Add Blog Posts to Ning Networks From 3rd-Party Apps

[Kyle Ford]

We're extremely excited to announce our support for the MetaWeblog API across all Ning Networks. This new enhancement will allow members of Ning Networks to compose and edit blog posts from popular 3rd-party applications.

Here are a few suggested applications across multiple platforms:

PC: Windows Live Writer

Mac: MarsEdit

Browser Extension: ScribeFire

Alternate Browser: Flock

If you're looking for other options, WordPress (which also supports the MetaWeblog API) has a comprehensive list of blogging apps (note that not all of these have been tested with Ning, but it's a good starting point).

Getting started is easy. When the application prompts you to set up your blog, simply enter your blog's name (you can enter whatever you'd like) and the following for the URL: http://NAME.NING.COM/profiles/blog/list (replacing "NAME.NING.COM" with the Ning Network's URL). Once prompted, log in with your e-mail address and password for that network. That's it!

This is the first of several 3rd-party integrations coming down the pike, so stay tuned. In addition, we're currently holding a private beta for our own new APIs. If you're a Ning Pro Network Creator interested in developing a custom mobile, desktop or sync-style application for your network, please feel free to apply for an invitation.

[Martin de Goede]

You are right about Google and original content and I have pointed this out to our members. However sometimes blogs being read on the right platforms is more important than being found by Google.
And just what is the difference with Copy Paste to different blogs ?

Some of us like this feature and I think some of our members who already have a blog someweher else will start using this.

[Eric Suesz]

It seems a bit off-topic to jump into a discussion to complain about something else entirely, Monique. Maybe let other folks find some enjoyment in a new feature, even if it's not one you want?

[FedMedic]

I have to agree with you Monique. Live writer didn't work for me. Waste of a hour reading the documents to make it work correctly, writing the blog, hitting the publish button and getting this:
INVALID SERVER RESPONSE
The response to the metaWeblog.newPost method received from the blog server was invalid:
Invalid response document returned from XmlRpc server

LOL! Buh, bye Live Writer . . . .

[Eric Suesz]

In the past, I've used MarsEdit for Mac, and it's a pretty great program. I can see how this would be useful for people who blog a lot. It won't be awesome if you don't, admittedly, but it is pretty neat.

[FedMedic]

Eric I have two pro ning sites and it would be nice to just get the live writer to work with one let alone both networks. I'm on a PC so I believe the MarsEdit wouldn't be of any help to me. I'll just look for something else.

Thanks,
FedMedic

[Monique]

I would guess that most NC only have one site to which they blog to...It would only take 20 second to cut and past. Cut and past seem primitive but it works.

[Martin de Goede]

As I understand ThunderX is the NC for various NING networks.
Adding all these networks to Live Writer for example would make it very easy for him to announce a new feature on all of them.

[Monique]

OK...so I guess this would work best if you have multiple site or network to which you published several content to...hmm, seems interesting and useful but I think it would be worthwhile to developed features most NC ask for the most.

[Tara Hausner]

Where do we type in the name of our blog (example wordpress) and url and upload??

Can you please explain, or someone explain??
Thank you,
Tara

[Jen]

Thanks! Very interesting...

[Jens]

Sounds very good. I forwarded this information to my members and I will test it very soon.

To use something like that for event entries (with iCal and Outlook) on a NING platform will be great too.

[Brian]

I tested it out with livewriter and it works like a charm! I have already announced on my site.

So, what's next for NING? LOL!