Member Sign-In with Facebook, Google and Yahoo

[Evan]

Joining or signing into a Ning Network is about to get a lot easier. One-click easy.

We're excited to announce that we'll be rolling out Social Sign-In throughout the day, which allows your members to sign up or sign in to a Ning Network via Facebook, Google or Yahoo.

Signing Up

Previously, signing up for a Ning Network required entering an email address, choosing a password and filling in some basic information. Now, all that can be done with just a couple of clicks. When potential members join a Ning Network using Facebook, Google or Yahoo, they will not need to create an additional password to keep track of.

Their name and email will also be automatically retrieved, without needing to type it in. Better yet, if a member signs up with Facebook, their birthdate, gender, profile photo and (later this month) location will be pulled as well, if the network has added those profile questions.

Signing In

Adding Social Sign-In to your Ning Network makes signing in to a Ning Network incredibly simple too. Previously, members needed to first click the "Sign In" link, then type in their email address and password on the following page and click "Sign In" again.

Now, all it takes is a click. On the Sign Up/Sign In box in the top-right corner of your Ning Network, members will now see an icon for each service Network Creators have enabled for Social Sign-In.



If a signed-out member clicks on the icon of the service they used to join, they'll be signed in right away — no extra steps or clicks needed. It's hard to get easier than that.

Setting it up

As a Network Creator, you'll need to enable Social Sign-In, as the feature is off by default. To do this, just head to the new "Sign up/Sign in" management page on your Dashboard, under "Members." Once there, check the boxes next to Facebook, Google and Yahoo for the services you'd like to allow members to sign up and sign in with.

This implementation of Social Sign-In lays the foundation for supporting additional methods of third-party authentication. Facebook, Google, and Yahoo! are the initial set of available services, and we will be adding more options in the future. Social Sign-In is powered by Janrain, the leading user management platform for the social Web.

This new feature is only available to Ning Plus and Ning Pro subscribers. For more information about the feature, check out these frequenty asked questions.

[Anthony]

I would like to know where would I find the Facebook, Yahoo and Google login image on the main if I need to change them?

[Dan "JR" Goodman]

Thanks the sign in and sign up link was exactly what I was looking for. Now just so I am clear, even though I was using a facebook app for posts, I need to create a new application for sign up? If I can use the app I already have, I cant seem to find the api key.

[Patrick Chappelle]

Yes, Dan. They are two different functions.

[Allison Lewis]

Can we disable this function if we turn it on and it is not aligning with our needs?

[Dan "JR" Goodman]

yes allison, I just found out how in a earler post above. On your dashboard page, look for sign on /sign in  thats where you turn it on and off

[Eric Suesz]

Yes, Allison. You can. Simply uncheck the boxes. 

[Baller]

THIS IS great..would love to have twitter.

[Scotty Reid]

This is a great feature and like the direction Ning is heading. My only question is why an app for Twitter is not included and is there anything in the works to add it?

[Eric Suesz]

Hey, Scotty. As we've mentioned a number of times in this conversation, Twitter should be coming soon. You may want to also read the FAQ page about this new feature. 

[IDN]

Well, it's excellent & needful function, but - look:

I get this after I push the "Save"

May be this function not for all?

[Evan]

Hey IDN!

I suggest trying once more. There might have just been a momentarily glitch. If you're still seeing that error, drop us a note in the Help Center (and let me know your ticket number) so I can take a look.

Thanks!
Evan

[Rafe Saber]

Nicely done. Nicely described. Easy to follow BUT (and that is a big BUT) .........Once the application is setup. From within Facebook if anyone accesses the application by clicking on the "GO TO APPLICATION" button they end up on a JANRAIN page with the following message:

"(THE NING NETWORK NAME) uses Janrain Engage for sign-in Janrain provides 3rd party sign-in and registration as a service to websites like"(THE NING NETWORK NAME)."

 

This is not good. It should go directly to the sign-up page.