How To Set Up A MySpace Profile
We give you a simple guide to setting up a profile on popular social networking site MySpace. Interact with friends through the cyber world of MySpace.
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Step 1:
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Sign up
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First of all you will need to sign up on the Myspace homepage. Type www.myspace.com into the address bar on your browser which will take you to Myspace.
In the top right hand corner of the screen click 'Sign up'. Myspace needs to know your email address so it can send you emails to send you updates from your profile. Put in a valid email address, your first name, last name, and a password for your myspace account. Next put in your country of residence, region, and postcode. Select your gender, and date of birth. You'll also have the option select the preferred language and country specific version. So if you are in the UK - select UK.
Once you are happy, tick the box to accept the 'Terms and Agreement' of the site, and press 'Sign up'.
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Step 2:
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Verify account
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You will be taken to a spam protection screen where you can verify your account. Simply repeat the letters from the graphic in the box and click 'Continue to my account'. Note that the letters are not case specific.
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Step 3:
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Upload photos
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Next you'll be asked if you want to upload some photos. You don't have to do this now, in fact you might find it easier to do this once your profile is setup. You can skip this if you like by pressing 'Skip for now'. However if you want to, click 'Choose file', and navigate your computer's hard drive to find a photo you would like, then select it. Now press 'Upload'.
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Step 4:
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Invite your friends
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Myspace allows you to send a generic email out to all your mates in one go to announce that you have a profile set up, and inviting them to do likewise and become your friend. It's good advertising for them but it's also a handy way to get the ball rolling for you. You can skip this if you like by pressing 'Skip for now'.
In the box entitled 'To simply enter your friends' email addresses separating each address with a comma.
You can add any message you want in the 'Optional body' box. Then click 'Invite' and the mass email is sent.
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Step 5:
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Hello!
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Your profile is now active and you'll be taken to your new myspace homepage. It looks a bit confusing to begin with but it's actually quite straightforward.
Beside your picture, underneath "Hello! (your name)" are a set of options. Here you can add photos and videos for people to see, and edit your personal information.
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Step 6:
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How to edit your profile
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At the moment your profile is blank. So click on 'Edit profile' so you can enter some info. Along the top are the different categories you can fill in, and beneath are questions you can fill out that describe you to the myspace community. Bear in mind, this is all optional. You don't have to fill anything in if you don't want to - or if you can't be bothered. Also you can go back and change or update any information should you so wish.
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Step 7:
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Interests & Personality
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This section is where the bulk of your personal information will be displayed. Anything you enter is searchable. So if you say you like the author William Burroughs for example, people can click on the 'William Burroughs' tag in your profile to find other people who are interested in the same thing.
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About me
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In 'About me' you can be as brief or as elongated as you like. Bear in mind too much info may make you look a bit self-obsessed or pretentious. Then again, if you have a lot to say, say it. There are no rules.
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Who I'd like to meet
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Most people are genuine here, but irony is often encouraged.
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Interests
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Be as brief or as thorough as you like. If you're looking for people who are similar to you - this section is an important declaration of personality.
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Music, Films, Television, Books, Heroes
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Users tend to list their favourite stuff in a 'Stream of consciousness'. Once again, irony is widely used - especially in the heroes section.
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Step 8:
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Name & Basic Information
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Here you can change your name and enter things like your occupation, where you live, your ethnicity, body type and height.
Importantly you can also specify what you are on myspace for - dating, serious relationships, friends, or networking. This will indicate to other users whether you are a potential target for their romantic affections, or just a potential contact or myspace friend.
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Step 9:
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Background & Lifestyle
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This is where you can enter your lifestyle preferences and sexual leanings. Myspace is pretty free and easy when it comes to sexuality. A lot of people put themselves as 'Swingers' because it's a fun Myspace convention. Do what you like though, it's your profile. You can also specify whether you drink or smoke, how educated you are, whether you're up for having kids and how much you earn - which is also often treated as a joke with people habitually selecting '£250,000 or higher'.
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Step 10:
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Schools & Colleges & Companies
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You can add your old school or college which is useful if you want to track down old mates. If someone searches for a school on Myspace, you'll be listed under it. The same is true for companies. Listing your company is also useful for networking should people want to contact you with a work related issue.
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Step 11:
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Networking
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You can join a network - which brackets you with other people who work in a similar industry. Here you can specify your job title.
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Step 12:
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Song & Video on profile
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In this option you can search for a video or a song on myspace and attach it to your profile. Clicking on the song option will take you to a search engine for myspace music. Clicking on the video option will do the same for Myspace video. Once you have found the song or video you want - click 'Add' to attach it to your profile.
