Ning

Ning gives organisations and individuals a way to set up their own social network without building the software themselves. Listed in the United States, it covers the design, growth and monetisation of a community website.

What Ning offers

• Community builder — a hosted social site with member profiles, social media integration and community management.
• Custom design — control over the network's visual design and overall look.
• Groups and events — members can be organised around shared interests, with events held inside the network.
• Promotion tools — help for reaching a target audience, including for charitable, fundraising, political, music, religious or arts communities.
• E-commerce — a built-in shop feature so network owners can earn income from their community.

Who it works with

Ning hosts many kinds of community. Examples it gives include CULytics, a peer group for credit unions working on data management and member engagement, and Hat Academy, a millinery community built around hat-making video tutorials.

Key facts

• Based in: United States
• Trial: a 14-day trial for new networks