Belmont University

Are you in the Loop?


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My husband works in interactive marketing, so I tend to learn about new technologies and how to best capitalize on them as he does. He’s been utilizing search-engine marketing for years now, knows all about the latest Mac offering before it goes public and started blogging long before I did.

We recently discussed the concept of a “viral expansion loop” after reading Fast Company’s Cover Story “Ning’s Infinite Ambition.” According to their website, “Ning is the only online service where you can create, customize, and share your own Social Network for free in seconds.” As users contribute to and create more networks that engage more users that contribute to and create more networks that engage more users...you see the workings of a “viral expansion loop.” Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, etc. have all benefited as a result of this concept.

My takeaways — regardless of product/service offering or which dimension(s) you do business, we should all recognize the value in consumer networks and power of word-of-mouth messaging. Inspiring customer evangelism by delivering on (better yet, surpassing) expectations EVERY TIME reaps exponential rewards. Perhaps by becoming “friends” with your target, you can gain all of their “friends” in the process.

Also, it pays to pay attention. Ning’s developers recognized a good thing and took advantage of the opportunity to take social networking to the next level. Keep trend-watching, and feel free to comment and share emerging trends/technologies that have caught your attention.


Posted by Jocelyn Gutekunst on April 24, 2008 02:12 PM |

Comments

I've ran multiple websites throughout the years, for nonprofit purposes. This is the first year I'm getting serious about it (looking at tuition costs and being an incoming freshmen at Belmont, this year will do that to you) and I recently received my business license in the mail from my home state. The website I plan to launch on my last day of high school, May 21st. I'm going to see how long I can run the site before I get an offer.

Ning to me is just a web host in 2.0's disguise! When it boils down to it, Ning is a company much like FreeWebs, they try to entice non-savy users with their promises of popular, free social networks then advertise and offer premium services on the created networks.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Snap.com, from Bill Gross at idealab take off and eventually be bought up. Wouldn't surprise me one bit coming from the guy that sold eTos, Commission Junction,HomesDirect, CitySearch,TheDotTvCorporation, and a host of other companies.

Posted by: Lucas Wynne | April 24, 2008 05:30 PM

Lucas, many believe that the large social networks (i.e. MySpace and Facebook) will eventually fade into the background and that millions of niche networks will be the future of social networking.

Ning is far more than just a web host in 2.0's disguise. Social networks are expensive to build and host (a custom solution will run you over $100k). Ning and KickApps are democratizing the social networking world in the same way the personal computer and cheap recording gear democratized the music business a few years ago.

I hope your endeavor is successful and that you are able to end up selling it. That said, make sure you find a creative way to monetize it.

Posted by: Dave | April 24, 2008 10:08 PM

Ning is a great out-of-the-box solution for those who need to setup group collaboration overnight. I don't see Ning as being groundbreaking, especially for the long term. Even considering their $100+ million in venture funding. It's important that they, too, are challenged by this next round of niche-based innovation. Our generation.

Posted by: Andy Tabar | May 5, 2008 06:14 PM

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