Profile Page Customizations in the Ning Design Studio

I've posted about this in a few places, but I'll try to make one definitive answer here. If you all can help me point your fellow NCs to this thread, I'd appreciate it. Sometimes Creators is so busy that folks don't see our responses.

Why didn't Ning launch the Ning Design Studio with profile customization enabled?

Getting profile customization to work with the Design Studio is a good chunk of work. It might seem like we removed a feature, but there was no way we could just re-use the old profile customization experience. We have to rebuild it from scratch. Because there's a good amount of work involved in this, we asked ourselves the question: Should we hold off on launching the Design Studio until we have profile customizations? We answered "No" to this question because plenty of NCs don't have this feature enabled, or don't mind removing it. Therefore, we wanted to make the Design Studio available sooner rather than later.

Will members be able to customize their profile pages? If so, how much?

Yes! Since we're rebuilding the feature, we're going to look at it from a fresh perspective. There were lots of issues with the old profile page customization experience that we'd like to fix if we can — for example, resetting customized profiles, controlling how much members can customize, etc. We're still finalizing exactly what to do. I've heard loud and clear from some NCs that they love how their members can go totally wild with their profile pages. I've also heard — maybe less loud, but just as clear — that many NCs want a controlled profile customization experience. We're also getting some data about how networks use profile page customization, to help prioritize and guide our plans.

When!?

When you take a step back and reflect on the Ning Design Studio, as well as the Instant Ad Boxes, this was a monumental release. While we totally hear that folks want profile customization and want it now, there are a number of other next steps we need to consider and prioritize (for example, better Color Pickers with transparency options, a new Features Layout experience that is integrated with the Design Studio, Premium Themes, etc.) Most importantly, we want to make sure that everything is running 100% smoothly and we are responding to your questions about the Ning Design Studio in the Help Center.

So the short answer is, we don't know when, and we appreciate your patience :) As much as I want everyone using and loving the Ning Design Studio, it's opt-in for a reason, and fact is that some folks will just prefer keeping things exactly the way they are.

People

MySpace changed the internet with profile customization. Then facebook changed it even more by removing it.

Think about this before you leave Ning. Think about it before you let it loose on your network. There were millions of people on MySpace who thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread and if MySpace had removed it they would have stormed the MySpace corporate HQ probably, but there were even more people who prefered a MySpace with simple profiles that were easier to navigate: facebook.

At the end of the day your members will hate you for not giving them profile customization, but even more will love you for it.

If you don't think so, then go ahead and follow the MySpace strategy. The choice is yours.

Replies

M March 28, 2011 at 6:46pm

Is there any update to user profiles yet?
- This reply was deleted.
  - Kyle April 1, 2011 at 10:44am
    
    Eric, I currently like my network the way it is using the classic theme. I realize I have a choice now to stay with that theme. Will I always have the choice to remain with the classic theme? I just want to be sure I won't be forced to upgrade to design studio in the future.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Kyle
    - This reply was deleted.
      - Kyle April 1, 2011 at 11:40am
        
        Thanks!
  - M March 29, 2011 at 7:07am
    
    Thanks Eric!
Brian Floe March 13, 2011 at 6:08am

People

MySpace changed the internet with profile customization. Then facebook changed it even more by removing it.

Think about this before you leave Ning. Think about it before you let it loose on your network. There were millions of people on MySpace who thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread and if MySpace had removed it they would have stormed the MySpace corporate HQ probably, but there were even more people who prefered a MySpace with simple profiles that were easier to navigate: facebook.

At the end of the day your members will hate you for not giving them profile customization, but even more will love you for it.

If you don't think so, then go ahead and follow the MySpace strategy. The choice is yours.
- Manny > Brian Floe March 13, 2011 at 8:15pm
  
  I might have to switch,when it comes to business its not what you want its what your clients want. I am paying $$ to satisfy my members,I should have an option to upgrade to that feature. I do want my members to get creative,but we can also limit how crazy they go on their pages. Not having this option is a blow to my network because most are artists and love to express themselves. Ning you have a choice,satisfy your members or lose them,its that simple. I want my network to have the choices i paid for,dont change on me. I enjoy the website and would hate to start over again ,work your computer magic,do something,give me what i paid for. I changed to this new feature not because i wanted to but your network changed my page settings. I must admit,I love it,I just want more choices .
  - Brian Floe > Manny March 13, 2011 at 11:13pm
    
    Hello Manny, your choice is simple: don't use the Design Studio while it is in Beta. Remember it's not a finalized product yet and you are not forced to use it. You have a choice, so if your clients needs dictate that you must have profile customization ...you already got it.
Manny March 12, 2011 at 11:50am

I have been with ning for 4 years , I am pleased .I never had an issue with my website. I love the new ning studio but my members are disappointed because they cant set their pages as they please. Will they have that option in the future?
Connie Moss March 1, 2011 at 5:46pm

Hi,

I've made a big mistake, I think... I tried out the new Design Studio and it changed my whole communities layouts to the same layout... most of my people had their own layout, customed and everything and now it's all gone... how do I go back to the original layouts? We can't do this right now, not if everyone can't change their own layout... just need to know how to get back to the original, please!

Thank you,

Connie

Administrator of Heart Beat World
- Nick Barr > Connie Moss March 1, 2011 at 6:03pm
  
  Connie, click "Themes" in the Ning Design Studio and then click "My Themes." Click the carousel until you're all the way back to "My Classic Theme." Publish that one and you're all set.
  
  Please submit a Help Ticket if you have any further issues or questions after that.
  
  Best!
  Nick

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