Pricing the Value of this website to community...

[Voytec Wacowski]

As we have mentioned during the last CSNA meeting today is the day when operators of the NING web platform that we have used until now for free has announced their pricing for the new, paid model of the operation.

As a webmaster and creator of the Chatham Square site I see the value in their offer and personally I can't blame them for walking away from the existing format - we have learned to see the Web as a place where everything is free - and I see the trend to change it for pay-as-you-go model.

In short, after analyzing the May 4th announcement of NING I believe that we would have to accept a NING PLUS service at $19.95/month or $199.95/year* (save 16%) to provide the functionality of this site at the present level. 

NING MINI is not enough, and NING PRO at $49.95 a month is too much - if  we can live without video on our site. 

For full comparison of the three plans, click here.

We still have time to discuss the options, including moving to another platform. 

TIMELINE

• May 4: Announce new suite of premium offerings
• July: Launch new packages and notify all Network Creators via email and announcement banner.
• Launch + 30 days: Grace period for existing Ning Networks to purchase one of the pricing plans.
  

[Ken Janke]

This seems fare and I suggest that we budget this and pay two years upfront if possible. Thanks for this great information and all your hard work on our beautiful site.

[Voytec Wacowski]

Hi Ken, I also think that at $199.95 / year it will be a good value. I have checked several other solutions and at the end there is always some price included. Not to mention that each new solution represents a learning curve to the users. We made a big progress in user friendliness by switching to NING from Basecamp already.

The benefit of purchasing the service from NING will be also possibility to tun our own ads and maybe try to pitch them to local businesses...

I would wait with the actual payment to almost last possible moment i.e. late June and pay for one year ahead. No benefit in paying for two years IMHO

[Hope Metcalf]

I agree this seems like a fine solution; I bet we could fundraise to cover 2 years. We should make this a priority.

[Voytec Wacowski]

We have time to raise $199.95 for a full year of service. I really do not see a benefit in paying for two years ahead. According to NING announcement we will have 30 days of grace period to pay counted from the launch of new system that is expected in July. It is safe to say that we have to get funds before July 31st.

[Joan Bosson-Heenan]

I think that 199 a year is great. The benefit to paying for 2 years is locking in the price in case they raise it.

J