How to Pimp your MySpace Profile
Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2008
by Jennifer Lange
SpaceGravy.com
Congratulations! You signed up for MySpace and now you're perusing profiles, checking out folks you know, those you don't and those you'd like to get to know better. You're anxious to get your social networking party started by sending out a slew of new friend requests.
Before you start clicking though, you might want to take a long hard look at your own profile. If your design is that boring white template you were "assigned" when you officially became a MySpace user, avoid social suicide by getting rid of it immediately. Nothing screams "I'm a newbie loser!" more than using a MySpace template.
Instead, design your profile with layouts and backgrounds that communicate to your MySpace friends exactly who you are and what interests you. There are tons of websites that offer free designs to help you pimp your MySpace page. Don't know how to do it? Don't worry. These easy-to-follow steps can help.Before you get started, it's important to understand the difference between Layouts and Backgrounds.
Layouts are complete designs for your MySpace profile that include a background image, a matching Extended Network Banner (at the top right hand side of your profile) and a matching Contact Table (the little box below your default picture with links inside such as "Message", "Friends", "Chat Now", etc.)
Backgrounds are simply background pictures you post at your MySpace profile. They are not accompanied by a matching Extended Network Banner or a matching Contact Table, as is the case with MySpace Layouts. The Extended Network Banners and Contact Tables that will appear on your profile, if you post a Background, are the default white banners and white contact tables you were assigned when you became a MySpace member.
Time to Design
Now that you know the difference between a Layout and a Background, it's time to start pimping your profile.
First, do a search on the Internet for Free Layouts or Free Backgrounds. There are close to five million sites on the Internet today that offer designs like these, so finding your favorite shouldn't be hard.
Once you've located a free layout or a free background from any one of these sites, it should be accompanied by HTML code. This code is important because you'll need to copy it and paste it into the back-end of your MySpace profile in order for the design to appear on the front end, where all your friends can see it.
One such design website, SpaceGravy.com, offers detailed instructions to help you design your MySpace page. We've used their instructions below (with a few minor adjustments) to help you design your own profile.
1. Once you've found the design you like the best, copy the code next to that design by pressing the CTRL key on your computer keyboard followed by the "C" key (to copy). The HTML code for that design will be copied to your computer's clipboard. Some websites automatically copy the code for you – on your clipboard – the minute you click your cursor inside the box containing the code.
2. Log onto your MySpace account by entering your user name and password and click on the 'Edit Profile' link at the top of your MySpace page, to the right of your main profile picture.
3. Inside the 'About Me' field (following any text you may have already entered into that field), paste the code by clicking your cursor inside the field, and then press the 'Ctrl' key on your computer keyboard followed by the 'V' key (to paste). Be sure to click 'Save All Changes' when you're done.
4. If asked, enter the security code (known as a CAPTCHA) that appears on the screen by typing in the letters exactly as you see them. This is a new security measure MySpace has implemented at its website.
5. When you're finished, simply click on the 'Preview Profile' link in your MySpace account to view your finished profile.
6. Smile. You're done. That was easy and fun!
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