How your members can sign up and login.
Before you launch your directory, we recommend creating a test account via the embedded directory so you can understand how your members will experience it. This will also be helpful if you want to create a guide for members with information on how to sign up and log in.
Go to your embedded directory
Visit the member directory page on your website where your members will sign up and log in.
Create a member account
Add yourself as a member using the same process your members would follow. The exact steps will depend on how you have configured your directory, but if you have included the default buttons in the directory toolbar, you will have an option that says + Add entry.
Clicking on this will launch the signup form where you can add an email and password to create a member account.
Your existing Community Box account is only to access the admin dashboard, so to add a profile and test out the member flow, you will need to create a new account. You may find it easier to use a different email address to avoid confusion.
💡 If you have a Gmail or Google Workspace email, you can create multiple test accounts by adding a + and some text before the @ sign. For example, if your email is hello@example.com then you can write hello+test@example.com to create an alternative email address (that will still go to the same inbox).
If you are using a third party integration such as MemberSpace or Squarespace Member Sites, then your members will log in via those services before adding or editing their profile.
Add a profile
Once you've created an account, you will see the profile form. Filling in these form fields provides the data that is displayed in your directory, along with any information that you are collecting for your own reference.
Submitting the form will add your profile to the directory.
View your profile
If yours is one of the first profiles that has been added, or if you have set the profile ordering to show the most recent profiles at the top, it will show up immediately in the directory.
If you already have a lot of profiles (for example you've imported them from a spreadsheet, or added test profiles via the dashboard) or have a different ordering setting, then your profile may not be visible at first. In that case, you can use the search and filter options or click on Show more at the bottom of the directory to load more profiles until yours is visible.
❗If you have moderation enabled, you will need to approve your profile first via the admin dashboard before it becomes visible in the live directory.
Edit your profile
If you are using the default buttons in the directory toolbar, you will have an option that says ✎ Edit entry. Clicking on this will bring up the profile form so you can change the information that is associated with your profile.
For example, you can try:
- Uploading a different profile photo
- Editing contact details
- Updating social links
- Changing your bio
- Adding or removing tags
Test the member experience
We recommend exploring the platform as a member to fully understand the experience.
For example, you can try:
- Searching the directory
- Viewing other member profiles
- Testing filters or categories
- Logging out and back in again
- Resetting your member account password
- Adding a second profile
Why we don't provide documentation that you can share with members
Because our directories can be highly customised, there isn't a universal experience that all members share.
Here are just some of the ways in which directories can differ in the signup and login process:
- Using third party integrations like MemberSpace or Squarespace Member Sites
- Having moderation enabled
- Customising the wording on the toolbar buttons or signup forms
- Adding a custom button for signup
- Importing users via a spreadsheet before transferrring ownership to members for editing
Need any help testing your member experience? Send us a message via your Community Box dashboard or email help@communitybox.co