I suggest that everybody creates a network on Ning

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Let me tell you why.

After one and a half year of Ning activities, all of us are members of many networks. It is often difficult to know on your profile pages whether you visit a network frequently or not. I am member of some networks that I never visit again unless I get an e-mail from there.

The network you create is your headquarter on the web, from where you express your views, thoughts, projects, opinions, and open it for your friends to listen and participate. Visiting your network enables the visitor to have a much better view on what you are doing than can be obtained in networks created by others.

Ten years ago the blog was a revolution in the communication, but it is now obsolete because it is a closed structure. A network on Ning is an open structure. Create networks on Ning, and link them together through badges, directories, groups, and through links in your pages and in your discussions.

Pierre

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

Thanks Pierre, I agree in as much as a person is willing to support their Ning. Part of the Area Light vision statement on the MAIN page emphasises our intention to promote Ning for everybody- either as a network user or creator. I'm developing the concept to basically walk people through the evolution. Some people actually don't want their members to know anything about Ning or that they can create their own for free. Ning let's you pay for some upgraded features that include opting out of mentioning Ning. I actually find it a value add and it gives me an excuse to network- turning people on to a relatively new and upcoming technology, helping them use it, and eventually helping them to create and network their own. So why not?! I agree, particularly for those who are simply converting from blog to the social network interface, there's no reason you can't look at it however you want to. It doesn't have to be a grand network site. It's your realestate. Build what you want on it.

Best,

Anthony

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

Hey Pierre!

Hope you don't mind me revisiting this conversation after so long! That's one of the benefits of posting content through discussions, I would think. People can pick up the conversation wherever it left off, just as if it was brought up yesterday. Plus, your content qualifies in currency- even today. I know you're evolving your approach to connect people on Ning through "networking on Ning". That's the kind of thing I want to do too.

Today on the Area Light Blog, I was commenting on the sort of confusion that's come with being given such a comprehensive application. I think you saw like a handful of social networks like Facebook, Linkedin, and Myspace come up. Then suddenly you can create your own for free- and the interface is world-class, easy to work with, ready to go, and superior in a lot of respects to the end-users. It's exciting, but can also be shocking as people realize "everybody" can do it. Some people tend to get competitive and protective. Others focus on doing the best they can to serve their niche and vision within the broader context of Ning. I'm really stoked you are on "my" network because you are on the cutting-edge of modern social networking awareness. It's really interesting to see your work in action.

I remember you mentioned you used to have a blog and decided to convert it to a Ning. Blogging is a form of social interaction that doesn't rely on participation- though it can be made to suit it. Ning is simply along the same lines as an interface with an advanced inventory of participation features. Consequently, that's the first thing most people think about when they set up their social network. When I researched Ning, I learned hundreds of thousands of sites were being created- but most were dead sites lacking activity and participation. The critics will imply that people are simply not ready for all of this and everybody should not create a network. Fortunately, like you, I think Ning encourages this as part of their open social strategy. It's no worse than setting up a blog where you produce your content irregardless of interaction.

Everybody should set up a network and use it as a base for their online social presence. From there, I think it comes down to the content you produce, networking across social networks, and sharp use of applications. For example, this Area Light Home Group is set up as a place where people can discuss what they want out of this community, out of social networking in general, and use as a ready home-base to begin even if they have yet to set up their profiles, groups, etc. From here, Area Light would support people in learning how to use Ning whether here or on their sites.

Interestingly, I'm sure I'm not alone in promoting Ning. There's always something new coming out to engage the Ning user and creator markets. However, just exploring social networks you see people setting up to be "the" network as if because they have a network can come across as having the advantage to claim some absolute niche. Yet, see how Ning does this? We are Ning users and creators and can instantly connect on that level by clicking on the Ning link wherever a site allows it. So shaping yourself up to have the corner on Ning networking is simply ignorant. I want Area Light to become a great network some day, but the attitude will be more open.

As a realization, a lot of people might become disenheartened about their initial excitement for setting up their social network. I remember looking around and finding certain ideas I had were already being done and much better when I was requesting domain names. Yet, I think it's still important to understand differentiation is already implied as an end-user and creator in the "network". The great thing about weblogs is the journaling aspect that had people sharing about themselves and "their" interests. That was sort of implicit in their design. Still, what blogging did was still lacking in interaction. The interactive features of Ning seem to impress people on networking, but probably understates the utility of content and creative use of applications a lot of bloggers had been looking into in order to improve their activities.

So I think everyone should start a blog on their experience of the platform, Ning, and so on. It would be interesting to look into people from something we all have in common. I will advocate they do this on their own sites. At the same time, Area Light is certainly a community where they could do it too. With RSS feeds, I think this might be something I promote as a suggestion for profiles and groups.

Best,

Anthony

I want to be different like everybody else I know.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Hi Anthony !

I am pleased to feed your thoughts with two comments.

Many networks have now more than one thousand members. Why taking any care of those which do not survive ?

The second comment is more personal, and puzzling. I am the happy owner of two networks, WORLD AUCTION and ART NETWORK DIRECTORY. I consider that a network is reflecting the personality of its owner. But by all their features my networks are the perfect opposite one another. I know why, of course, but there will be more incentive in our discussion if you investigate the question.

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Pierre

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

Thanks for responding Pierre,

I have been spending the last few months with a focus on my personal business development as well as refining the relationship between this network concept to it. The basic idea parallels yours I think.

Area Light was my 10th Ning and should serve as a gateway to my other activities which will be far more specific and ordered. What I realized in focussing in on specific target markets with niche services is I would need to have something that was open for everybody where they could essentially do what they want along whatever line of interest they have.

I've been paying attention to you and see World Auction as a more specific treatment of your interests providing a correspondingly specific value. Art Network Directory seems to be focussed more on general networking between artists and art network creators without the constraints (beneficial) of specification and order in World Auction. It serves your interest in connecting people who may take an interest in World Auction, but also allows for autonomous self-organization depending on the constituency. It's a very open environment that should allow you a flow of traffic for casual explorers and networkers within the broader themes of art and networking. The directory you provide on the main page is really incentive enough and a quality value to deliver for those who decide to be a part of it.

I'm not suggesting that everybody should create a dead network or try to push out a broad network scope idea like we are. I think everybody should create a Ning network for a lot of the reasons people blogged and to enjoy the features available. At a minimum, I agree we should all relate as end-users and perhaps creators within the broader framework of Ning- if not for the online environment itself. Some ideas will naturally grow and even fewer will have intelligent design to them or simply really terrific and unique ideas. However, at the most basic level, a network does refelct an individual, their personality, and their interests.

The process of network creation puts those aspects on the table. As people define what their network is, should, and can be- they perhaps articulate details of their social networking profile that we can all categorically relate to. You could go to a network and see just one guy blogging, or you could see a networking community that's exploding and alive. However, the constant building block is the end-user and network creators in particular offer a form of self-disclosure with more intimate presentation of vision, ideas, and preferences I think is worth relating on.

So it's interesting. What will people do and how with Ning? It's phenomenal and unique. I think everyone should create a Ning because every time someone does, you get a special view of people and technology at the forefront of possibilities. Even then, some people may have great ideas and not have a lot of action. Those people deserve support and encouragement. Even more so to the people who have exciting ideas but are afraid to step out assuming every thing is already being done. Those ghost ships out there are still worth some attention and maybe benefit with a key of a networking "gateway" type of community such as Area Light.

Nice talking with you again Pierre!

Best,

Anthony

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

I concur with what you say, Anthony.

Now i give you the secret of the recent birth of Art Network Directory.

As membership grew on World Auction, new members went with inputs that have nothing to do with the subject of the network. In physical wording, Art Network Directory is a centrifuge force from World Auction. When a member includes a wrong input in World Auction, I tell him "That's great what you are doing, but it will be more efficient for you if you tell it in the Art Network Directory." Also when a user wishes to friend on another network I invite him to Art Network Directory as a priority, never directly to World Auction. Art Network Directory is a buffer between me and my Ning friends.

The World Auction promotion through the Art Network Directory should lead to nothing, because the members I can reach by this way are not trained in art history.

I designed the Art Network Directory so that it has an easy added value (the network list) without wasting my time (less than half an hour a day).

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Pierre