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."

[Carolyn [Slick Lips]]

Hi Michael, I'd like to ask you some questions in private. Just waiting upon your friend acceptance. Thanks :)

[Eric Suesz]

Hi, Slick Lips! We'll provide you with a way to migrate in the coming weeks if you feel you cannot continue.

[Carolyn [Slick Lips]]

Eric will it be a smooth transition?

You see, I have a lot of amateur writers on my site who run discussion threads about their stories. So there are people who have thousands of replies that they would not want to lose. Please tell me this is possible.

[Eric Suesz]

I'll do my best to help you go, Slick Lips.

[Ace]

Fantastic!!!

Ace
PORTFOLIOS*NET

[Kyle R.]

I think the complaints here are silly. We are a non-profit and I am happy with the change as we are actually paying less now. Food for thought- Ning is charging significantly less than a typical iphone data plan for an individual.

[Knaldskalle]

Too bad I don't have an iPhone, I could save a bunch of money by replacing it with Ning.

[Sidian M.S. Jones]

Wait....I just realized I can only have 150 members or pay $20 a month. This totally blows.

Ning, you have always been a poorly managed company. Someone should write a book about all the mistakes you've made.

[AnGella]

Is there any information available about the use of Javascript and advanced HTML for these packages?

[John McDonald]

AnGella,

With Ning Pro and Ning Plus, you will be able to customize the appearance of your network using CSS and manipulate your network by adding Javascript in the Analytics Box or any text box. You can find out more by reading this article in our Help Center.

Thanks,
John

[AnGella]

Thanks for the speedy reply.

Specifically I am interested if we will be able to use div ids and textareas within our blogs to cooperate with javascript that I wish to use.

Currently textareas are not permitted in the blogs.

I am not sure what the current rules are for adding advanced HTML such as div ids. As a network creator I have been able to use div ids, but I am not sure if members have those permissions.

[J.C. Combs]

So Ning is basically telling everyone with a music network to go somewhere else or pay 55 dollars a month?

Or host a music network and embed all links from off site storage and pay 20 dollars a month? Spruz offers the same thing for free.