Look out Facebook here comes the next Ning
Recently my colleagues have been all a buzz around creating their own social networking sites. Why? Because they want more flexibility and the ability to brand their very own network. Or so they tell me. An example that allows you to brand your own network is Ning. Which is an online platform that allows you to quickly create your own community in just a few minutes. Ning provides a full list of social networking features. The experience is very similar to setting up a Blog on Blogger.
The site was co-created by Marc Andreeson (Netscape browser fame) who helped kick start the venture. Currently Ning features over 5,000 social networks ranging from a handful of people to thousands. There are communities built around everything from Dancing with the Stars to car lovers to active communities around reviewing of products and services. Ning is not the only ‘do it yourself’ social networking platform. CrowdVine is another online service. A quick Google search and you will find a number of options.
If you have been considering building or testing online communities with your customers these platforms (most of which are free) might be a great way to get started. Lately I have seen a number of not-for-profits using these platforms as an extension to their existing website. A word of caution and this goes without saying, when selecting a platform make sure the company behind venture has a track record and is financially stable. Nothing worse than building a great community and the platform it’s hosted on disappears!
