Though Facebook is by far the most popular social network, many people are put off by the enormity of it. They love to interact with friends and others who have similar interests, but they want to do that on their own terms. If you are a part of this growing group - then Ning could be the thing for you. *Small disclaimer: Ning is blocked here at school, as are almost all social networking sites. You'll have to take it for a test spin at home.*
Ning allows you
(for a very reasonable price), to create your own social network. Are you a fan of the three toed sloth and want to find others in the world who share your passion? Build a Ning Social Network and work together to save their habitats and promote awareness. You can even develop and sell three toed sloth gear and promotional items. All kidding aside (and apologies to anyone who was really on board with the whole three toed sloth thing), the ability to determine for yourself what your online community will be like is pretty awesome.
A recent example of a Ning is one I discussed in the December author of the month post about Sarah Dessen. Her fans congregate in Sarah-land and discuss what they love about her books. Check it out if you want to see an example of some of the features. Classroom20.com is a social network of teachers dedicated to using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom. They discuss teaching strategies and ideas with fellow educators from all over the world.
If pricing is something that interests you, a basic community (up to 150 members) is a whopping $20 a year. You get enough features to make the site attractive to prospective members, and you do have the option to "monetize" (sell ads on the site).
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