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Ning Conference Calls Attendees: What Was Your Take? Here's Mine.

Ning Conference Calls Attendees: What Was Your Take? Here's Mine.

What Got My Attention On the Ning Conference Call - - The Plus Plan

I'm not sure if any of you chose to join one of the phone conferences Ning offered in the past couple of days. I attended the last one on Thursday May 6, 2010, before the final call on Friday (Spanish call).

I have to tell you, on behalf of a lot of fellow Network Creators and friends, I was pleasantly surprised with what all I heard. Even for the Plus Plan, the power and features will be so much more than currently offered. With the exception of uploading Videos, Music and branded players, the Plus is like all of the premium services put together, plus a whole lot more, and all for $19.95 per month. This is actually a good deal less than premium networks pay today, for the same features - - again, except the music and video uploads. But the most critical point to keep in mind, there are a host of additional features you will gain from the Plus, that no one has today. Read more, below.

There were a lot of exciting topics touched-on in the conference call. And, for current premium customers it's almost a no-brainer. I have been a premium subscriber since day one, and will remain a premium. However, my main reason for joining the call was to learn and share any information I thought would be helpful to fellow Network Creators; especially for those of you who are currently free Ning Networks, and are struggling with making a decision. Some of you know your next move, and that's great. For those who aren't sure, and are considering the Plus Plan, here are a few tidbits I retained from the call.

Plus Plan Highlights:
Since the biggest loss is uploading videos and music, I will cover that first. In regards to Video, my understanding is: if you choose to go with the Plus instead of the Pro, any videos you currently have on your site will remain accessible in the same manner they are today. However, you or members will not be able to upload any more in the future. But, here's the thing. You can upload/host your videos somewhere like YouTube and add the embedded code to your Ning Network, in pretty much any text box from the home page to profile pages. And, I believe you will still be able to upload Videos with the "+Add Video" feature. My guess is: you just won't see an upload button, but a text box for embedded code.

For music, you can use a similar method for music uploads, by utilizing embedded music players. There are several free music players available online - - and you can use the embedded code for those players on your Ning Network. I know for sites where video and music uploads are critical, this adds an extra step. However, if these two media formats are that critical to a site, you probably should figure out how to upgrade to the Pro Plan.

This is how I see it, if I were trying to make a decision. If I could not go to the Pro Plan, and I could live with video and music embeds, the Plus Plan is awesome. This is why.

Unlimited Members
All the features premium Networks enjoy today, with that one exception of no uploads on video and music.
Removal of all Ning Branding. Now you can promote your brand completely.
Ad-free - - you can run your own Ads, even if just Google Adsense. You can sell whatever you want - - I suppose as long as it's not illegal or something in the p-o-r-n arena. Note: Our bad word filter is working, hence the dashes.
Your site will no longer carry the Ning brand/name. When a new member signs-up, they will see your name, your brand.
And this simply ROCKS! Sign-in with Facebook, Twitter or other authentication services
(Coming soon)
You will have the option of using your own domain name.
You will have new features like special text boxes for the header/footer.
Small yet very powerful new features like: being able to choose the home page - - what your members and visitors will see first.
Member Stats
25 Text Boxes and 25 RSS Feeds
Feature controls like: Hide invite, share, Facebook or Twitter links, turn off private messaging, and strengthen member verification.

Here's another topic that of course got my attention - - optional premium Memberships:
I can't remember if this was available for Plus and Pro. If any other attendee knows, please let us know and I will move it up to the bulleted items for the Plus Plan.

You will be able to choose whether or not you want to charge members for membership, and the way I heard it: you should be able to choose areas of your Social Network, and enable a membership fee for that specific area. It wasn't clear on when this level of membership fees would be available, and I may have misunderstood how this will work. Time will tell. I do believe however, the basic "membership fee" feature will be available soon. Additionally, the Ning platform will process the payments for you, via PayPal.

There was definitely more covered in the call, and especially with the unique questions/answers asked by fellow Ning Network Creators. For example: a fellow Network Creator asked if Ning would raise their rates. The Ning Team was very quick to answer, "We have no plans to raise the rates." You had to be there. It was very convincing. But, time will tell.

I have covered the main points I caught. If anyone else reading this discussion attended a call, and you want to add more, or correct anything I've stated, please do. :-)

NING CONFERENCE CALL ATTENDEES: Please share what you got from the Conference Call you attended. Network Creators asked questions for each call. If there was anything you found of interest and want to share, we'd all love to hear it.

There is one last call scheduled for Friday May 7, and will be conducted in Spanish. If attendees would like to share what you get out of the Spanish speaking meeting, please feel free to share with Spanish-speaking friends, here, and in Spanish.

Hoping everyone is able to make the absolute best decision.

Best,
Jen

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by RoadHouse Rockers on May 7, 2010 at 10:45am

Groups members are so few because they cannot make their own space in groups and they have to join the site not just the group to be posting etc.....

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Permalink Reply by RoadHouse Rockers on May 7, 2010 at 10:51am

and secure access to our folders for ftp transfers is still not available to the premium payers.....etc... So to resume; its a great step foward but still lots of irritants to get rid of before it really rocks! as for the pricing the price for premium is slightly high , if all that is NOT included ; is charged above that rate it calls for shop and compare you will see what i mean

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Permalink Reply by JenSocial on May 7, 2010 at 11:23am

Can you explain more? This one lost me a little, sorry - - the one about Groups.
Thanks in advance,
Jen

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Permalink Reply by Awakened Journey on May 7, 2010 at 2:17pm

With the ability to still post/share EMBED coded videos from YouTube, will the videos still show up and be accessable from the sites? thanks.

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Permalink Reply by ABCD in Action on May 7, 2010 at 2:49pm

my understanding is that embedded videos will still be able to be seen on your site the same as they are now - it won't take you away to another site to view them, if that's your question.

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Permalink Reply by JenSocial on May 7, 2010 at 3:06pm

I agree with ABCD in Action. Why? I think it would be a huge detriment to Ning's product if they didn't keep the Video feature just as it is, except to remove the upload button. Does that make sense? I see no reason why it would make a difference to Ning, if embedded videos were viewed from the Ning Networks, like they are now. Because the major pull on bandwidth would be on the server side where the video is actually hosted, like YouTube.
Best,
Jen

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Permalink Reply by ABCD in Action on May 7, 2010 at 3:05pm

I was one of the people who asked about prices because I wasn't sure what the "one-time annual pricing" meant - apparently that means we need to sign up within 30 days of the official July kick-off date and pay for the entire year at that time. If we (or someone else) signs up later than 30 days (say, in Oct), that "one-time annual pricing" isn't available.

Questions I still have about pricing:
* a year from now, if they don't raise the price in general, will there still be a discount for paying for a year at a time? If so, will it be the same as the "one-time annual pricing" for people who sign up within the 30 days this year - in other words, can I lock in on the price until they raise it in general?
* If I get the special discount for the network I have now, but add another new network later, do I still get any type of special deal - in other words, is the discount tied to the creator or to each network?

I'm sure I have more questions - probably most of which are answered by "No" but still just wondering...

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Permalink Reply by JenSocial on May 7, 2010 at 3:23pm

I don't know the answers to the yearly pricing, except to say this. As you said, I do specifically remember John stating that the annual rate would not be available after the 30 days. - - which BTW I think is a mistake on Ning's part. And, I bet this changes. So, on the locking in a rate, I don't know.
Thank you for your input ABCD in Action.

Best,
Jen

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Permalink Reply by ABCD in Action on May 7, 2010 at 3:09pm

Here's the other thing they said loud & clear on the call - apparently creators (including me) want to be able to have a "test" ning (I call it my "practice" ning) where they can see how something works. I'm such a newbie, I really need this.

They said absolutely there would be "much improved preview options or test Nings allowed at the same plan level you're paying for.) - Notice the word "or" - they didn't guarantee that they would let us have test nings, but at the same time it sounds like something they are really planning for. Anyone else know or hear anything more about this?

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Permalink Reply by ladiesofthehat.net on May 7, 2010 at 3:12pm

I participated in a conference call and am going with the Pro plan. I did not really get a lot out of the call I was part of because the questions coming from other NC's were "site" specific which is what NING asked us NOT to do. Yet, they did take the time to answer the questions. The questions did not necessarily apply to sites in general, but rather specific sites and their needs. Not what I wanted to hear. I also didn't get the same information as you about being able to charge members at certain levels, etc., via Paypal. I was informed this was coming sometime down the road, (no time frame yet) and that if sites choose to charge members, we would share in the merchant account with NING without having to set up our own accounts. PayPal was never mentioned. The other thing I didn't like about the PLUS plan was that the only support that will be available is via online discussions. The PLUS plan will not offer premium support which is right now a 24 hour turnaround time. Also, for anyone wanting a plan "inbetween" the three levels, this is not planned now or in the future. Not sure this helps anyone but it is what I got out of the conversation.

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Permalink Reply by JenSocial on May 7, 2010 at 3:20pm

My understanding is, the Plus Plan does include Help Desk Support, just not a 24-hour turnaround.

On the PayPal processing, I may be wrong about that. But, thought that's what I heard. ;-)

That's a shame that NCs did exactly what Ning requested they not do - - ask Network specific questions. We only had one caller who did this.

Thank you for your input LadiesoftheHat.

Best,
Jen