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In the midst of the Ning Storm, What’s Your Next Move?

In the midst of the Ning Storm, What’s Your Next Move? We would love to hear from you.

On April 15, 2010, the new CEO (Jason Rosenthal) of Ning Social Networks made a fairly shocking announcement: Ning will start "phasing out free Ning Networks". ...more

In the past 2 years, Ning has become one of the Industry leaders in Social Community platforms - - enabling just about anyone to create a free Social Network of their own - - with members and a full featured Online Community.

This has been a devastating blow for a lot of small networks who can't possibly see their way clear, to pay a monthly service fee. And some of this is not just affordability to a lot of Network Creators who own free sites, but accountability and principle - - doing the right thing. Many of the free sites have been built-up over years, with more passion than one can possibly imagine. There are free sites on just about any topic imaginable - - sites like: family sites, school sports, art, environmental, church, support sites, educational sites, sites for: pets, helping find abducted children, memorial, and tons of grass-roots type causes and non-profit sites. So, it has been a shocking experience for many. And, it's not over yet.

On the other side of the coin, simply stated: for most Ning Network Owners already paying for premium services, this is a relief and great news. Especially in regards to adding more value to their Networks - - the New Ning will possibly mean a true white label, less cross-breeding, and a chance to present Social Networks as their "own", as a real independent business, instead of "just another Ning". There are a lot of Advertisers that will not buy Ad Space from Ning Networks. It's just a fact. But, that should change too.

A lot has happened since the first announcement. For one, following the 2nd announcement on April 16, 2010 - - the much awaited Premium Package/Plans were announced on May 4, 2010. ...more

There have been tons of heated discussions going on, here on the Directory, Ning's Creator site, Spruz sites like the new Ning Refugees, and discussions taking place all over the Internet from TechCrunch to the Times. There has been a lot of screaming, loss of sleep, and even petitions. News headlines have been hopping with news about Ning, both positive and negative. Ning Competitors have been working overtime, making platform plans, changes, press releases etc...trying to offer the free Ning Networks a new home for those who can't stay on Ning.

Network Creators of free Ning Networks have been scrambling, trying to figure out what's next. So, what happens to networks whose owners don’t want to pay, can't pay, or don’t qualify for the educational sponsorship (announced with plans)?...more The Network Owners of these free Ning sites are in the process of trying to figure out an exit plan, looking for alternative platforms, and all within thirty days of the new plans’ arrival in July. Ning CEO, Jason Rosenthal makes promises of a “clear migration path...” But no one knows yet, what will actually be available for export. And most importantly, how will the exported data/content be utilized on other platforms?

What is your next move?

Will you stay with Ning and upgrade to premium?
Will you move to another platform?
Are you still trying to make a decision?
Will you delete your Ning Network, and hope to forget the whole experience?

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Permalink Reply by Noemi Silvera on May 6, 2010 at 4:26pm

I'll delete my ning sites, cannot pay :(
sorry and greetings from Uruguay

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Permalink Reply by MY OWN SPACE 360 on May 6, 2010 at 4:59pm

Visit MY OWN SPACE 360

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Permalink Reply by Expansion Technology on May 6, 2010 at 6:26pm

Ning in webster dictionary is a person, individual entitiy or company pestering a lot of people.
I forsee that Ning is about to go out of business in next two years.
It is all about GREED, samereason that had happened to ill-fated Netscape .......
Ning will see you in hell....

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Permalink Reply by ladiesofthehat.net on May 6, 2010 at 6:31pm

Gooood grief.....! See them in hell? Because of a business decision? You really need to get a grip and not take this so personally.

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Permalink Reply by MusicRVA on May 6, 2010 at 7:31pm

In the midst of some heavy thinking and stressing, I think I will move to Spruz too! I have seven ning sites to either remake from scratch or combine together, starting with the largest of them, which is The MusicRVA Network.
Just remember to always follow http://musicrva.net to find us wherever we are!!

I am still taking new members on the ning site, and have still not approuched this problem with them, but I am planning to, and am quite sure most will agree moving is best, especially based on the lack of music players. I can not see paying over $200 a year to keep a music site online if the members can no longer upload thier music files. I might as well start somewhere else that allows at least embedding, but for free.

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Permalink Reply by 2oedjmhn4ub20 on May 6, 2010 at 10:56pm

I am reading everyones replies and i am so saddened by this whole thing. I have another dilema and maybe you guys can help me with this. I have a very dear friend on my membership who is legally blind. we are trying spruz.. its still kind of clunky. i cant get my player on there.. I dont know what is going on with playlist but i cant even ccopy the embedded code to put it on there!

but thats the least of my problems. I spoke to spruz this morning and they are not equipt to run pages for sight impaired members. My girlfriend is totally frustrated because she relies on a toggle switch and a kindle to function and she is having a hard time on spruz, its too complicated for her.

she wants us to stay on ning and she wants to pay for it... what happens of ning gets greedy again and raises the prices 6-8 months from now? I cant ask her to maintain this. but i am out of work for the time being.

any suggestions?

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Permalink Reply by United In Spirit on May 7, 2010 at 12:15am

You have reason to worry...they've already change the game plans once without formally notifying those that it effects the most. I have no ideas for you but wish you luck.

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Permalink Reply by ladiesofthehat.net on May 7, 2010 at 7:22am

For what it's worth, in the conference call with NING the other night, they said there were no plans to raise prices. That doesn't mean they won't. But it is what they said.

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Permalink Reply by The Lifestyle on May 17, 2010 at 12:10pm

I am surprised spruz is widely considered complicated. It is designed so that network owners do not have to understand html or css code. In fact they cannot use it. To me this puts the designer in a straightjacket, but I would have thought it would be ideal for the average networkholder.

Hugz, Will

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Permalink Reply by JenSocial on May 17, 2010 at 12:28pm

I was able to change all CSS in Spruz, so not sure what happened when you tried it. I'll have to go to my account and record the steps - - don't know them off the top of my head. Let me know if you want me to do this.
Best,
Jen

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Permalink Reply by United In Spirit on May 7, 2010 at 12:10am

The day I read an article posted by a third party regarding Ning changing games plans was the day I created an alternative site. I dislike the unprofessionalism Ning has displayed. Network creators should have been the first notified prior to the press being informed. Then as if that wasn't bad enough an employee posted an internal email for all to read. Now I truly question how private members details etc are on this platform and seriously doubt Ning knows the meaning of confidential.
United In Spirit will be deleted at the end of May. Yes it will grieve me because like many others my heart and soul was poured into the development,appearance and the community I built from scratch. That being said,there is no way in hell I'm giving Ning the satisfaction of deleting my site, as hard as it will be I will do the deed myself.
As for the payment plans ,well theres not a cat in hells chance of me affording their asking price for my particular site...cant even take up the cheapest option as I'd have to boot atleast 200 members, unthinkable and discriminatory.
Hasta La Vista Ning...hope you drown in non profits.

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Permalink Reply by Abilene Area Paranormal Investig on May 7, 2010 at 10:55am

I have created a site at webs.com. It is free and they welcome ningsters.
I cannot have yet another possible corporate fat cats (as one user called it and called it well) eat into my NON PROFIT organization I put on ning.
I worked hard on it, had members working on it and I will be pulling the plug as soon as I can.
I am still on a site or two for personal self that are paying to keep theirs up and running and NOT charging. Others that are asking for donations should/could. However, if I cannot pay to keep my own going, how do I dare stay on those sites that are in need of donations, even if they are NOT charging their members?
I am quite angry at this as I have made not only friends, but have helped others through suggesting topics or groups on sites I had been on.
We have melded and now that will have to change to email messages or them getting ahold of me on one of the two other sites I have (BOTH FREE).
So, my answer: I am deleting my network as soon as possible and try to forget that I ever trusted that my non-profit was going to do well.
Good luck to all that decide to stay!