Content Customization is a powerful new feature for Groupsites. It has a few basic features, as well as the Premium Feature ($9 per month) that allows you to create your own custom pages and add them under the MORE tab (which you can also rename).

Here's how:

- Select the MANAGER tab, then click on "Content Customization" under the "Group Settings" subtab.

The Basic Content Customization allows you to:

1. Rename the SUMMARY tab as SUMMARY, MAIN or HOME

2. Select one of the nine core pages (Discussions, Group Blog, Email Blasts, Calendar, File Cabinet, Photo Galleries, Member Profiles, Member Objectives, ..

This month's Manager's tip comes from Tim Parker, who manages The Mobile Area Young Professionals Alliance (MAYPA) Groupsite from Mobile, Alabama, USA. Tim incorporates useful widgets and customized content to get more done with his Groupsite.

Here's what Tim shared:

"The release of the new version of CollectiveX Groupsites has given managers more freedom to incorporate much-needed features. New, versatile content modules and the ability to add customizable pages have been a great tool in the redesigning of the MAYPA Groupsite (maypa.collectivex.com).

My particular organization was recently formed, but is growing quickly throughout the local ..

Everyone knows the Jacksonville Jaguars football team. There is another team in Jacksonville on game days that’s just as important to the Jaguars’ success as the players: the 3,000+ stadium workers that attend to guests. Ticket takers, Ushers, Security, Concessions Workers and more. Together, this hard-working team makes the gameday experience possible for 14 –15 stadium events each year.

Bill Prescott, CFO & SVP of Stadium Operations, Jacksonville Jaguars shares how they use a Groupsite to communicate and build a stronger sense of community:

“We have 14-15 events each year which is the only time our gameday staff comes together. ..

Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference. This month we are going to share 5 small tips, each of which will make it easier for you to effectively use your Groupsite to make things happen.

1. Sort by "Most Recent Reply" - When engaged in a very active discussion in our Discussion Forums, sometimes a Discussion Topic can become quite lengthy. Our default is to show the initial Topic post first, followed by the oldest to newest replies. If you prefer, you can view the newest replies first.  Here's how:

At the bottom of the intial Topic ..

Maybe you know what "widgets" are - maybe you don't. When it comes to technology, I expect to press the button and have the light come on.  That's it.  I don't care how it works, it can be pixie dust as long as it works.

That being said, there are lots of interesting tools (widgets) that may be an effective addition to your Groupsite.

At the end of this post I will list a few places where you can find and build widgets but let me explain the 2 ways you can "embed" them in your Groupsite first.

Let's use YouTube ..

Groupsites are not the best place to communicate, share and network. We are the second best.

What's the best place? Any place where real people are together in person in the real world, actually "being present" with each other.

In today's world of "social" networks where "friend" is now a verb and most "friends" have never even met each other; where people have thousands of contacts but no one to invite to their picnic or card game; where multi-taskers "tweet" 140 character messages and text message remote contacts -- while sitting at a restaurant table with others who are busy checking ..

Riding the train from a trade show in D.C. to my home in Baltimore, I just read a tiny book called "The Dictionary of Brand" that was given to me by a fellow exhibitor (AIGA).

It was a quick read of definitions and five jumped out at me as being pertinent to Groupsites powered by CollectiveX.  Here they are in alphabetical order:

"Co-Creation: the collaborative development of a product, service, brand or message"

-     Through actively engaging in Groupsites, members are "co-creating" their own social collaboration space. A Groupsite's value is based on the level of engagement and ..

This month’s Groupsite success story comes to us from the world of professional associations. The group is the Young Association Professionals (YAP) and their tagline, Eternally Beta, sets the stage.

Eternally Beta

Network with your peers in the association/non-profit industry. Meet cool people. Talk about interesting association-related issues. Host or attend YAP events. Interact and experiment with social media.

Oh and by the way – age is a state of mind. So anyone is welcome who thinks young, no matter what your real age might be. ; )

Two of YAP's founders, Maddie Grant and Lindy Dreyer, share the ..

Kick the Tires, Hard, and Understand How It Works.

This month’s Manager’s tip comes from Michael Borges who manages the Music PAL Forum.

Here’s what Michael shared:

“As a Groupsite manager, most members will look to you as their first line of support when it comes to questions about how to do things in their Groupsite. Some of these questions will be as general as ‘Where do I start?’ while others may be as specific as ‘How do I upload my profile photo?’

I have 3 tips for my fellow Groupsite managers that I think will help:

1. Press Every ..