Ning Update: Rolling Out Full Details May 4th

[Jason Rosenthal]

Hi Everyone,

As many of you know, we made a decision yesterday to focus 100% of the company on enhancing the features and services we offer to paying Ning Creators. The tens of thousands of you who already use our paid
service represent over 75% of our traffic, and we’ve heard repeatedly
from you ways that we can deliver a killer service to help make your
Ning Network more effective. Some examples of things we are working on
that you’ve asked for include new APIs, a new mobile experience and new
advertising and revenue opportunities.

As part of this change, we’ll be phasing out our free service.  On May 4, 2010, we will share with you all of the details of our new offering, including features and price points, through a series of blog
posts, emails, and conference calls. We recognize that there are many
active Ning Networks for teachers, small non-profits, and individuals
and it's our goal to have a set of product and pricing options that will
make sense for all of them. For Ning Creators using our free service who
choose to move to another service, we will offer a migration path and
time to make that change. We will still continue to allow free trials
and test networks on the Ning Platform.

We look forward to talking to you further on May 4th.

[Scott]

Hi Jason-

I'm sure you are smart enough to realize you can't please everyone and I'm sure you've heard the whole 80/20 rule about complaints, etc.

As I said here, I'm looking forward to learning more about what your entire plan is before I judge it. Currently I'm optimistic. Most of the NC's with serious goals for their communities seem to be encouraged.

You know how the internet goes, people get really emotional and heated up over things they don't have a clue about. Right now we don't know enough to say smart things, as evidenced by so many emotional posts. There's no pleasing some people. If you waited until you had a complete plan they would have been furious for withholding the information. Since you made an announcement and said more information would be coming soon you are getting people who demand that information now.

You've already answered one of my questions (test networks) and have been as transparent as can be expected.

I'm going to wait until May 5th before I grab a torch and pitchfork.

Now let us scramble and ramble like idiots and you go get some work done. You've got a lot on your plate.

Thanks,
Scott

[Calvin Tatsey]

Sorry Scott, but I don’t particularly believe that ning.com has a plan for freebies, so pull up your drawers and wipe your nose, my friend. You’ll have to pay just like everyone else who finally decides that ning.com is worthy and can be trusted.

“…don’t have a clue…”? What more of a clue do we need, than that ning.com is changing the rules right in the middle of a game?

ps, I think that someone should, “grab a torch and pitchfork,” and see if he can light-up and salvage a few brain cells…

Calvin Tatsey

http://therednationsociety.ning.com/

[Scott]

I've been paying for every premium service on Ning for almost 3 years. I've had my fair share of complaints (loss of WL, the way they handled S4N, the chat room, monetization issues, virtual gifts, etc) and have been very vocal about them.

At one point a few of my posts were deleted and Gina contacted me personally with a threat to delete my network if I didn't get in line.

I have no problem saying how I feel, and this time, I agree with Ning. You are upset, and I totally understand why. This decision isn't good for you. But that doesn't mean it's a bad decision. It just means you don't agree with it.

Right now it looks as if many requests from many serious NCs will be answered. If we remain calm and don't let our emotions get in the way we can learn more about what will happen in two weeks.

I'm sorry if the decision is bad for your network. It's not bad for mine though, so I'm not angry. If this means Ning will focus more efforts on sites that are run like a business that is good for me and my members. Many of us have been asking for a change. This is a change we didn't expect, but it sounds as if it's the beginnings of what we asked for.

Call me selfish, but that is what is important to me.

-Scott

[Bob Johnson-Perkins]

The problem is if Ning is in financial difficulties your net work could be in danger, oh of course you think ning is right and that over rides trust. Hope your right but what if your wrong?

[Scott]

or even worse, I'm one of THEM. Have you ever seen me and Evan in the same place at the same time? :)

The fact is Ning screws things up fairly often, but they are still the best option out there for me. I stopped getting emotional about Ning decisions a long time ago. I already learned my lessons the hard way and am just on the other side of it now. What they are doing is hard and unprecedented, so I cut them some slack.

I stay calm and wait until we know more before I make a judgement on any Ning policy.

[Eric Suesz]

I missed this comment earlier, Scott [I mean Evan], and just stumbled up on it. I genuinely LOL'd.

[Jen]

Jason,
I made this announcement on my site, and it's helping. At least they have a small idea of what's to come, or when to expect more news.
Thanks,
Jen

[Scott]

umm...Your picture is of a sword.

Just because he is new to this position doesn't mean he is new to business, the internet, or dealing with reasonable and ridiculous people. Jason Rosenthal has earned the job without your advice so far. I think that's an indication that he will probably be able to continue making decisions without your condescending emails.

Hope they make you feel important.

Maybe you can sit and wait patiently for a little while while the grown ups work hard on decisions that will impact your network, just like you've been relying on them to do so far. Maybe you can spend this time sharpening your profile picture or writing a more complete guide about what company officers should or shouldn't do in your opinion.

I'm so glad my network isn't filled with the garbage that gets posted on here anytime Ning makes a decision. They aren't perfect, but their job isn't to serve you. They have a lot to think about, and your snide remarks don't help anyone.

Can we all please make an effort to ask productive questions, give productive answers, and to remain calm until we know more?

Thank you,
fellow network creator

[Eric Suesz]

I'd really love it if you two didn't start a fight that ended up with drawn swords.

[Jen]

Oh my.

[Beam Of Light]

I love Humor Therapy, it solves many dramas and traumas :-)

[Scott]

symbology?

you mean symbolism right? you were joking there, right?

I didn't make a judgment on you, I gave my input just like you did. I don't want to get into a silly argument on the internet, because they aren't productive. I won't respond further to you, so if you want to get the last word in, be my guest.

I would just like to once again request that we keep our focus on information and helping answer questions instead of filling threads with unimportant things.

Thanks for the quick response,
Scott