using ning to connect with your community
DESCRIPTION
The internet is a great tool for communicating and connecting. We now have a variety of ways to do so, but which one is best suited for your needs? Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn? Each serves its purpose and audience, but what if your needs aren’t served with these tools? Create your own! Ning is a powerful tool that allows you to not only create a dynamic, easy to update website, but its functionality allows your community to create accounts, share information, connect with you and other people in your community and work collaboratively.TRANSCRIPT
talks!
Using Ning to Connect with your Community October 15, 2009Audio is only available by calling this number:Conference Call: 866-740-1260; Access Code: 6339392
Sponsored by
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Using ReadyTalk
• Chat & raise hand • Mute = *6,
Unmute = *7• If you lose your
internet connection, reconnect using the link emailed to you.
• If you lose your phone connection, re-dial the phone number and re-join.
• ReadyTalk support: 800-843-9166
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
You are being recorded…
• This seminar will be available on the TechSoup website along with past webinar presentations:– www.techsoup.org/go/webinars
• You will receive a link to this presentation, material and links.
• After the webinar, you can ask follow-up questions in the Virtual Community Forum:– tinyurl.com/yjf6e5c
• Twitter hashtags: #tsning
talks!
Using Ning to Connect with your Community
Manny Hernandez (@askmanny, @ningfordummies)
Sponsored by
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Today’s Speakers
Kami GriffithsTechSoup
Manny Hernandez
Ning for Dummies
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Personal Background
• Web Products, Social Media: 10+ yrs• Diagnosed with diabetes: Oct-02• Launched TuDiabetes on Ning: Mar-
07 • Worked for Ning: Jan to Apr-2008• Nonprofit management: since Apr-08• Published Ning For Dummies: Apr-09
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
What to Expect from this Webinar• What is Ning?• How can nonprofits use Ning?• Setting up a network on Ning• Managing and growing your network• Fundraising and other Ning Apps• Examples of networks on Ning• Advantages/disadvantages of Ning
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
What is Ning?
• Ning is a social media platform• Lets you create your own social
network– “Your Facebook with your own brand.”
• Powers more than 1.5MM networks• Free to set up and run• Premium services to further customize
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Why Ning for Nonprofit/Libraries?• New way to engage with constituents
– Blogs, forums, videos
• Foster and solidify offline connections– Events, groups
• Increased outreach possibilities– Sharing mechanisms– Export member data
• Fundraising
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Ning and your Social Media Strategy• Two great references:
– Beth’s Blog - How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media: http://beth.typepad.com
– Amy Sample Ward, 5 steps to a successful social media strategy: http://bit.ly/u6cNd
• Your social media strategy may contain a lot of elements
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Setting up a Network on Ning
Setting up a Network on Ning
Setting up a Network on Ning
Setting up a Network on Ning
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Managing your Network
• Who can become a new member– Moderate members
• Who can remain a member– Enforce the guidelines for your network
• What content can live in your network– Moderate or remove content if needed
• All of this requires time!
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Managing your Network
• Hours dedicated based on activity• Administrators
– Up to a few hundred members, one person can do most of the management
– Very hard to keep up for one person past 1,000 members
• “Economies of scale” and self-policing help
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Growing your Network
• By yourself: 5+ hours per week• Through your members:
– Invitations, badges, embeddable content
• Through network RSS feeds– TwitterFeed feeding Twitter, FB page
• Through bloggers• Through existing offline efforts
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Popular Features in Ning
• Blogs, Forum, Chat – build community
• Videos, Photos – visual outreach• Events, Groups – offline connections• Go Ad Free – premium service• Ning Apps – more features…
Fundraising Through Ads
Social Giving Through a Ning App
Impact Challenge: Another Ning App
Google Docs: Another Ning App
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Other Ning Apps for Nonprofits
• Ustream: to broadcast streaming video
• PollDaddy: to poll your members• Box.net: to share files with others• CartFly: to sell merchandise• Others: for event ticket sales
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
TuDiabetes: a Network on NIng
• Launched in March 2007• 5-10% growth every month• Mid-October 2009:
– 11,200 members– 100,000 monthly visits– 500,000 monthly pageviews– 5 minutes average session
TuDiabetes Diabetes Awareness Project: Word in your Hand
TuDiabetes Diabetes Awareness Project: Making Sense of Diabetes
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Other Social Networks on Ning
200,000+ members• “…a community of
individuals who support reducing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil through the use of domestic energy alternatives.”
push.pickensplan.com
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Other Social Networks on Ning
2,000 members• “The List Project
created Netroots to help recent Iraqi arrivals with the resettlement process by connecting Americans and Iraqis across the nation.”
netrootsthelistproject.ning.com
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Advantages of Ning
• Very affordable– Free basic service– Premium services
• Solid product• Customizable
– Appearance and features
• Network and member privacy controls
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Disadvantages of Ning
• You can’t “host” the network yourself:– You depend on Ning being “up” – You depend on Ning being “in business”
• Network members are also members of Ning.com
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Alternatives to Ning
• To create your own social network:– http://traffikd.com/resources/build-your-own-social-netw
orking-site
• To create your own blog:– http://www.socialbrite.org/2009/05/09/seven-blogging-to
ols-reviewed
• To create your own web site:– http://sites.google.com and many more…
• White Label Social Networking PlatformsA Comparison Chart by TechCrunch– http://www.techcrunch.com/wp-content/
wlsn_comparison_chart.html
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Additional Resources
• http://help.ning.com• http://www.getsatisfaction.com/ning • http://blog.ning.com• http://is.gd/p7kv (Ning for Nonprofits
chat)• http://developer.ning.com (advanced)
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Manny’s Contact Information
• Email:– [email protected]
• Book:– http://bit.ly/ningfd
• Twitter:– @askmanny– @ningfordummies
talks!
Questions?
Submit your questions using the chat box.
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Continue the Discussion…
• Additional questions can be answered by posting in the Virtual Community Forum:– http://tinyurl.com/yjf6e5c
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Digital Storytelling Challenge
• The Challenge: Tell us your digital story• Submit a 5-panel image story to Flickr or
a 60 second video or audio visual Goldmail
• Submissions should demonstrate your organizational mission/goals/needs in a thoughtful and creative way.
• More info at www.techsoup.org/go/tsdigs-challenge
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Get the Most Out of TechSoup
• At TechSoup, you’ll find a range of technology services to help your nonprofit:
– Read helpful articles in our Learning Center– Request donated software, hardware, and
online services– Join our community forums to learn from
your colleagues– Browse upcoming events and conferences
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Upcoming Webinars
• Organize Your Donor Data with Telosa – Wednesday, October 21, 10 a.m. Pacific
• Hidden Gems: TechSoup Donation Partners Every Librarian Should Know– Wednesday, October 28, 11 a.m. Pacific
• Green Tech Tips from Microsoft– Wednesday, November 4, 11 a.m.
Pacific
Using Ning to Connect with your CommunityConference Call: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6339392 or 6339349
Thank you to our Webinar Sponsor!
ReadyTalk offers dedicated product demos for TechSoup organizations 4 times per week:Monday 1:00 pm Mountain Standard Time (MST)Wednesday 9:00 am MSTThursday 1:00 pm MSTFriday 9:00 am MST
For more information: pages.readytalk.com/techsoup.html
talks!
Thank you! Please complete the post event survey!
Kami Griffiths, [email protected], 415-633-9392