Ning Update: Introducing Ning Pro, Ning Plus and Ning Mini

[Eric Suesz]

Our CEO, Jason Rosenthal, just posted a blog post about our upcoming plans and pricing. I thought I would reprint it here for Creators. 

"I’m excited to introduce three new versions of the Ning Service that we will roll out in July. When we announced two weeks ago that we were going to refocus on paying Ning Networks and phase out our free service, we knew there would be many questions about what the new Ning would look like. Our goal with these offerings — as explained below — is to enhance the experience Network Creators have on Ning, and by extension, the experiences your members have as well. 

What will we be rolling out in July? We’ll start with many of the things Network Creators have been asking for and extend the service from there. The end of Ning promotional links, leading to a more customized, branded experience for you and your members. An ad free experience and the option to run your own ads — if you like. Easy content export and back-up. The end of Ning ID and ability to add Facebook and Twitter sign-in. API access for a more integrated experience. The ability to charge for membership and accept donations. We’ve listened to your more frequent and pressing requests and combined them with our current premium services into three new product offerings — Ning Pro, Ning Plus and Ning Mini.

For full comparison of the three plans, click here.

Our pricing plans offer incredible value relative to our current Premium Services. For example, your Ning Network currently has the option to Use Your Own Domain, Remove Create Links, and Run Your Own Ads. You can take advantage of all of these services for about $55/month right now. With the Ning Plus, you’ll be able to have them all for $19.95/month. We will also offer current Network Creators a one-time annual pricing discount that provides even greater value.

We also recognize that many small non-profit, family or other small group Ning Networks have limited budgets, and we value what you’ve created on Ning. For $2.95/month or $19.95/year, Ning Mini provides a powerful set of features to continue to grow and engage with your members — ad-free or with your own ads.

We’ve also heard from many Network Creators who use Ning in the classroom as an integral part of their curriculum. I am particularly excited to announce that a major education company will be sponsoring Ning Mini Networks for educators in primary and secondary education. Ning will remain free for K-12 educators and their students. We’ll have details on this program soon!

We will roll out Ning Pro, Ning Plus and Ning mini in July. Current Network Creators will have 30 days following the roll-out to decide which plan best fits their needs. For Ning Creators using our free service who choose to move to another service, we will offer a simple way to export all of your content.

We know there’s a lot of questions, including how to choose a plan, when you can sign up and what happens if you don’t choose an option. That’s why we’ve created a place with all the details about this new offering, including details, a timeline and FAQs (also available in Spanish, here). I look forward to your feedback, both in the comments below and on Creators."

[Eric Suesz]

You could also run your own ads and make money while doing it. Is that also too naive, Sandra?

[EAM]

Well you really have to have a TON of members to make that a rational long terms plan.

I am looking forward to being able to run my own ads though - YAY.

[Nanc Johnson]

Eric I think your right

Well you know it can be Optional one mistake People make is assuming what People will do or not do. 10% of a 1,000 is 100 correct what if 100 member liked your network and would be willing to donate or say pay $2 for a Supporter page ?

That is what I will be offering my members of the smaller network. If they want to keep groups ect. All they really have to make is 19.95 a month or $199 for the year to keep or add services.

Now if you did shut down and you had 100 member that would of helped seem a dis-service to them not to ask what They Wish to do I think.

Some might be Right maybe no one will find value in their site unless it is free.

As for the non profit most support their favorite by donations, some of which goes to maintain and pay administration fees. Is this really any different if it is optional for your members?

[celina[D]]

No doubt there are 3rd party widgets that you can use and provide you with a music player afterall

[Star-Dust]

l belong to sites with donate buttons, l did not leave, some l did donate too. Good friends and members will not run when they see a button. They may run if they are asked to pay a certain amount to stay on your site.

l am sure out of a 1000 members, you will find 20 donators.And l do mean the ones who give more then a dolloar. l have one that is going to put up a 100.00

l should say Has already put up a 100.00

[Susan]

Out of my 500+ members only 1 person donated and it was only $1.

[EAM]

I don't mean to be rude - honestly - but gotta ask - are you providing value and novelty?

[celina[D]]

What does this say about your members?
They don't care about you or your network

Mine jumped up immediately after the first bad news came out telling me they would go round with the hat to collect money

[Fred]

offcourse everybody can spend 5 cents, but how to collect it from over the world members, we have to get a accountant to do it!

[clive]

1) Many sites are run for a handful of members so any charge would be disproportionate to value
2) no one expects to pay to belong to a social network (if they wont pay for facebook they are not going to pay for something that is only of marginal interest)
3) The minute I sign up to something and they want money then I simply go and look for something else that is free - friends reunited found that it was difficult to generate £5 a year for membership and moved to advertising supported model
4) I realise NOW that Ning is a business model rather than a social network - if I had realised they were running for profit I wouldnt have joined in the first place

I accept that it is their right but wouldnt it also be their right to double the $3 charge in year and so on.......in the end it will be yet another thing dependent on the ability to pay.

[Mazdak Izzy]

You think every members wanted to pay us ? if i have 14000 members on my network doesnt mean that all of them come check their page always . and just open up a page and leave that .

[Joanna Komar]

I am the same. I think 19.95 is a bit expensive :( but well what can I do? I like ning so dont want to leave it and have more than 150 members.... hmmm still the gave us a lot of time to sort it out , so im not that mad lol