Forum Activity for @strumelia

Is my NingToJamroom site working right?

Ning To Jamroom

Did you want or need to create site forum categories? Or are all your Forum discussion going into one general location?

2 Suggestions for Jamroom to woo Ning creators

Ning To Jamroom


I agree with the above. Maybe a 2 week trial for them to play around with, with an import limit of say 5 GB...not sure how much hassle that would entail, but I'd think 'free trial' networks would probably be unnecessarily complex if they were 50 or 100 GB in size anyway.

I still think a live Demo site would be a good idea- where (approved) potential JR users could join it as a regular member or a Profile Admin (without access to the backend) and be able to post videos, join groups, create sample discussions, Events, etc. You could make one to appeal to Ning 2.0 users, with those typical features set up. They could then at least see what it's like to be a member on a JR site, and as housekeeping you would make it clear that you'd delete them and their content from the Demo site after say 2 weeks.

I think there's a psychological hesitance barrier when leaping from ning to JR that can be cracked through by having someone actually posting content on a real live working JR site... You want to get them thinking "Hey this thing works ok- I could have a site like this and maybe change the colors and logo and a few other things, and then I could get off of ning!"

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Taking this thought to the next level, I'd like to suggest the following idea:

Right now, you have for the past year or more offered the Ningja skin as suited particularly for those on ning who are not advanced coders and who aren't sure of how to build their sites at first. Along with the Ningja skin you've offered the Site Builder tool, and various modules that replicate what's typically needed for receiving and duplicating ning2.0 content: modules like the Youtube, Vimeo, Groups, Events, Private Notes, Soundcloud, Seamless/combined, Gallery, Forum, Comments, Timeline, Search, etc etc. It can be daunting for the complete novice to know which modules they might need to start out with to have the features of their 2.0 ning network (even the original "Ning bundle" you offered was/is quite incomplete to recreate a typical ning site).
What if you actually create a somewhat generic model of a typical Ning 2.0 site- with all its typical features and modules in place already?...and offered that as a starting point for newbie ning-ers?

Instead of having to BUILD thier site by figuring out what they need piece by piece and building it, they could rather just begin tweaking what's there already and deleting things they don't need or want for their own site? Far easier to tweak, delete, or de-activate features you already have in place, than to figure out what you need, go find it, install, and then tweak it.
This would be a big step further to complete the intent of the original Ningja skin. Instead of merely a skin and an (incomplete) ning bundle, ...you could allow people who sign up on JR hosting to load a whole functional generic site ...with all the ning 2.0 features and modules already in place and playing nice with each other. It would be sooooo much easier and more familiar for ning folks to slide themselves into. It would make your job way easier as well since you could bypass a huge number of initial questions new ning refugees seem to always have.

Imagine it- sign up for JR hosting, and then buy the Import service where the JR Team imports your ning 2.0 content and members right into your Jamroom "Spring" site =8-D that's ALREADY BUILT for you and waiting to receive your content! Then all you need do is TWEAK it to your own liking rather having to first BUILD it. Change your site colors, your logo, your forum categories, de-activate any features you don't want (and add other cool new JR features that ning never had!)

The huge advantage would be that they could get going right away with a FUNCTIONING WORKING live site...and they could escape from paying Ning DOUBLE starting in October now. They could then make many of their custom changes to the site as they have the time and as they learn. They might decide they don't even need some of those changes- as their members start using the site right away and giving them feedback.

I'd like to see a generic functioning PRE-BUILT & HOSTED JR site that beginner non-coders and ning refugees could sliiiide right into and get their members and content imported into place and working right away...their customizations to be done later as they learn how. Yeah it would not be just right for each person's needs, but they'd be HALFWAY THERE right out of the starting gate.
This is the KEY to truly wooing the unhappy ning victims. Maybe call it the new Jamroom 'Spring' Network! Spring instead of Ning...a breath of fresh air, a new beginning....and they could spring right into it... boinnnnggg! L O L :D

Build that generic site with all the typical ning2.0 features in place already and working. Make it look fresh and spacious rather than like some dark claustrophobic heavy metal site...no skulls of bloody axes . Build it maybe based on the Ningja skin so it's real compatible with typical ning site structure, but perhaps make a new Spring skin specifically for this pre-built site.
Keep it familiar in structure to navigate for ex-ningers. Offer the generic pre-built site ONLY with hosted plans, offer your paid import service with it. Eliminate the incomplete 'ning bundle'.

And maybe also create a live demo site people can join as regular member for a short period to test out the user experience, as I describe in the start of my post.



updated by @strumelia: 09/11/16 09:26:32AM

Editing Activity Timeline

Design and Skin Customization

Hi Douglas- I mean I would want BOTH the master admin and the profile admins to be able to delete an item directly from the Activity Feed (but not delete it completely from the site itself).

Editing Activity Timeline

Design and Skin Customization


Douglas, the way you have it written above...will that work for the Profile Admins as well as the master admin then?

Editing Activity Timeline

Design and Skin Customization


http://yoursite.com/timeline/dashboard/browser ...at least, that's where I do it.

Migration from Ning: a few questions

Ning To Jamroom

Terri, hi....
1) If you have a ning site with the domain name of: mysillycat.ning.com ....then you will not be able to keep the ning part of your domain name. So...you'd have to obtain and register a NEW domain name of simply mysillycat.com ....if that domain name is available. Domain names are easy and cheap to register on many online locations. Jamroom does not offer domain name registration service, so you'd have to do that part on your own.
If your current ning domain URL does not have "ning.com" as part of it then you must have previously obtained/registered your domain name in your name when switching your site URL from a ___ning.com URL. If you still have your non-ning domain name registered in your name than yes you can transfer it to point to your new Jamroom site.

2) when you say "you do the work"- that does not mean actually designing or customizing your new site for you, nor making it look just like your ning site. You can purchase the Jamroom Import Service which includes doing the actual IMPORT of your Ning 2.0 content and member accounts into your JR site and making sure your site is basically functioning. You still would need to customize and design your site's looks and preferences yourself. If you plan to import your Ning 2.0 archive of content, you can see the various levels of JR Import Service here, the service is priced according to the size of your import archive:
https://www.jamroom.net/ning-to-jamroom/serviceshop

here is a slightly fuller description of what's involved when you buy the JR Import Service:
https://www.jamroom.net/ning-to-jamroom/serviceshop/5/5-gig-ning-site

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Oops sorry, I posted this before Nate's post appeared. =8-o
updated by @strumelia: 09/07/16 11:59:54AM

How Easy Is It to Move A Ning 2.0 Site to JamRoom?

Ning To Jamroom

Well, I just googled: Jamroom social engine ning platforms
and the top two results were from excreators site. So that's something.

Migration from Ning: a few questions

Ning To Jamroom

No it's not exactly like that. Firstly, your 2) in your Jamroom list is wrong: nobody can send any private messages to anyone until the Follow is completed both ways (and that's the SAME way in Ning).

This is more accurate I think:

In Ning:
1) I click "add Friend' on Bob's profile page. That sends a notification email to Bob and the circuit is now half complete. Nobody can send private messages yet.
2) Bob clicks the link in the notification to 'Accept' it (thus completing the two way connection). We are now both on each other's Friend List and can now both send each other private messages. (Bob doesn't have to go to or look at my profile page to accept my friend request.)

In Jamroom.
1) I click "Follow" on Bob's profile page. That sends a notification email to Bob and the circuit is now half complete. Nobody can send private messages yet.
2) Bob clicks the link in the notification which brings him to my Profile page, where he can check out who I am first and then click the follow button to "Follow" me as well (thus completing the two way connection). We are now both on each other's Followers List and can now both send each other private messages.

The only difference is that on Jamroom when you get your email notification telling you that you have a new Follower, when you click the link it doesn't actually complete the circuit- rather it takes you to the other person's profile page, where you click 'Follow' back. It IS one extra click, but it's not really twice the number of steps.
In some ways it's an extra little effort, but in other ways it's nice because you get people to actually go look at each other's profile pages first, before they click to Follow back. This often creates new activity- I find people leave more comments on each other's comments this way. But yes, it's an extra click.
Like I mentioned before, I also added a line of instructions to my template for the Follow Email Notice, making it clear that the person should click to go to the other person's page and click the Follow button to complete and permit private messages to happen.

My members had quite a few little complaints that things were not exactly the same as on Ning. But then they began to see all the wonderful new features we didn't have working in Ning, and they started going Ooooh! more instead of Ackk! lolol

One of my fave things I noticed at first was that: when members forgot their passwords and the 'forgot password' process on Ning didn't work for them (which was often), I couldnt do a damn thing except tell them to open a new membership account. Now I can just say "No problem!" and zip over to their page and change their password for them quick as a wink- this makes them soooo happy to not lose all their old profile stuff! For every one thing that I might wish was a little different on JR, there are like ten other things I'm doing the happy dance about every day.
The big thing to get used to in your head is that everything is Profile-based... everything is 'owned' by a profile. Once you understand how JR works concerning Profiles, Users, and Quotas, it'll help you a great deal in hitting your stride.

One concept about following to understand is that:
By default, a member can 'Follow' you and be one of your Followers simply by clicking the Follow button on your page. Technically, they're not 'sending you a request to follow you'...they're just following you. And you get a notification (if you allow site notifications in your member settings) that simply tells you someone new is (already) follwoing you, and that you can follow them back if you want, and here's how. Now, a member can check the option to Approve new followers before allowing them to follow them, but that's not the default.
Think of following as like exchanging business cards. If I give you my card with my contact info, I still can't contact you until you give me your card in return. By 'following' me back, you are in effect giving me YOUR card too, and we can then communicate back and forth.

Arvixe Dreadfulness

Jamroom Hosting

100% agree. I made a big mistake starting out trying to build a Jamroom site on and inexpensive Arvixe server that made big promises but completely slowed me down in every way. Awful- stay away from Arvixe if you can. In contrast, my past 9 months or so on the Jamroom Hosting Plan has been nothing but awesome- worth its weight in gold.

How Easy Is It to Move A Ning 2.0 Site to JamRoom?

Ning To Jamroom

Yes I have been on Troy's Ex-Creator site for a couple of years already. Yes I think it's worth joining. Troy welcomes thoughtful input there, as long as you are genuine, respectful, and constructive (as I try to be there). ...and no cursing.
Troy Bertrand owns it, and Garfield assists him running that site- you may know Garfield from Creators. Great fellows both. https://excreators.com/community/forums
People do wind up there through Google searches, looking for info, and there's a whole lot of interesting reading there about all Ning alternative platforms. Sometimes I feel a bit lonely there because the content is heavy on SocialEngine, so I'd welcome the company, Ceri!