Ning’s social network-building platform is getting a huge boost today, with the private beta launch of Ning Apps, a new suite of applications and features that Network Creators will be able to deploy across their networks with only a few clicks. The news has been a long time coming – network administrators have long been asking for features that could enhance their networks. But because of the nature of Ning, which houses hundreds of thousands of unique social networks, Network Creators were often requesting totally different things. Now they’ll be able to make everyone (or nearly everyone) happy.
At launch, Ning Apps is offering 90 new features to Network creators, built by 52 different developers that encompass a wide variety of web services. Network creators will now be able to integrate live video chat through TokBox, condunct contests with Wildfire, and create Wikis. Even better: network admins will be able to easily integrate monetization options, selling merchandise through Cartfly and tickets through Amiando and other ticketing apps.
Ning is likely going to be a very enticing platform for developers, too. Unlike social networks like MySpace, when a Ning network creator chooses to deploy an application, they have the option of deploying it to all of their users at once. And with some networks reaching more than 500,000 members, that translates into a huge jump in users. The applications are based on the OpenSocial standard, with some modifications to make them suitable for network-wide deployments. Still, even these changes are pretty minor – Ning says that developers have been porting their applications from other social networks in just two to three days.
Access to applications is beginning to roll out to a small number of Network Creators tomorrow, and will be available to everyone by the end of the month. At launch, all of the applications will be free to install (though some of the apps that involve money, like Cartfly, will take a revshare at the time of transaction), but Ning may well decide to deploy premium applications in the future.
Before now Network Creators have had access to some added functionality through third party applications. But Ning didn’t support these, and some of them were eventually removed from the site entirely. CEO Gina Bianchini says that Network Creators installing applications through Ning Apps can have ‘absolute confidence’ that the applications will work as advertised.
Aside from the launch of Ning Apps, things seem to be going quite well for Ning. The site recently saw the creation of its 1 millionth network (of which 200,000 are active), and is seeing 85,000 to 100,000 new users per day across all of its networks.
Great to hear…now if they can just add ‘Facebook Connect’, Network Creators could sign up a lot more users to their Ning powered social network.
That seems like a bad idea for Ning, in that fbook is a competing social network. Would Radioshack set up stores next to Best Buys?
I’m sure Ning won’t. Ning and Wetpaint couldn’t even come to an arrangement because they saw each other as social network competitors–which is why I’m stoked about the wiki integration into Ning. Add an app for file storage, and you have an epic, free social collaboration space for business!
I didn’t realize anyone used Ning. interesting
Dude…. if you don’t think anyone is using Ning… check out thisis50.com. Ning is a heavily used app now. I have 3+ network going myself and will be adding a couple more this month. Great application.
what does that title even mean.
It means he copy and pasted from Ning’s press release
Stop hiring hacks Arrington.
This is a much welcomed feature. I have a site on Ning and it’s good to see that they’re keeping the ball rolling with new features.
I’m impressed. This news not even up on Ning’s blog.
Still… a) There is no way to add recurring events; b) There is no way to email all members automatically (eg, reminders)…
this is great. My clown hater crew should never under estimate the power of ning. i have 900 members on the ning developer platform. me and ning have been engaged for quite sometime and now is a good a time as ever.
Ning will you marry me?
BeLocator.com – meant2b
Unlike the Facebook, MySpace, Twitter Ning does have a revenue model. Also we tried them a year back, they were prompt in addressing technical issues.
500,000K users? I didn’t realize single Ning networks were getting that large. Very cool that they are adding new apps.
If not already available. with MeetingWave, you can export your pubic invites to your Ning site (or your blog) to arrange meetings with your network members (you can still decide whether the meeting happens and who can attend). Your public invites are displayed on the left of your profile page. Under that is a note “Put this list of invites on your site” – Click and you can design a widget used to export your invites.
Just trying to help Starbucks survive the slowdown. JB
Interesting for sure. Unfortunately I’m not a big Ning fan after trying to deploy a couple of apps and found it to be too restrictive in certain aspects. Perhaps this will help a little, but we’ve moved on to other platforms.
I agree with Marc. Ning needs an easy way to import content.
Awesome, now my social network of white, hairy, professional clowns from Indiana (6 members strong and growing!) can talk more easily about white, hairy, professional clowning, create wikis about white, hairy, professional clowning, and create a store (to sell gear for white, hairy, professional clowns). Quick, someone buy up this company! You’re missing out on the well-known super valuable white, hairy, professional clown demographic!
We are using in a proffesional way ning. İt is very useful and just 55 dollar p/m.
haha..do you guys just read off the press releases or what? what us network creators have been asking for is control over our OWN WEBSITE’s as advertised. access to OUR OWN PHP files..and a way to get our sites data the hell out of ning!!
@JMONEY55 they do let you have your own php files, but once they do that. you lose their updates. i did that with them it took less 48 hours i just lost interest in my social network
I am a big fan of Ning. It’s not perfect, but the price is laughable at $4.95/mth (so that I can have my own url). Plus, it is so easy to use that I don’t need to have developers and designers to use it.
It can be improved and some simple changes will be extremely useful, but it does what is meant to do. I’m excited to see the new apps.
If your an ecommerce geek join my group at http://www.ecommerceminds.com.
and yet I don’t know a single person who uses a Ning network
@some dummy
A lot of people don’t even know they’re using a Ning network if the Ning branding was removed by the network creator!
check out yosamosa.com
Now you know one site.
it would be interesting to see someone build a social network like mayasmom and is able to sell it.
that would make people flock to ning’s platform. and their valuation skyrocket.
good stuff!
i started my site on on ning a month ago and now i have over 3200 users + 15K photos + 2k blog posts …
my users are loving it
I would like to see your Website.
Thank you.
This is a good professional example that run using NING http://randompage.com website.
Check it out.
A seesmic app would have been a useful idea.
Randompage was spam, and a mess. Not so interesting example of using ning as a platform.
Is there a link to the list of apps and developers?
@suraj
Why did you say it’s a spam? You have proof, did you ever get an email from randompage?
Do you know the meaning of spam?
Sorry – I meant troll. Still – not so interesting or ‘professional’ an example.
Ok – lets get real: Jason writes “…some networks reaching more than 500,000 members”.
To my knowledge there is ONE network – http://thisis50.com/ – that reaches this surely impressive number /about 438.000 as of today).
But realistically – what are “high” numbers for the typical niche, micro-niche networks on Ning? When are you reaching critical mass to do something for and with your members with an impact? Ads and monetization is pointless if there are too less ACTIVE members. Let’s face it, many Ning networks have very LOW member counts to begin with and on top of that those members are often…
a) lurkers with no profile photo and activity
b) former active members who lost interest
Now the question: When is a Ning network getting it’s feet off the ground? With how many members? What can be considered a success?
500, 1000, 3000, 5000, 10000 active members?
fosat
@fosat Active members counts don’t equate into success unless that is the metric that matters to you. For my group (25 members for which half are active) Ning is perfect. It allows us to communicate and share with one another. I like the fact that the site is user friendly and easy for me to maintain (since my site is just a hobby).
My ning site/service was in the Wall Street Journal yesterday. Google me baby…I’m looking forward to the releases.
Ballart – Link to the article? Could google you but not the news. What where they writing about?
So this means – 4,042 members makes you real? I would say so. Over 3000 “real” members can be considered an accomplishment on Ning. This usually takes – 1-2 years to gain. No?
fosat
ok – found it. Congrats.
http://www.ball...t-made-the-wall
I entered my biz idea last year at TC50, Jason said twice he liked the unique idea, but with no working model, I couldn’t make it. Ning has allowed me to start a working model. And this new news about apps will allow a programmer to create what I need that that no one else is doing in the world and will be very exciting to small boutique business owners and their events. When I released my site http://www.poshcircle.com two months ago, I was written up in Oregon Wine Press.
Ning isn’t perfect it’s true, but their tech support, new features and drive is an A+ in the white label social networking app market.
I have been using Ning as a community building platform since December 2007 and have had a lot of success with it. One of the comments was about integration with Facebook, and I have n
had no problems linking the majority of content within my Ning platform based sites to whatever Facebook profile the page visitor has… There is a lot you can do with Ning, but first you have to understand that Ning itself is not a social network or site, it is actually the platform and tools for administrators to use in creating a social or professional network and the web site framework around that network.
Well, we’re using Ning and I can’t wait to get my hands on the new apps.
Ning Rocks!
Nings last remaining 3rd party developer has released a system that allows Ning networks to run Joomla modules.
This is serious. Its the best real news to come out of Ning in a long time. I’m running it on my own network and it has opened my cheesy ning network up to the usage of over 4,600 Joomla features.
Now my shit is solid.
http://www.sitesuites.com
AND STILL…nothing from Ning. June 1..No apps
What’s happening with Ning Apps? Have they been released yet?
I am not quite clear on how to start my social network, should I use a platform provider like Ning or an open software like Dolphin. The main setback of Ning is that when you close your account Ning owns the user sumitted content.
If someone could kindly advice me on that
New Ning apps coming in early September according to their blog.
http://blog.nin...-september.html
I’ve been very pleased with my small but growing Ning site. We previously had another site created in Drupal and it was a nightmare. Sure, Ning’s not perfect and I’m always struggling with how much I need to integrate with Facebook, but it’s just fine for now and I’m looking forward to the new apps.
“Matthias – July 26th, 2009 at 8:16 pm CDT
The main setback of Ning is that when you close your account Ning owns the user sumitted content.”
The only solution, if you want the functionality of ning, would be to go with SocialGO – they might be a few months behind ning, in terms of bells and whistles, but you own ALL the content
SocialGO is designed for the small business owner and so the terms and conditions are set up so that you, the business owner, own it all and they don;t cross promote your visitors, like ning do, either