Is there a way to set a site up just as a blog?

[Perrie Halpern]

Hi,

I'm helping a friend set up her new blog here on Ning. The one problem is, is that she just wants a blog where people can respond to her posts on the front page. How would you set that up?

Thanks,

Perrie~

[Anthony]

There is not a setting you can choose. You can turn the main page into a landing page and direct all images and/or links to the main page of the blog and separate blog articles. 

You can learn more about landing pages http://sixrevisions.com/content-strategy/designing-landing-pages/ 

[Perrie Halpern]

Hi Anthony!

The link you gave me seems to be about using landing pages for sales. It really didn't address the blog issue. Also, even if there was a way to get the blog onto a landing page, would that mean that people would be able to post on the landing page? 

[Anthony]

You could just display the blog module on your front page and nothing else.

The link is provided to help you develop a landing page that works well. It does not have to be about sales. I was just trying to provide motivation and instruction as to what a landing page was about.

In a nutshell it is the first place your visitors will land before going to your blogs. There is not a way to set your blog as the main page, unless you use custom domain and forwards and I still do not think it will work properly.

I would demo my site for you but I will not have it completed for a couple of weeks. If you wish to wait, I will share my site URL when I am finished. It will have a landing page that everyone lands first before moving through my website.

[Perrie Halpern]

Thanks Anthony! I'll be waiting. In the meantime, I have the blog set up on the front page but you have to click on it to make a comment.

[Phil McCluskey]

Hi Perrie,

We have a couple of upcoming projects that will let you use Ning as more of a publishing platform than a social network. The first is sign up controls, and that will let you turn off signup if you don't want to deal with members. The second is external commenting system integration, like Facebook comment. That will let visitors comment on blogs without needing to be a member. We're close to starting on sign up controls, and external comments will follow.

Thanks,
Phil