In the News
6 Ways to Use Ning for Business
USA Today, November 29, 2009
“Find ways to connect [with your family] personally. If you can't afford to get together, consider hosting an online family reunion on Ning (free). Although I love Facebook and MySpace, Ning lets you set up more private subcommunities.”
Shopping Guide: Tech execs share their wish lists
USA Today, November 27, 2009
“The holidays are almost upon us. What to get the tech executive who seemingly has every gadget and widget?”
6 Ways to Use Ning for Business
Mashable, November 18, 2009
“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.”
Ning Introduces Variable Pricing, Categories For Virtual Gifts
Virtual Goods News, November 10, 2009
“Obviously, what sentiments users find appropriate will vary in each of Ning's social networks, which rules out a one-size-fits-all approach like Facebook's.”
Gina Bianchini: Ultimate Technology Game Changer
Huffington Post, November 6, 2009
“Everyone has a passion online, and Ning has capitalized on it, with almost 4,000 new Ning networks created every day. Four years after its creation, Ning boasts 36 million users and counts more than 1.6 million Ning networks of people connecting around a topic, person, or interests. Welcome to the future of social networks.”
Ning Pumps Up Apps With Week-Long Competition
Wall Street Journal, November 6, 2009
“The well-funded start-up is holding a one-week competition for developers, offering six winners between $500 and $5,000 for the best apps, plus prominent placement on the site’s applications directory. The judges for the “Ning Appathon” will be Ning co-founder Marc Andreessen, Wired Editor Chris Anderson and tech blogger Robert Scoble.”
Ning Reaches 37 Million Users, Launches Developer Appathon
TechCrunch, November 5, 2009
“At Ning’s developer event in Palo Alto, newly appointed COO Jason Rosenthal announced that Ning has reached 37 million registered users, as well as 1.6 million Ning networks created. The company also says that it grows another million users every couple weeks.”
40 under 40: Gina Bianchini
Fortune, November, 2009
“Ning now hosts 36 million users--and last year raised $60 million at a valuation of $500 million. Bianchini runs the day-to-day operations while Andreessen serves as an adviser.”
The World's Most Valuable Internet Startups
Silicon Alley Insider, October 29, 2009
“Ning's traffic continues to soar -- doubling in the past year to about 6 million monthly uniques in the US.”
Ning Opens a Virtual Gift Shop With Custom-Made Gifts
New York Times, October 20, 2009
“People who want to send their friends virtual presents, whether it be a birthday cake or a bloody chainsaw, are about to have a lot more options.”
Web 2.0: Ning does Virtual Gifts
Reuters, October 20, 2009
“Social-networking firm Ning announced on Tuesday that it has grown 300 percent year-over-year to 36 million registered users and that it is jumping on the virtual goods bandwagon.”
Ning Users Set Up Shop
Media Post, October 20, 2009
“Billed as a built-in revenue-generator, the Ning Virtual Gifts feature gives network creators the ability to create custom virtual gifts, select their gift store inventory, and participate in a revenue share on the sale of virtual gifts on their Ning Network.”
Bloody chainsaws? Ning launches virtual gifts platform
CNet News, October 20, 2009
“Are Web users going to get tired of paying for kitschy virtual items to pimp out each others' profiles? Social-site creator Ning sure doesn't think so.”
Ning Launches Virtual Gifts, Allows Network Creators To Design Their Own
TechCrunch, October 20, 2009
“Ning is letting Network Creators choose from a library of pre-made virtual gifts, but they’re also free to create their own. This means that the site’s Brooklyn Art Project network can offer gifts that are miniature versions of handdrawn artwork.”
Don't Be Afraid of Social Media
Inc, October 16, 2009
“The rule for whether you should be dabbling in a social space is pretty simple. "Most companies want to have a presence wherever their customers are," says Gina Bianchini, CEO of the Palo Alto, California-based social platform Ning.”
Stay connected with your family online
USA Today, October 8, 2009
“Thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to connect with family. Don't limit your communication to only e-mail. You can create your own family network, plan get-togethers and stay connected in emergencies.”
Build a Social Network for Your Business
PC World, October 7, 2009
“Ning is especially powerful for building a space in which to interact with customers. Think of it as a companion to your company's Web presence.”
Ning Rolls Out New Features
Billboard, October 3, 2009
“Artists can use Ning Apps to sell concert tickets, stream mobile videos, conduct live video chats and sell merchandise.”
Six Rules For Social Networks
Forbes, October 2, 2009
“If there is room to grow a new social network, it will have to center on a passion, something people feel is particularly true of their own personalities.”
Hot 20 2009: Gina Bianchini, Co-Founder of Ning
7x7 San Francisco, September 29, 2009
“Ning is on fire, and not just because tech-gossip blog Valleywag dubbed Bianchini a “Web 2.0 hottie;” new network creation accelerated 26 percent in July to 30 million registered users.”
Battle of social media
Financial Times, September 22, 2009
“On Ning, companies are creating self-contained social networks for sub-brands that inspire particularly loyal fans. They can customise the look and feel of their page, and add a range of applications to promote products and interact with members of their network.”
Nonprofit Online Community Great Marketing Tool
Suite 101, September 13, 2009
“By embracing social networking, nonprofit organizations can inform and engage their stakeholders, and provide supporters with tools to promote the organization to their own networks.”
Social Networking for Ex-Lehman and Bear Stearns Workers
The Wall Street Journal, September 12, 2009
“A year after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, former workers keep in touch with each other on a niche social network called Forever Lehman. Strangely, it was founded by an ex-Bear Stearns employee.”
Ning's App Strategy
Forbes, September 10, 2009
“The social-networking clearing house rolls out an apps platform in hopes of driving more traffic to users' sites.”
Ning Apps Launches on 1.5 Million Social Networks
Mashable, September 10, 2009
“Back in May, we wrote about the Ning app platform that was rolling out to select Ning networks. Today, the company is officially launching Ning Apps to all 1.5 million Ning networks.”
Ning Launches Ning Apps With 90 New OpenSocial Apps
ReadWriteWeb, September 10, 2009
“Ning, the popular online service that allows users to create their own custom social networking sites, launched Ning Apps today. Ning Apps gives users the ability to embed over 90 new apps and widgets on their social networks.”
How Jane Fonda Became the Face of the Aging Adult Social Media World
Fast Company, September 8, 2009
“A few months ago we worked with Gina Bianchini and her team at Ning to start "Fonda Folks" a community of "Fonda-nistas" who commune online (and offline) from all over the world mainly inspired by Jane's life, works, activism and writings.”
A Social Network for the Unemployed
The Wall Street Journal, August 28, 2009
“During the last U.S. recession in 2001, the newly unemployed often gathered to trade horror stories and job-seeking tips at groups like the Five O’Clock Club. During this recession, of course, the newly unemployed swap stories online, particularly on social networks.”
It's A Good Ning
Forbes, August 21, 2009
“Social networking site Ning is sliding up to old-media outfits like Martha Stewart to build online meeting places.”
Tuesdays with Peter: Peter Buffett gets personal
Monsters and Critics, August 14, 2009
“Peter has announced he will be releasing a new song every month utilizing the progressive social network platform, Ning. According to Peter, his exclusive Ning community will launch a brand new single at the beginning of the month - available to download for free until the next “Exclusive Single of the Month” is ready the following month.”
The New Definition of Networking
CNBC, July 29, 2009
“In business there's nothing more important than relationships, but now people are saying goodbye to face-to-face networking and embracing social media. CNBC's Julia Boorstin has the story.”
Behind Ning’s $750 million play
Fortune, July 23, 2009
“If you don’t know Ning, you should. The two-year-old company helps people build their own social networks. As Home Depot (HD) is to homeowners, Palo Alto-based Ning is to web inhabitants who seek to belong to niche networks relating to their interests and passions.”
Forbes CEO Spotlight
Forbes, July 20, 2009
“Gina Bianchini on surviving in the social networking world”
Aww, social networking is growing up
CNN Money, July 20, 2009
“At the outset of online social networking, around, say, 2002, early users had to wedge their personalities into static, cookie-cutter profile pages — it was the price we all paid for the convenience of this new and powerful social tool. How times have changed: Instead of altering yourself to fit the social network, the social network is evolving to cater to you. Here's a quick look at how companies and technologies have evolved to more closely mirror the human experience.”
Hello, My Name Is USER01
Wall Street Journal, July 7, 2009
“Ning Inc., a fast-growing network of niche social networks that includes CommunityofVeterans, says that about 40% of its more than 1.2 million social networks are private. Of course, not all are support groups, some are alumni groups or other closed groups. The purpose of a private social network is twofold: to provide a safe space for discussion that can’t be viewed by outsiders and to provide some kind of verified identity.”
Beyond the Big Three
Advertising Age, June 25, 2009
“It's no secret that having a strong online presence is vital in today's job market -- especially for Millennials -- and that the first step in creating that presence is to build profiles on the "big three" social networks: Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. There are countless articles outlining how these sites are going to take over the world, and they may not be entirely wrong, but these social-media behemoths are not the be-all and end-all of online interaction. Some of my best relationships and opportunities have come from small, topic-specific social networks.”
The Best Advice I Ever Got
CNN Money, June 19, 2009
“Gina Bianchini, CEO of Ning.com, says work to the peak of your ability.”
Ning: Your Very Own Social Networking Site
The Huffington Post, June 16, 2009
“Ning brings the picture one step closer to completion, with an affordable solution that has helped millions of small businesses build social networks that are big on community and small on cost.”
The Next Google?
BusinessWeek, June 15, 2009
“Ning supplies software for users to create social networks.”
Ning: The future of online social networking?
CNN.com, May 25, 2009
“Whether you're into baseball or backgammon, Harry Potter or heavy metal, Ning has an online network for you.”
40 under 40: Gina Bianchini
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal, May 22, 2009
“In 2004, they started Ning, a make-your-own social network site in which networks are easily created, moderated and customized. Features include video, photos, music, groups, events, blogs, messaging, RSS support and now more third-party applications. In early May, the company pumped up its application offerings from 14 to 90.”
Ning Gets A Star Studded Boost From The Collective
TechCrunch, May 13, 2009
“Over the last few months celebrities have become something of a currency on the social web as services vie to attract big-name stars (and gather the resulting media coverage and new users in the process).”
Ning: The Latest Platform For App-Makers Wanting To Get Rich
paidContent, May 7, 2009
“Add one more platform to the ranks of Facebook, MySpace and the iPhone for developers wanting to cash in on the app trend: Ning. The D-I-Y social network-creation service is rolling out 'Ning Apps,' which let bands and companies running Ning communities build functionality like ticket sales, video chats and casual games into their network.”
Ning Apps Bring A New Dimension Of Flexibility And Power To The Social Network Platform
TechCrunch, May 6, 2009
“Ning's social network-building platform is getting a huge boost today, with the private beta launch of Ning Apps, a new suite of applications and features that Network Creators will be able to deploy across their networks with only a few clicks.”
Networking on Ning
CNN.com, April 23, 2009
“Ning CEO Gina Bianchini discusses social networking on the Web site.”
The Power of Social Networks
CNBC, April 16, 2009
“A free platform for do-it-yourself social networks has been gaining momentum, says Gina Bianchini, Ning CEO.”
Ning Growth, Traffic Soaring
Silicon Alley Insider, April 16, 2009
“Build-your-own-Facebook startup Ning is still on fire. The two-year-old company has passed 1 million social networks...”
Ning Hits 1 Million Social Networks
CNET, April 16, 2009
“Sometime on Thursday, the one millionth site was created on Ning, the build-your-own-social-network company that was co-founded by Silicon Valley baron Marc Andreessen.”
Ning Unveils All New Ning.com
Ning, March 11, 2009
“New services empower members to discover and stay connected to social networks across the Ning Platform.”
The Most Innovative Companies in Web 2.0
Fast Company, February 11, 2009
“More than 700,000 custom social networks have popped up on Ning, the platform that lets people make their own facebooks.”
Ning's Gina Bianchini on Using Custom Online Social Networks for Politics and Advocacy
e.politics, January 15, 2009
“Here at e.politics, we may cling to our victrolas, our morse code and our Windows XP, but some people in the online world look a little farther ahead. For instance, along with co-founder Marc Andreessen, Gina Bianchini at Ning has been working since the company’s 2005 launch to put the ability to create online social networks into the hands of people and organizations around the world. The results? You too can build a MySpace or Facebook, my friend.”
Online Social Networking for Educators
NEA, January, 2009
“By now, you've heard the buzz about MySpace and Facebook, but you may still be wondering what all the fuss is about. Maybe you're a little mystified by the whole social networking craze, or you're a little wary about venturing into your students' territory. But what if we told you it can actually be good for your career?”
View archive of past news articles
Learn more in our press section.