To Ning, or Not to Ning?

 

 

 

Ning. Does that one simple word ring a bell?

 It might if you’ve been keeping up with the SM world.  “Ning”, is a site that was set-up to let you build your own social networking site for free.  The founder, Marc Andreesen, was planning on making his profits primarily from advertising.  That was in October 2007 – we are now in 2010 and the company is changing their proposition.  Now that sites such as PROpenmic and other non-profits are depending and utilizing Ning on a regular basis it announced earlier this week that it’s going to start diminishing their free service and start charging its users.

Do I understand that a business needs to make money? Of course! However I think I have to agree with Shel Holtz as he states in his blog post,

 “Having spent the better part of 35 years in the business world, I understand the need to focus a business on profitable activities. I also understand the risks inherent in casting your lot with a single service: You run the risk of losing your data should the company go under. Just ask anybody who maintained a site at GeoCities. Ning is not going under and there’s more to this move than a simple business decision. Those who established Ning sites did so because the ability to set up a free network was the company’s core proposition.”

When something like this comes across the way it did the first thought that ran through my mind was the classic “bait and switch”concept.  Which means to entice someone into doing something with the intent of changing the circumstances later.  These companies are now depending on Ning and their social networking sites are now established.  Holtz also makes another great point when he explains,

“Rosenthal’s rationale is based on the fact that 75 percent of Ning’s traffic goes to those premium sites. The “freemium” model helped build that traffic, though. People started with free sites, then moved up to premium after they were already sold on Ning and could see the additional value of the paid offering. Now, nobody will be able to follow that path.”

I will say, that it is much easier to proclaim what should and shouldn’t be done when the weight isn’t on your shoulders. However, I think that Ning could’ve used better PR communication skills to make the message a little softer.  The message was given to its employees and then “leaked” to the public.  That is something that you have got to prepare for and be on your toes about as a PR representative.  So no matter what your opinion about this is, I think we can all learn a few lessons from this crisis.

1.Credibility is everything.  Credibility is everything to a company, without that no one believes in you nor wants to work for or buy from you.  By Ning stressing that this site was going to be free, with no means of changing that in the future, they put their credibility on the line.  I will surely be hesitant to believe what they say from here on out.

2.Be prepared!  When you have valuable information that you are putting in the hands of employees, especially employees that you are laying off, you’ve got to know that the word WILL leak.  Be prepared.  Ning should’ve already had a statement ready to present.  Actually they could’ve given the users a timely notice to make it easier to digest.

3. Be informative.  This kind of ties into the end of the previous point.  Manny Hernandez, the author of “Ning for Dummies” and a promoter of Ning for the past three years, found out about their 40% employee reduction and new business approach through a Tweet! Yes, that’s right, a tweet.  Ponder that for a second.  The company itself should have been the first to inform the public before they had a chance to find out anywhere else.

What do you think about the Ning Crisis? How do you think they should’ve handled it from a PR standpoint?

 

New Music and Giveaway!

Do you like hearing new artist?

Do you like new and original

music?

Do you like to win giveaways?

If you answered yes to any of these then you will want to read below…

 Meet 10th Concession

I am here to introduce you to an original rock band in Tampa FL -10th Concession.  This band is made up of four extremely nice and talented guys who love doing what they do best - delivering great music! The band consists of Ian Koteles, Evan Koteles, Matt Brady and David Daniels. This group has a soft rock/pop feel to their music and all of their songs are original. This is definitely something that you could so find yourself jamming to on the radio. Every time I hear them I find their lyrics getting stuck in my head.  They are trying to take their music to the world and this is where they need your help!10th Concession is competing in the “Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands”! This is a contest to win a spot to play in the Warped Tour 2010 and a $15,000 dollar Guitar Center shopping spree - they need your votes! It takes 5 minutes max to register and then you can vote once a day.

 Click Here to Vote at Warped Tour Battle of the Bands

When you go to vote for them you can also listen to some of their music.  I know that these guys are going to make it to the top but wouldn’t it be neat to say that you were apart of it?

Visit them on Myspace at 10th Concession on Myspace

Facebook at 10th Concession on Facebook

 How to enter to win an autographed 10th Concession CD

Do one or more of the following and leave a comment on this post :

1. Go and vote (leave a comment on my blog of your user name once you register)

2. Post about it on your blog

3. Post about this on your Twitter

4. Post about this on your Facebook

5. Leave a comment of your favorite 10th Concession song

6. Join their Facebook or Myspace  group

You can vote through the end of June - I will pick a winner on July 1st 2010

Thanks for your help - spread the word - I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!