Skip to Main Content

Omeka: Getting Started with Omeka.net

Tips, tutorials, and recommendations for using Omeka to publish digital heritage and research projects.

Sign Up for a Free Omeka.net Trial Account

Before you can join a group project site on Omeka.net, you need to first have you own Omeka.net account. If you do not already have one, sign up for a FREE trial Omeka.net subscription so that you can be added to the group project site. Follow the steps below to create and activate your account, and finally to accept your invitation to connect to the group project site.

Step 1: Access the Free Trial Account Option

On the Omeka.net website, click on the Pricing menu item in the main navigation menu to get to the web page where you sign up for a free account.

Click on the Pricing menu item on Omeka.net to access the option to sign up for a free account.

Step 2: Select the Free Trial Account Option

You will use what is called a free "trial" account for your class project. Although the website describes this as a trial account, there is no actual trial period. You can continue to use the free trial account indefinitely. Click on the "Start your free Omeka trial" button.

Click on the link to sign up for a free Omeka.net trial plan.

Step 3: Complete the Sign Up Form

Fill out all of the required fields on the form to sign up for your free trial plan. You need to agree to the Terms of Service, and check off the Captcha box, then click on the "Sign Up" button.

Fill out the sign up form to create your free omeka.net account.

Step 4: Activate Your New Account From Your Email

The Omeka.net system will send you an email notification immediately with a link to activate your new account. Check your SPAM folder if you do not find it in your email inbox. You must click on the included link to activate your account. In the screenshot below, the email address and full activation link have been blurred out for privacy reasons.

Example email with a link to activate a new Omeka.net account.

Step 5: Get Familiar with Your Account Dashboard

The activation link will take you to your new Omeka.net account dashboard. Spend some time reviewing the different sections of your dashboard.

You do not need to create a site for the class assignment. We will work on a group site for the class, which will be set up by the instruction librarian. Separate instructions will explain how to connect to the class group site. We will walk through using Omeka in the October 28th workshop.

Your Omeka.net account dashboard.

Omeka.net Free "Trial" Plan

Each free Omeka.net plan receives the following:

  • 500 MB free storage
  • 1 free website
  • Choice of 2 themes:
    • Berlin
    • Season
  • Choice of 8 plugins:
    • COinS
    • CCSV Import
    • Exhibit Builder
    • Library of Congress Suggest
    • Locale
    • OAI-PMH Harvester
    • SharedShelfLink
    • Simple Pages

There currently is no expiration period for free accounts, but this Omeka.net help page indicates that an expiration date might be implemented at some point. That can be monitored from the Account Information section of your account dashboard.