[Hidden-tech] Social networking platform provider?

[Tish Grier]

Re Google Groups and Google Wave:

I ran a Google Group "community" for Placeblogger.com.  The group communicated well within the structure, it was easy to follow the flow of conversation, and were able to create documents--but it wasn't like a social network kind of group. Google Wave, IMO anyway, is like a really ugly chat room, and is rather confusing to most new users.  Maybe Google's looking to hook all of this together, along with Buzz, at some point to make a big social network similar to Facebook, but right now it's bits and pieces that are kind of cumbersome to use together.  

Ning, I believe, is the only one right now that creates networks kind of like stand-alone Facebook-y social networks, where you have "friends," etc. and has a low barrier to set-up  It also, in some ways, reminds me of ways in which Drupal can be configured to create communities.  Drupal's fine if you have the time to tinker with it, and/or you can hire a Drupal developer.  I think you can build community sites with Joomla as well.

Tish

 


----- Original Message ----
From: Val Nelson <val at valnelson.com>
To: Shel Horowitz <shel at frugalfun.com>; Hidden-Tech Listserv <hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
Sent: Thu, April 8, 2010 6:55:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Social networking platform provider?

   ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
   ** If you did, we all thank you.


Great points Shel and everyone.

Are you saying that Nings don't have an option to have an email sent to you for things you want to be alerted about? I thought it did but I have only joined one and I too never go to it, but I haven't dug too deep.

I like FB and LI groups so far. I also belong to many Yahoo groups, which is a good old standby and the web version of the groups has a lot to offer for file sharing and such. 

I wonder about Google groups and Google Wave for collaboration tools. Haven't dug into those enough to say.

Thanks
Val


On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 5:01 PM, Shel Horowitz <shel at frugalfun.com> wrote:

>
>  ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>>   ** If you did, we all thank you.
>
>
>
>
>I have to say...from a user POV, I hate Ning. I almost never
>visit my Ning groups and try to avoid joining more. Not only is the
>interface wretched,not only is it almost impossible to find your way
>back to a previous screen, but the e-mail notifications require you to
>click through to see if the content is worth it. I much prefer FB
>actually e-mailing me the content and I can decide to join the
>conversation, or even LinkedIn sending two-line teasers.
>
>
>So what ends up happening is I participate at least somewhat in
>the FB and LI groups, and ignore the Ning ones. I can't be bothered to
>click through to find out if it's worth my while or not, so I just
>skip it.
>
>
>
>
>At 8:52 AM -0400 3/31/10, Tom Adams ~ Reelife Productions &
>Folktography wrote:
>   ** Be sure to fill out the
>>survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>>>>   ** If you did, we all thank you.
>>
>>
>two good examples of burgeoning ning
>>networks are valleyshare (open
>>network) and allthingswilliamsburg.ning.com (I co-created/ closed
>>network).
>
>>
>They're a great (and FREE) way for people
>>within a certain group or niche to communicate, post photos, videos,
>>create groups..basically like a localized version of facebook ...there
>>are a few layout and administrative limitations but nothing to really
>>complain about...definitely serve the purpose well, with very little
>>oversight/management/upkeep needed.
>
>>
>come to think of it...facebook groups
>>might do the trick for your client  too.you can have a closed or
>>public fb group. with all its shortcomings and weird anomalies, fb is
>>quite a powerful little monster...
>
>>
>Regards,
>>
>>>>Tom Adams
>>>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>>>Videographer, Director, Editor: www.ReelifeProductions.com
>>>>Photography Prints & Products: www.FolktographybyTom.com
>>>>Portal: web.me.com/ReelifeProductions
>>>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>www.facebook.com/Reelife
>>www.facebook.com/Folkography
>>www.facebook.com/tomadams4
>>www.twitter.com/Reelife_Tom
>>>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>>>(413) 575-9707
>>>>Williamsburg, MA
>>>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>On Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 1:49 PM, Lynn B.
>>Johnson <lynn at motormouth.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>  ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory
>>>in the member's area.
>>>>>>  ** If you did, we all thank you.
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>My client is underwhelmed with iGroops and wants to change
>>>platforms.
>>>>>>I've evaluated Ning, Groupsite, and Small World Labs. Anybody have
>>>>>>experience with these, or another platform-based (not interested
>>>in
>>>>>>server software) solution for membership-based professional
>>>communities?
>>>
>>>>>>Sincerely yours,
>>>>>>Lynn
>>>
>>>>>>--
>>>>>>Lynn B. Johnson
>>>>>>read recent updates to the World's Oldest Blog at
>>>http://motormouth.blogharbor.com
>>>
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>>>>>>Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
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>>>>>>page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
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>>>
>
>>
>>
>>>>--
>>
>
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page:
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>>
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>
>
>
>
>-- 
>
>
>>_________________________________________________
>>Shel Horowitz - 413-586-2388/ shel at frugalfun.com
>>-->Join the Business Ethics Pledge - Ten Years to Change the
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