JenSocial: Social Web Directory and Ning Tips

Social Web Directory :: Social Network Directory :: Ning Tips and Ning Support

How do we select ‘Featured Communities’? UPDATE! SEE CONTEST IN NEW GROUP!

UPDATE:
WOO HOO! We have a solution for How To Select 'Featured Members'.
1. Subscription Services Offered on your Profile Pages
2. Flat Fee of $99.95 for (lifetime of Directory) 'Featured Membership' - truly an awesome deal.
3. THE LATEST AND GREATEST: FEATURED MEMBER CONTEST! SEE THE FOLLOWING GROUP FOR DETAILS:
http://theningdirectory.ning.com/group/FeaturedMembersContest
Contest Starts November 4, 2008!

Thanks to all of your creative ideas, we can close this Discussion. Thank you for everything! Be sure and check out the new Contest!

I sent this email out to all members. If you missed it, here it is. Please make your suggestions, by replying to this Discussion, below.

Hi Everyone,
I need your Creative Ideas! I receive a lot of emails about whether or not a Community/Member is featured. As Network Creators, I'm sure all of you can relate. It's tough to keep this up, and fairly.

So, here's why I'm writing. I’m asking for your creative minds, to throw out ideas for how a Community gets ‘Featured‘. If we come up with something that brings more traffic and page views, that will help everyone. The only idea I’ve come up with is this: You place the Directory Logo (I will provide) and link on your site, send me an email, and you are featured. Is this what we should do? Or, do you have other ideas you would like to bring to the table? All ideas welcomed! The decision will be yours.

Please post your ideas in the Help Group at: http://theningdirectory.ning.com/group/helpsupport_eachother_ning_s...

I have created a Discussion called: How do we select ‘Featured Communities’?

Here’s Where We Are on ‘Featured’ Communities:
1. Tonight, all were removed temporarily, except Staff and subscribers.
2. We now offer ‘Guaranteed Placement‘, 2 subscription plans offered. Please see your Profile Pages for details. You may be interested in a Guarantee.
3. All Staff Members of the Directory are Featured, in exchange for helping out with the site.

As we gain subscribers for ‘Guaranteed Placement‘, they of course, will always come first.

I can't wait to hear your thoughts! How do we select ‘Featured’ Communities, aside from subscribers?

Best to you,
Jen
=========================UPDATE=======================

To-Date: Featuring any Network based on Banner Exchange will:
(1) Dilute the purpose of 'Featured', and
(2) In cases of low traffic, could actually hurt the Directory.

Let's brainstorm some more? Thank you for all your suggestions.
Thanks,
Jen

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Magic Happens on October 30, 2008 at 8:36am

l would like the link to add to my site anyway. Because it would just be easier to pop on over here any time. lol.
Where do l get your logo link?

Permalink Reply by Pet Lovers Paradise on October 30, 2008 at 9:31am

As a staff member who gets featured, I probably shouldn't even respond, but...

This is a good idea, and I have seen a few other sites begin to do this. The only thought I had was that using the Featured Member function in conjunction with the exchange of badges can dilute the "feature" aspect. Since the majority of members here are Network Creators, the potential to have everyone place the badge on their site is high which means the presence of the badge on sites is high, and then basically most members are featured. It's a win for the site in that the badge is out there, and the potential for visitors could be increased, but, the "feature" aspect is reduced because we are all then featured.

I wondered if you had considered using the Leaderboard (Showcase) a little more and, instead of just using "invites" as the criteria, folks could get points for comments made, blogs posted, etc., ~~~ activity that gets direct hits on the Directory and assists with moving us more to the top of the Ning popular sites.

I'll keep thinking...

Permalink Reply by Character of the King on October 30, 2008 at 11:25am

I have to agree with Pet Lovers. Featuring sites that display the Directory logo will most certainly defeat the "purpose" as most will display it and then you'll have 500+ sites that are featured on the Main page. Probably not a good idea.

There are only two "fair" solutions (IMHO). 1) Don't feature anyone. What is the purpose of being featured? I'm sure there are no statistics showing that, by being a featured site, traffic at those sites improves significantly. I would venture to guess that it's more for personal pride than anything or, 2) Monetize being Featured. I know, I know, having to pay for something makes it appear you're being greedy but not only would it bring revenue to the Directory but it would be fair and also limit the number of Featured sites thus keeping the "idea" of being Featured relevant, otherwise you're going to continue to receive complaints from those NOT being Featured and as the Directory grows, so grow the complaints. It's marketing pure and simple.

God bless,

Russ

Permalink Reply by Blog Nut on October 30, 2008 at 11:38am

How about featured Email Blast to all nings Creators (opt-in)? This would allow them to check out other nings and share badges. Maybe once a week with the Bio of that profile. We submit our ning and opt-in, so that those who want it, get it. A featured Ning could have an award button to show off in their network with pride. All featured nings with award button could go on an advertised website?

I have a toolbar with approved nings who agree to share. This has delivered new members very nicely. It's also allow people to never lose a profile connection and it's loaded with useful tools for business and/or fun. So an opt-in "to share" so that some may want and some may not.

Just throwing things out there that may create other ideas.

Thank for all that you do.

Permalink Reply by Adlandpro Stars on October 30, 2008 at 1:01pm

Greetings Members, thank you for bringing up a great question, being a founder of a one business community outside of Ning,im often in another community as well called none other than Adlandpro, we often give awards to those who are the most active, those who bring in interested sign ups, w also give out best forum awards , the members decide whos the best choice for the month much like a peoples choice awards in this case of Ning perhaps the best website? Just an Idea to get the juices flowing, have a warm and safe day! God_bless you :)

Permalink Reply by JenSocial on October 30, 2008 at 1:02pm

Didn't get enough sleep, so if I bumble around, forgive me. I agree with Character of the King (Russ) and Pet Lovers Paradise (Suzie). BTW, we do offer subscriptions for 'Featured', and 17 special spots on the home page. Please see details on your Profile page, in top announcement box. On the 'selfish' comment, I'm with you Russ. If a site is to succeed, it almost certainly has to be monetized. And especially a site where the Network Creator is literally working for other NCs to promote sites.

Back to the topic at hand, diluted? Excellent point. And too, I was thinking after I sent the email, if we feature 500 people who have no traffic, this will actually hurt the Directory. Okay, let's brainstorm some more. :-)

To-Date: Featuring any Network based on Banner Exchange will:
(1) Dilute the purpose of 'Featured', and
(2) In cases of low traffic, could actually hurt the Directory.

Thanks,
Jen

Permalink Reply by JenSocial on October 30, 2008 at 1:05pm

To-Date: Featuring any Network based on Banner Exchange will:
(1) Dilute the purpose of 'Featured', and
(2) In cases of low traffic, could actually hurt the Directory.

Let's brainstorm some more? Thank you for all your suggestions. PLEASE KEEP DISCUSSIONS IN THIS GROUP ON TOPIC.

Thanks,
Jen

Permalink Reply by Clean Air at Home on October 30, 2008 at 1:06pm

Idea: feature/reward communities that innovate - that is do some specific thing that might be helpful for other communities to consider doing.

Directory of Ning Networks - NC's: Add your Network! said:

Didn't get enough sleep, so if I bumble around, forgive me. I agree with Character of the King (Russ) and Pet Lovers Paradise (Suzie). BTW, we do offer subscriptions for 'Featured', and 17 special spots on the home page. Please see details on your Profile page, in top announcement box. On the 'selfish' comment, I'm with you Russ. If a site is to succeed, it almost certainly has to be monetized. And especially a site where the Network Creator is literally working for other NCs to promote sites.

Back to the topic at hand, diluted? Excellent point. And too, I was thinking after I sent the email, if we feature 500 people who have no traffic, this will actually hurt the Directory. Okay, let's brainstorm some more. :-)

To-Date: Featuring any Network based on Banner Exchange will:
(1) Dilute the purpose of 'Featured', and
(2) In cases of low traffic, could actually hurt the Directory.

Thanks,
Jen

Permalink Reply by JenSocial on October 30, 2008 at 1:07pm

Thank you Lori! I think so far, we have decided, banner exchange will dilute the process too much. See comments about this.
Your thoughts?

Permalink Reply by WWJDTUBE on October 30, 2008 at 1:09pm

Just a couple of ideas...

1. Feature sites by number of hits daily, monthly, etc.

2. Using an arrangement of site categories, have a number of featured sites by category, based on number of hits, number of members, most blogs, etc. (Example: 10 Social Networking Sites by whatever criteria decided on, 10 Christian Sites using criteria decided on, 10 Business Sites using criteria)

Permalink Reply by JenSocial on October 30, 2008 at 1:18pm

Thank you Fantasyland! Please see updates on where we are on this decision. More thoughts welcomed! Please remind me if I forget. I plan on uploading logo and link here today.
Best,
Jen

Permalink Reply by JenSocial on October 30, 2008 at 1:21pm

Kathy,
You're too smart for me right this second, LOL. Let me read yours again and get back to you.
Best,
Jen
;-)