How to Use Deep Dives

This guide will walk you through the practical steps of using Deep Dives, from creating your first collection to building rich, organized research notebooks.

Quick Start: Creating Your First Deep Dive

1. Open the Deep Dive tab on your profile (or pick Deep Dive from the create menu) and click "Create A Deep Dive"
2. Enter a title that describes your collection (e.g., "Books on Creativity" or "Photography Inspiration")
3. Choose your visibility setting:
   • Visible to All: Public collection anyone can discover
   • Visible to Friends: Only your friends can see it
   • Visible to Self: Private collection just for you
4. Click "Create" - that's it! You can add description, tags, and items after creation

Adding Items: Two Easy Methods

Method 1: Right-Click from Anywhere

The fastest way to save content as you discover it:

1. While viewing a post, blog post, or another Deep Dive, right-click the "..." menu
2. Select "Save to Deep Dive"
3. Choose which Deep Dive to add it to (or create a new one)
4. Optionally add a custom title and notes
5. Click "Save"

This method is perfect for quickly saving content as you browse LavishMade without interrupting your flow.

Method 2: Add Item from Within Your Deep Dive

When you're actively building or organizing a collection, use the "Add Item" button within your Deep Dive. This opens a streamlined interface with four options:

Option A: Drag & Drop Files

1. Drag images, videos, or audio files onto the upload area (or click "Choose File")
2. Wait for the upload to complete (you'll see progress)
3. You'll be taken to a form where you can:
   • See a preview of your uploaded file
   • Add a title (optional)
   • Add a description or notes
   • Add tags
   • Optionally add audio or video notes
4. Click "Create Dive Item" when ready

Note: Videos process in the background, so you can add details while they process. You'll see a message indicating the video is processing.

Option B: Add Item From URL

1. Click "Add Item From URL"
2. Paste the website URL in the input field
3. Press Enter or click the arrow button
4. We'll automatically fetch the metadata (title, image, description)
5. Review and customize:
   • Edit the title if needed
   • Add your own description or notes
   • Add tags
   • Optionally add audio or video notes
6. Click "Create Dive Item"

Option C: Add Item from Lavish

1. Click "Add Item from Lavish"
2. Select the content type (Blog Posts, Deep Dives, Books, or Films)
3. Start typing to search - results appear as beautiful cards with cover photos
4. Click on a card to select it
5. The form will populate with the content's information
6. Add notes, tags, and optional audio or video commentary
7. Click "Create Dive Item"

Option D: Add Section Break

1. Click "Add Section Break"
2. Add a title for the section (e.g., "Part 1: Introduction" or "Resources")
3. Optionally add a description
4. Add tags if desired
5. Optionally add audio or video notes
6. Click "Create Section Break"

Organizing Your Collection

Once you've added items, here's how to organize them:

• Reorder Items: Drag and drop items to arrange them in the order that tells your story
• Edit Items: Click on any item to edit its title, notes, or tags
• Add Context: Use rich text notes to explain why each item matters or how it relates to your theme
• Use Section Breaks: Divide longer collections into logical sections
• Tag Everything: Add tags to help you find items later and help others discover your Deep Dive

Customizing Your Deep Dive

After creating your Deep Dive, you can customize it:

• Add Description: Edit your Deep Dive to add a description explaining what the collection is about
• Add Tags: Tag your Deep Dive to help others discover it through search
• Background Image: Upload a background image that represents your theme
• Change Layout: Choose from Standard, Compact List, Masonry Grid, or Flipbook layouts
• Update Visibility: Change who can see your Deep Dive at any time

Practical Tips & Best Practices

• Start Simple: Create your Deep Dive with just a title, then build it as you discover content
• Save as You Go: Use the right-click method to save items as you find them, then organize later
• Tell a Story: Arrange items in an order that makes sense and tells a narrative
• Add Context: Use notes to explain connections between items or why they matter
• Mix Content Types: Combine internal LavishMade content with external URLs for richer collections
• Use Section Breaks: Break up longer collections into digestible sections
• Tag Strategically: Use consistent tags across related Deep Dives to create connections
• Preview Before Sharing: Check how your Deep Dive looks in different layouts before making it public

Common Use Cases

Here are some real-world examples of how to use Deep Dives:

• Research Project: Create a Deep Dive for "Understanding Street Photography" - add articles, videos, blog posts, and your own notes as you research
• Reading List: Build "Summer Reading for Entrepreneurs" - add books from your shelf, articles, and blog posts with notes about why each matters
• Learning Path: Create "Learning JavaScript from Scratch" - organize resources in order, use section breaks for different topics, add your progress notes
• Creative Inspiration: Build "Artists Who Inspire My Work" - add blog posts, external articles, images, and video notes explaining what you learn from each
• Team Resources: Create a private Deep Dive with tools, articles, and resources you share with your team

Troubleshooting

• File Upload Issues: Make sure images are under 10 MB (JPEG, PNG, GIF or WebP) and audio files under 50 MB. Use .mp4 for videos.
• URL Not Loading: Some websites block metadata fetching. You can still add the URL manually and fill in the title and description yourself.
• Video Processing: Large videos may take time to process. You'll see a message indicating processing is happening - you can add details while you wait.
• Can't Find Content: When searching for internal content, try different keywords or check if the content is published/visible.