How to Use Ning for Business
6 Ways to Use Ning for Business

                                
            
    


            
            
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There is an almost overwhelming number of options on the social web for businesses to create and participate in communities. You hear a lot about Facebook Fan Pages, Twitter communities, and even LinkedIn Groups; but businesses have another option when looking to build a community online that's often overlooked despite having nearly 40 million users: Ning. Ning allows businesses to create their own off-site social network for their brand’s community, and participate in existing conversations with the communities they are looking to engage.  Here are 6 ways businesses can put Ning to work.What is Ning?Ning, which just announced that they’ve reached 37 million registered users and 1.6 million social networks, is a web service that allows anyone to create their own branded social network.  Networks created on Ning can have sections for videos, photos, chat, music, groups, events, forums, and blogs.  Members of your network have their own profile pages, can make friends, send them messages, get email notifications, update status, and install third party apps -- basically anything you'd expect from a modern social network.Ning provides their basic service for free, and offers premium services that allow users to use their own domain name, get more attentive customer support, utilize more storage space, remove ads and remove promotional links.Creating a social network on Ning or participating in networks already popular on the site are great ways for businesses to add value and connect with potential customers.1. FeedbackSeesmic, the creator of popular Twitter applications for the web, desktop, and iPhone, uses Ning in a number of ways, but primarily to gather feedback from customers.  They created Team Seesmic to give their users a place to voice their opinion, and provide feedback on their products.
    


            
            
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You can use Ning to let your most loyal users suggest the features that they’d like to see you add, and to give them a place to report bugs, or issues that they find.  You should be listening, of course, to your customers wherever they are, but it becomes a lot easier if you give them a place to talk to you directly.2. DiscussionsThe US Navy put together an amazing network using Ning called Navy For Moms in 2008.  It’s a place for the mothers of those serving in the Navy to discuss their concerns and issues.
    


            
            
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The lesson here is that you should open up the dialog, and not just between you and your customers, but between your customers and each other, as well!  Connect your community members with each other through discussion, whether or not it directly relates to your company.  This will make your community stronger, and more loyal, and also ties in well with listening to your users’ ideas and concerns.  It makes it very easy to listen when you know where they’re talking.3. Content and MediaSick of watching car commercials? Me too... but Saturn is doing something interesting.  They started a Ning-powered social network called ImSaturn aimed at Saturn drivers, employees, fans, and enthusiasts.
    


            
            
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Saturn provides a great example of the power of quality content and rich media on your social network.  Ning suppports pictures, events, videos, podcasts, blog posts and and all sorts of other content, so you should take advantage of it all.  More importantly, you can encourage your community to do the same and then feature the content that they submit.Saturn also uses ImSaturn to list their upcoming events.4. Inspire Your CustomersMartha Stewart’s Dreamers into Doers network encourages women to pursue their dreams of starting their own business.  It’s really active and filled with great content.
    


            
            
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Marth Stewart's Ning network teaches us how powerful it can be to feature your community’s work.  If your customer’s have a project, help them to succeed wherever possible. Inspire your branded social network's members take action, to do something, to feel confident in their abilities.  Ning is a great platform to create a comfortable place for your users to share their work and for you to support them.5. Participate in Existing CommunitiesThere are a great deal of existing Ning communities that are active and passionate.  For example, if you're in the travel industry, you might want to be participating in groups like Travel Blog Exchange, a community of new media travel writers who share their travel experiences.
    


            
            
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Join in the discussions, contribute to the conversation, but make sure not to push your product too hard.  Ning communities aren’t the place to post your marketing content.  Instead, add value to those communities and you'll see a return on the time you've invested.6. Entitle Your EvangelistsHershey really entitles their community with their Cookie Exchange network.  They created a place for their customers to discuss and plan cookie exchange parties, officially sponsored by Hershey. By making those users feel like they have an exclusive connection to the Hershey brand that most consumers don't have, and giving them continuous opportunities to discuss the brand and keep it top of mind, Hershey has provided those customers with the motivation, tools, and means to evangelize those products to friends and family.
    


            
            
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Ning provides an environment where you can help your community to feel privileged, like they have "VIP" status.  Make your community proud to represent your brand. Give them the power and the resources to evangelize your brand and products.What are some other ways that businesses can use Ning?  Do you know of other good examples?  Share them in the comments.More business resources from Mashable:- Why Social Media Is Vital to Corporate Social Responsibility- HOW TO: Measure Social Media ROI- 5 Important Web Video Lessons for Small Business Owners- Top 5 Must-Read Social Media Books- Before You Go Online: Talk to Your Customers Offline
                    
                    
    

    
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