I have gotten some of the best advice on Network Creators from J Wings and I want to highlight on that may have been lost in the shuffle. It really, really important in my opinion and with the introduction of the landing page it is even more relevant. This advice to Network Creators comes from a Presentation he referred to when replying to Evan's Blog about "How to ask new members for payment"
The presentation deals with sort of the barriers to entry and adoption to a social network and it is something I think we deal with whether we just started a network or have been running one a long time. If you are starting you want to get as many participating members as you can and if you have been around for a while you want to keep them active. There is always a plate to keep spinning. I guess the all networks have to deal with both as well. I don't think I can watch this presentation enough to remind me that even though my sight may be awesome if people can't get to it then it won't matter.
I also refer to this discussion which can be really useful for when participating here on creators for those who may finding they spend too much time here. Click here
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Really interesting stuff. Anyone have thoughts on how to implement some of these notions using the Ning platform?
I think the custom landing pages offer a lot of opportunity to address the simple sign, basic overview, and more in deptth info. I really like what Justin Farrow did with his landing page. Although not present now he had a slider that could serve as a short intro to the site and places for people to register and sign in directly . A landing page like that could make interest in the site heighted and give it a web 2.0 kind of look that may generate more interest than just the standard Ning site look.
Thanks for the mention Garfield...here is that alternate version with slider that you mentioned..
Land Surveyors United
Freaking awesome! Thanks for adding it here. I really love what you did here with the slider. I think this can be customized and added to a landing page to make a great intro into a site.
correctamundo and if done correctly can increase your SEO dramaticallly
just a thought, but if you know of anyone who is looking to implement something like this on their site, I would be happy to create it for them for a reasonable fee... just simply message me through creators with a brief description of what you'd like to do with it and a way to contact....after this discussion I'm thinking I may go back to that on LSU homepage..thanks Garfield
btw. i had some readdy cool buttons on that version but it looks like i removed the buttons for previous/next on that version.. i can add them back if anyone wants the full experience.
excellent!!
Justin, what did you use to build the slider?
its a bit complicated if you are not familiar with jquery, but I used the jquery coda slider...ill try to dig up the link for ya
Ok thanks, I would appreciate it!