where you can post anything you want, including questions, articles, thought starters, or even a simple introduction.
Profile: Where you can update your personal and professional information, including job title, areas of interest, and social handles.
Blog: Where you can read original content, including explainers, interviews, success stories, and event recaps.
Library: Where you can upload and download files, including reports, white papers, one pagers, and videos.
Community: Where you can find resources, people, and information that are specific to a location, theme, or topic of interest.
Q: What are badges and how do I earn them?
A: Badges are awarded to YODL users after they complete specific tasks (ex. Completing a profile, adding a contact, commenting on a post, etc). The more badges a person accrues, the more perks they can access. You can see your badges in your Profile, under the ‘My Contributions’ tab. Perks of earning badges include:
- Front of the line access to CFIN events
- Member spotlights on YODL
- Inclusion as a source in original YODL articles
- Participation in exclusive CFIN events
For more information on the types of badges users can earn, check out the YODL 101 page.
Q: How do I complete 100% of my profile?
A: If you complete the following Profile fields, you will achieve 100% Profile Completion:
- Bio
- CFIN Funding Interest
- Company Name
- Company Size
- Email Address
- First Name
- Industry
- Job Title
- Language
- Last Name
- Location
- Profile Picture
- Topics of Interest
Q: What is my username/password?
A: Your login credentials are the same username and password that you use to log in to the main site. If you have forgotten your login credentials or need assistance with your login information, please click here.
Q: How do I update my contact information?
A: On your profile page, please select the pencil icon next to "Contact Details" in the left column. This will take you to your member profile in our membership system to make the update. Updates will be reflected in YODL and your main membership profile. You may edit the items in the right column, of your profile page, by clicking on the pencil icon next to the item you would like to change.
To add or change a photo, click on "Actions" under your photo on the left side. If you have an issue updating your photo, please try using a 200x200 image. If that does not work, please use the Contact Us function.
Q: How do I control what information is visible in My Profile?
A: Please navigate to your profile page, then select the "My Account" tab and choose "Privacy Settings" from the drop-down menu. This will let you control what information is visible to whom. After you’ve made changes, click the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page.
Contacts / Connections | Top
Q: How do I find other members?
A: Click the “Find Contacts” link found in the main navigation bar under YODL.The Find Contacts function lets you search for other users based on:
- First and/or last name
- Company / Institution name
- City/Province
- Topics of Interest / Industry / CFIN Programs and other options
You may search by one or multiple criteria.If you are a member of a community, you may also search the membership of that community by going to the bottom of your community landing page to the Current Members lists. This list will show you all members of that community and after clicking through to the members profile, you can send an "Add as Contact" request.
Q: How do I add contacts to my contact list?
A: There are several ways to add contacts. When you perform a search using Find Contacts, you will see an “Add as Contact” button to the right of each person in your search results. Just click this button to send a contact request.
If you navigate to a members profile in a Community Directory and you click the members name link, and view that individual’s profile, you can click the Add as Contact request link at the top of their profile.
“Add as Contact" requests you have made can be viewed in your Inbox under Sent Items. Requests from other members, to add you as a contact, can be viewed within your Inbox under “Contact Requests”
Q: Why should I add contacts to my contact list?
A: Creating this virtual address book makes it easy to send your contacts messages through the community site to stay in touch, ask questions, or even build a referral network. Additionally, when you view another member’s profile, you’ll be able to see any contacts you have in common. You can also choose to let your contacts view certain demographics in your profile that others can't.
Libraries | Top
Q: How do I find resources that may have been uploaded by other members?
A: If you know which library the resource might be located in, find the affiliated community via the "My Communities" link in the YODL dropdown in the top navigation menu. Click through to the community's landing page, then click on the “Library” tab. If you do not know where the resource might be, enter search terms in the main search box the same way you might enter search terms into Google or another search engine.
Q: Can I search for specific file types?
A: Yes. Enter your desired keyword in the main search box. From the search results page, you may select a filter for All Content to show the Library Entries" or select the More Filters option "File Type" to give you the option to specify file type: Document, Image, Spreadsheet, etc.
Q: How do the libraries get populated?
A: The libraries are populated in two ways:
1. When you include an attachment in a discussion post, the system automatically places it in the affiliated library.
2. You can also upload documents directly to a community library by clicking on the Library tab for a community and then choosing the "Create Entry" button or by using the "Browse Shared Files" under the YODL navigation dropdown and then choosing “Create Entry"
Library resources are not required to be associated with a discussion thread.
Q: How do I upload a file?
A: Select the “Browse Shared Files” link found under the YODL dropdown in the main navigation or on the Library tab, found on any community landing page, and on either screen select "Create Entry".Please note that uploading a document is accomplished by completing a few steps, and each step must be completed before you can move on to the next:
- Choose a title for your document, and include a description (optional).
- Select the library to which you’d like to upload your document. Then select a folder to which you’d like to upload it (optional).
- Choose an Entry Type (most will be Standard Files, but be cognizant of any copyright licensed material).
- Once you have completed these steps, click “Next.”
- Upload your file.
- Select “Next” if you want to further describe your files and/or add tags to your file. Otherwise, click “Finish” to post your library entry
Q: What kind of files can I upload?
A: The system supports dozens of file types including hyperlinks, standard files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), webinars, images, and YouTube video links.
Q: What are the “tags” for?
A: Tags are a great way to organize and categorize content on your site. Tags can be applied to blogs, library entries, events, and glossary terms. Tagged items are prioritized in the search results.