© Young Scot 2008

Creating Your Own Social Network

www.ning.com

© Young Scot 2008

Web 2.0 - rise of user generated content• Third party software opening up the Internet• Video content – YouTube• Audio content – Podcasts• Social networks – MySpace, Bebo, Facebook, Twitter

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Social Networks – Some Stats• Social Networks are now the fourth most popular

activity on the Net behind searches, general interest sites and software companies.

• Bebo’s 16-24 years age group spends 2.14 billion minutes a month on the site!

• Facebook is currently the most popular social network with over 150 million registered users.

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Youth Commission on Alcohol• Young people from all across Scotland aged 14-21• Coming together to look at the issues surrounding

alcohol in Scotland.• Residential meets• Continuous investigation

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

The Task• Online tool• Used to communicate outwith

residential meets• Needs to be secure• Needs to be able to group

communication together (Commissioners, Advisory etc)

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

• Founded in October 2004 in California• Social Platform software launched

February 2007• Over 1.3 million social networks • Over 4000 Ning networks set up a day• Over 30 million registered members

Creating Your Own Social Network

Introducing… Ning!

© Young Scot 2008

Ning – Multi-Tooled• Latest Activity• Text box• Events• Internal email system• Groups• Notes

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Ning – Multi Tooled

Creating Your Own Social Network

• Discussion Forums• Blogs• Audio• Video• Photo gallery• Chat• RSS

© Young Scot 2008

Ning – A Secure Network

Varying Levels of Access• View the main page• View everything• Closed to only members• Closed to only invited members• Approve all members

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Ning – A Secure Network

Moderation• Members• Forum posts• Pictures• Video• Blogs

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Ning – The Tour

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Ning – Administering Your Network

Creating Your Own Social Network

•No programming knowledge required•Layout – drag and drop•Can be branded specifically•Focused web address e.g. xxxxx.ning.com•Google Analytics

© Young Scot 2008

Ning – Administering Your Network

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Ning – The Costs• Fremium software• Remove ads = $24.95 (£15.26) per month• Redirect your link = $4.95 (£3.01) per month• And more…

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Youth Commission on Alcohol• First podcasts uploaded• New workstream groups• Photos of trip to London• Lots of Discussion

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Summary• Create your own secure social

network specific to your needs• Multi-tooled• Fremium software• No programming knowledge

required

Creating Your Own Social Network

© Young Scot 2008

Questions

Creating Your Own Social Network