Update : Along with account types, we have also introduced an “Industry/Cause” indicator in your profile information. You can specify which industry you are working in. For the new account types, this is a compulsory field. For the default/normal type, this is optional.
Ever wondered this? Who are you on SlideShare?
Well till recently, we gave everyone the same kind of account (i.e. the default/normal account). So if you were a teacher, a university, a company or a lone user, you had to use the same account type (and have to specify your gender & DOB as well!) Not any more. We have released 7 new types of accounts. This was preceded by an exhaustive research exercise to understand our community. And the research indicated that these seven types of accounts (along with the default/standard one that has always existed) should cover the main sub-sections of SlideShare users.
Account types are free, off course. If you want to change your account type, just log into your SlideShare account, change your account types, fill out the options and you are all set to show the world WHO YOU ARE.
Why are we doing this? SlideShare has grown into a vibrant community and (behind the scenes) we are building custom features for different accounts. As and when these features are launched, we want you to best positioned to leverage on them.
Check out this quick slide deck for a walkthrough.
Here are the seven new account types for your quick reference:
Company: The Company account type is meant for professional organisations & firms.
Non Profit/Gov: The Non Profit/Gov account type is meant for non profit institutions, non government organisations, central or provincial governments (or government departments) etc.
University/School: The University/School account type is meant for educational organisations – schools, universities, colleges, classrooms, educational institutions.
AD/PR/Marketing Agency: The AD / PR / Marketing Agency account type is meant for firms dealing in advertising, public relations, marketing etc.
Professional Speaker: The Professional Speaker account type is meant for people who speak frequently at conferences, seminars, events etc.
Presentation Design Firm: The Presentation Design Firm account type is meant for professional firms dealing in presentation design services, trainings etc
Event Organiser: The Event Organiser account type is meant for professional firms that organise events, conferences, trade shows etc.
Let us know what you thought of this new release.
{ 24 comments }
Thanks, this is helpful. I am not sure where an instructor fits in, but for now I will self classify as “professional speaker”.
thanks again.
Pablo Baqués
The Necklaces Vival
Very nice, but…
I would like to know more about the differences in the account types?
It’s obvious that the University account type is for universities
but how is it different form the other accounts?
Je comprends que cette initiative peut avoir une utilité sur un plan statistique pour mieux connaître vos utilisateurs.
Cependant, il manque au moins une catégorie afin de classer ceux d’entre nous pour qui réaliser des “Powerpoint Shows” est un hobby.
En attendant, je me suis inscrit dans “Presentation Design Firm”, ce qui n’est pas le cas.
Bien cordialement.
Patrick
Welcome segmentation.
There is a whole host of entertainers who display their technical wizardry or artistic skills there their slide shows.
They may not be doing this as a commercial proposition (and so can’t be classify themselves as business nor as design firms. Probably you need to add another account type for such members.
It may help to add icons to quickly identify the account types.
How about “Consultant” or “Independent Consultant” or “Freelance Consultant”
As a not-for-profit ministry I feel that Non-Profit and government combined does not work because of separation of Church and state.
To cover training developers and trainers I would change “Presentation Design Firm” to “Presentation and Training Consultants”
I’d like to see an account type for K-12 Classes/Teacher/Educator.
Hi there,
As a classic business consultancy (and there must be many more like me) I don’t see a descriptor for “business consultancies”/ “consultancies”/”professional services”/etc.
It’s clear that this would be a key requirement to include in your new catagorisations.
Kind rgds,
Dorian
Hi,
As time progresses, in case we feel the need, we may add other types of accounts. At this stage the new types of accounts, along with the “Industry/cause” indicator should take care of all cases. And remember, we can’t possibly have a very long list.
Dorian & Tom… consultancies/services etc should logically come under “company”
Bryan… we have a University/School account, also you can choose the default account with “education” as the industry/cause
Phil… thanks for the suggestion…we’ll consider your idea
Charles… WE HAVE Apple keynote compatability for over a year now… just upload… seems you have missed this
Srini… for entertainment, you could have a default account with a appropriate industry/cause indicator (which is optional for default)… I dont think this qualifies for a separate account type. Entertainment is probably a content type, rather than an account type. For content type, we already have categories, tags etc
Jonathan… stay tuned. This is the first step in the accpunt bifurcation. The differences will roll out slowly.
How about individual or consultant.
What about small and medium business owner or even single person business owner?
Martin Haworth
Actually, I now see that I should have supported Dorian and Tom, this is a discrete business segment and I would think quite a significant user of your services.
Regards
Martin
As previously mentioned , how about consultants, my company is a health and safety consultancy.
Thanks,
Geoff
I as an individual teach in various schools as a social cause. I do not understand to which category I would fall.
Consider the merits of further segmenting NPO: religious organization, (online) publisher or advocate – I’m thinking of the outreach or public engagement function of an organization (university outreach or extension services; corporate relations or campaigns of eduction/infotainment).
Hi guys, I am disapointed. I can not join any group. I miss my profile as I am a freelance professional, that uses Powerpoint occasionally, for my own productivity and to highlight my personal brand.
I hope the “default” is not penalized with respect to the provided services and the free features taht are (or will be) available.
Thank you for caring about “freelancers”.
Enfeda
Hello,
We are a church. I guess we use the non-profit-account.
But what should we choose by Industrie/Cause?
I agree with Tom who said “How about “Consultant” or “Independent Consultant” or “Freelance Consultant””. That’s how I would qualify myself, and this is probably the fastest growing category considering the shifts taking place throughout the economy.
Suggest add “Consultant”.
There should also be room for at least 3 URLs, including professional, blog, and homepage. I have a homepage, an organization, and that organization has a blog of which I’m the editor. Thanks.
Thanks.
I was thinking for this feature since the very beginning of my slidesharing.
I would tell this to all my clients and partners. Thanks
It’s very helpful, and I have to do the presentations in 2 days, here I found the solution. Thanks
That is some inspirational stuff.never knew that opinions could be this varied.Thanks for all the enthusiasm to offer such helpful information here!
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