Add Simple Text Box to Profile Pages, For Member Announcements - - Killer Tip!

[Jen]

You can make announcements to your members by adding a special box on member profile pages. The message will be displayed above the status bar, top center. Only you can control the content of the special box.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Edit the text below, using your custom text message.
2. Add the entire block of code to the Custom Code Box (Analytics) via My Network/Tools/Custom Code
Note: If you sign out, it may take a while for the caching to catch up, and for the box to show. This is true for any tweak you make to your Ning Network.

WARNING: As in all tips offered here on Creators, or on JenSocial, tips are hacks. Add at your own risk. Please be sure you do not leave out any characters, especially the ending closing paren and semi-colon.

CRITICAL TIPS:

• If you include an apostrophe like in a statement: "Here's the trick." this code will break. The single quote or apostrophe breaks the flow of the DIV that wraps around your HTML. And if you really need to add a single quote within your text, please see TJ's explanation here.
• Only works with simple HTML: text, images and links. Will not work with scripts.

<!-- Add Message to Profile Pages -->
<script type="text/javascript">
x$(document).ready(function() {
x$(".xg_widget_profiles_profile_show .xg_2col h1").after('<div style="font-size:12px; background-color:#FFFFFF; color:#000000; margin-top:15px; margin-bottom:15px; border:1px #333333 solid; padding:5px;" class="xg_module">To add a custom message box on member profile pages, change this text, and add the code to your Custom Code Box (Analytics). If you add your custom text here, it will be displayed on member profile pages directly above the Status Box. You need to keep this text simple. Be sure you do not use single quote marks within your message. If you want, you can add simple links like this: <a href="http://jensocial.com">Visit JenSocial</a> This is a great way to make announcements to your members.</div>');
});
</script>

How to Change the Font Size and Color:
Change the font size and color by editing this code, within your code block, above.
style="font-size:12px; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF;
Also: As Garfield suggested, you may want to force a background color, in case your members have a background color where your text will not show.


Tip: If you make the font-size large, you may want to increase your padding.

Please let me know if you experience any issues with this tip. I tested it, but not as much as I would like.

Example:

Example Code with Image/Link:
<!-- Add Message to Profile Pages -->
<script type="text/javascript">
x$(document).ready(function() {
x$(".xg_widget_profiles_profile_show .xg_2col h1").after('<div style="font-size:12px; background-color:#FFFFFF; color:#000000; margin-top:15px; margin-bottom:15px; border:1px #333333 solid; padding:5px;" class="xg_module">To add a custom message box on member profile pages, change this text, and add the code to your Custom Code Box (Analytics). If you add your custom text here, it will be displayed on member profile pages directly above the Status Box. You need to keep this text simple. Be sure you do not use single quote marks within your message. If you want, you can add simple links like this: <a href="http://jensocial.com">Visit JenSocial</a> This is a great way to make announcements to your members.<br>Here is the code for the JenSocial Banner, and it is clickable.<center><a title="JenSocial Network Directory - Free Directory for All Social Networks" href="http://jensocial.com" target="_blank"><img border=1 src="http://api.ning.com/files/ht2bDLLex1gqPnPETRZSyD7JPldn2Tz4nCUmOBEQAIzQb9J83ABlaJwJ3R-*rm5oUeFXSu0c*7ygDm0*xw9YGRZBgxqrFCxE/jensocial_banner468by60.png" alt="JenSocial.com: Social Network Directory and Network Creator Hub"></a></center></div>');
});
</script>

ISSUE REPORTED ON AUGUST 31, 2010
Everyone,
Please make sure your Status Box is editable. Evelyn has reported a serious problem. I will look into this in detail tomorrow evening, out of office tomorrow except via mobile.

If you cannot edit your Status Box, please see TJ's alternate solution:
http://creators.ning.com/xn/detail/4244211:Comment:286626
Thanks!
Jen

[Garfield Creator]

Excellent tip. Love the screenshot so we can see exactly what it looks like as the end result.

[Jen]

Glad you liked the tip! Definitely one of those little jewels that I had to think a few minutes, do I want to share this little secret? LOL! Course, I sincerely love to share, but gotta pay the bills, if you know what I mean.
;-)

[Garfield Creator]

I have that conversation all the time. And there is a kaleidoscope of reasons why I think it is alright to not feel bad about paying the bills. Ning charges Creators, Some Creators charge members, some members sell things on those networks, etc. Also if the target audience is creators and they spend more than 5 hours a month on their network - at $10 an hour that is the Ning Pro Cost month cost and no serious Network creator only devotes 5 hours a month to their Network even if they are practicing the 4 hour work week. Anything that saves them time and helps them grow their network is valuable. After August 30 there will be no network creators who do not believe in the value of pay for services so the only legitimate question is is it worth it? And each person will make that decision for themselves and there is nothing wrong with whatever choice they make.

People go to the movies and don't bat an eye paying $8 for for something that may cost the theater 17 cents. They have entered the theater already and that is what the theater offers. When people enter your Network they get way more value and on top of that you deliver in more ways than one.

It's weird. Whether you give away gems for free or sell them you get more the more you give or offer them away.

[Jen]

So true!

[Patrick Chappelle]

@ Garfield: Eight bucks for a flick??? It's twelve here in New York!

@ Jen: Thanks a million for this. =)

[Garfield Creator]

No, I was referring to the Popcorn. Sorry for not being clear. I am in NYC myself. Brooklyn to be exact. Theaters don't make most of their money from the theater tickets. It is the concessions where most of that happens.

[Patrick Chappelle]

I can't recall when last I purchased anything in a movie theater. Popcorn is 8 bucks. How about that.

[brenda f. landrum-surles]

"I have that conversation all the time. And there is a kaleidoscope of reasons why I think it is alright to not feel bad about paying the bills. Ning charges Creators, Some Creators charge members, some members sell things on those networks, etc. Also if the target audience is creators and they spend more than 5 hours a month on their network - at $10 an hour that is the Ning Pro Cost month cost and no serious Network creator only devotes 5 hours a month on this? "

I was having a similar conversation in my head this morning on the way in to work. Thanks for expounding on that for me. LOL

[Planeta Balada]

Hello, this tip is perfect! I just have a doubt, this box would be above the status box?

Because when I look at this status box you can tell she has an arrow pointing to the photo of the member, as if he were speaking to your last update and it seems small but it is pretty cool!

If you have a way to put this box under the status, please tell me how!

Thanks!

(I'm from Brazil, English is my site Google Translate! hehehe)

[Jen]

Just change:

x$(".xg_widget_profiles_profile_show .xg_2col h1").after

TO:

x$(".status-bar-wrapper").after

 

Best Regards,

Jen

[Brian]

I am speechless. This is amazing.

Let me know when you can target specific members, k? :) LOL j/k!

[Cyndi Lagasse]

Yes......I'm hoping for this info too!