What are AIM Profiles, Buddy Info and Status Messages?
Posted on Dec 28th 2007 2:45PM by Joseph Manna
Filed under: AIM Help, AIM 6, AIM Buddy Blog, Community Info, AIM Profiles Blog
I'm often asked about the differences between Profiles, Buddy Info and Status messages from AIM users. It's helpful to understand what they are and how you can manage them.
AIM Profiles (also known as "Member Directory" or "AIM Pages")
AIM Profiles are the public (or private) Web pages that you create that let you show off and tell the world all about you. AIM Profiles let you enter your favorite interests, photos, and Web links -- while also showing your Buddy Info and Status messages -- all in one page.
To edit your AIM Profile, navigate to http://editprofile.aim.com/ to get started or update it as necessary.
Buddy Info
AIM Buddy Info is a small Web page (of sorts) that AIM users can customize. Initially, AIM Buddy Info was only visible between only AIM users, but has since been posted on AIM Profiles. A popular use of the AIM Buddy Info is to post lyrics to a meaningful song, declare your relationship status or host links to your favorite Web sites. Currently, the Buddy Info has been expanded to allow pictures to be posted in it.
To edit your Buddy Info, you will need AIM software like AIM 6.5. From the AIM Buddy List, click the Edit menu then click My Buddy Info... and enter whatever you want (minding the TOS, of course).
Status Messages (also known as "Available" or "Away" Messages)![AIM 6.5 - Status Message, 'OMG! I am soooo bored.' [Example]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.peopleconnectionblog.com/media/2007/12/aim-status-message-aim-65.gif)
Status messages are just that -- they tell people if you're online, idle, away or even what music you're listening to. When you put up your away message and walk away from your computer, a message will be displayed informing your buddies that you are not at the computer. Status messages can also be set to serve as an away message if you're offline if you edit it and sign off.
You can manage your status messages by using AIM 6.5 and clicking on Enter a status message here..., located between your screen name and the top of the groups of buddies.
Alternatively, you may also change your Buddy Info directly from your AIM Profile by clicking on the "Edit" next to "Current Status."
Putting It All Together
Now that you know what these features are individually, you probably want to see what's the big deal about all these, right? AIM Profiles aggregates all this information into one page. With all these ways to post info about yourself, you can keep your Buddies in the know, even if you're not at the computer. Here is where everything is located on your profile:
On your AIM Profile, it will display this information for you automatically.
Still puzzled?
Post your questions in the comments below and we'll help the best we can.
~Joseph
AIM Profiles (also known as "Member Directory" or "AIM Pages")
AIM Profiles are the public (or private) Web pages that you create that let you show off and tell the world all about you. AIM Profiles let you enter your favorite interests, photos, and Web links -- while also showing your Buddy Info and Status messages -- all in one page.
To edit your AIM Profile, navigate to http://editprofile.aim.com/ to get started or update it as necessary.
Buddy Info
AIM Buddy Info is a small Web page (of sorts) that AIM users can customize. Initially, AIM Buddy Info was only visible between only AIM users, but has since been posted on AIM Profiles. A popular use of the AIM Buddy Info is to post lyrics to a meaningful song, declare your relationship status or host links to your favorite Web sites. Currently, the Buddy Info has been expanded to allow pictures to be posted in it.
To edit your Buddy Info, you will need AIM software like AIM 6.5. From the AIM Buddy List, click the Edit menu then click My Buddy Info... and enter whatever you want (minding the TOS, of course).
Status Messages (also known as "Available" or "Away" Messages)
Status messages are just that -- they tell people if you're online, idle, away or even what music you're listening to. When you put up your away message and walk away from your computer, a message will be displayed informing your buddies that you are not at the computer. Status messages can also be set to serve as an away message if you're offline if you edit it and sign off.
You can manage your status messages by using AIM 6.5 and clicking on Enter a status message here..., located between your screen name and the top of the groups of buddies.
Alternatively, you may also change your Buddy Info directly from your AIM Profile by clicking on the "Edit" next to "Current Status."
Putting It All Together
Now that you know what these features are individually, you probably want to see what's the big deal about all these, right? AIM Profiles aggregates all this information into one page. With all these ways to post info about yourself, you can keep your Buddies in the know, even if you're not at the computer. Here is where everything is located on your profile:
On your AIM Profile, it will display this information for you automatically.
Still puzzled?
Post your questions in the comments below and we'll help the best we can.
~Joseph
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1. How come after downloading 9.1 my pictures are missing from my profile. I called tech support, they told me it was an AOL problem.
I am a photographer and showing my images are important to my online experience.
Betty
Posted at 7:16AM on Dec 30th 2007 by Betty
2. i hatee da new aimpagess, how do u upload pics and stuff its soo confusingg cna u plzz go bakk to da old onee, my friends have left cuz they dont know what 2 do, plz
Posted at 7:00PM on Dec 31st 2007 by marissa
3. Joseph and the AIM Profiles team,
One of my buddies and I think we may have figured out the problem as to why we can't post comments on each others profiles. We all have slide picture shows on our profiles that work through the code snippet feature. One of my friends deleted their picture slide and took it off their profile and found that people could then post comments on his Aim page.
Others tried this as well and it worked. So it seems there is a technical glitch between the use of flash widgets and the comments section of AIM Profiles.
I really hope this helps and I hope your program professionals can help us make our profiles work.
Thanks.
Posted at 12:22AM on Jan 2nd 2008 by jenniferaqua11
4. Before you used to be able to view people's buddy info's and status messages while they were offline. It would tell you how long ago they changed their away message / what it was / when they changed their infos. Why did you get rid of it?
Posted at 8:14PM on Jan 2nd 2008 by Megan
5. i can't get my visit counter to work, anyone have any suggestions
Posted at 10:46PM on Jan 2nd 2008 by docmontey
6. All of a sudden I have a mobile icon next to my name on my buddy list. How can I get rid of it?
Posted at 12:29AM on Jan 3rd 2008 by crecoop
7. I've loaded AOL 9.1 recently and everything seems even slower than before. What is the deal with AOL? I have been a member since the 90's...
Posted at 8:42PM on Jan 5th 2008 by LoRez
8. aol: thanks for complicating the simple task of buddy profiles. it was too easy earlier, but its much better now that youve made it more difficult and added all these fabulous advertisements which pop out when i accidentally roll over them with my cursor. i think its great that i cannot block them without blocking articles which i want to see.
keep up the good work... no wonder aol is still at the top!
Posted at 10:10PM on Jan 5th 2008 by matt
9. I dont know about anyone else but i lost most of my interests and how do i get them back?!?!?!?!?!?
Posted at 8:16PM on Jan 9th 2008 by flake370
10. Every time i sign into AIM, my buddy info disappears when i want to edit it. You can still see it but when it comes to editing it, there's a blank box. What is the problem and how i fix it??
Posted at 8:09PM on Jan 10th 2008 by ringo
11. I have lost my buddy list and I am not sure how to add it.
Posted at 10:18PM on Jan 10th 2008 by usweetart
12. soy una persona dedicada a los negocios
Posted at 11:22AM on Jan 12th 2008 by RAFAEL
13. is there a way too get music in ur buddy info? if u kno plz reply asap!!!
Posted at 10:08PM on Jan 12th 2008 by ashley
14. Question: I'm 76 years old. A long time ago, I blocked my profile. I now want to cancel any affiliation from lack of interest on my part. How to I go about this?
Tom
Posted at 12:56PM on Jan 14th 2008 by Tom Kenneally
15. A long time ago you could look up someone you knew by searching their email address. I don't see that option anymore......is it there and I just don't see it? It used to be pretty simple..seems the new format is a bit more difficult......any answers for me?
Posted at 1:10AM on Jan 24th 2008 by smiling2day4u
16. I know there are places where you can get lingo dictionaries, expressions, and away messages, but are there any places where you could get a cute status message for when you aren't away or offline?
Posted at 8:38PM on Jan 24th 2008 by uptowngurl48
17. I swear everytime i log on to my profile it's a different problem and im sick of it i get so frustrated that i just wanna smash my computer screen i never had all these problems with the old profile my newest problem is that my comments keep being deleted once the reach about 27 or 28 comments i have no idea why it happened twice in less then a week emailed Aol support nothing no response at all and on top of that i cant edit my pictures still and half the time i can not even get into my aim mail also my Buddies button is messed on page and so is my Inbox button for my email all of this has been mentioned to Aol support and they never get back to me not even an email letting me know they have recivied my email
Posted at 10:21PM on Jan 27th 2008 by CC
18. I installed the new 9.1 even though i had 9.1 and now cannot find my buddy list and cannot send mail.
HELP PLEASE TODAY IF POSSIBLE.
LEANN
Posted at 9:45AM on Jan 28th 2008 by LeAnn
19. i would like to kno how can i view im's that i recieved while i was away. before i leave my house i enter an away message and when i get home it says that i recieved five im's. how can i view those five im's or is it not possible.
please help me.
Posted at 5:05PM on Jan 28th 2008 by tanisha
20. Recently, I reset and created a new profile. Now, my profile can no longer be found using a search through Member Directory. Search results come up zero, yet the profile is there. I can find it via a buddy search, but not a member directory search. I tried differnt computers, different screen names, and recreated the profile, yet the same thing happens. It comes up with zero results. It was working before....what happened?
Posted at 6:03PM on Jan 31st 2008 by Katherine