Ning is a cool, free social networking platform, and you can learn how to use Ning quickly and easily with Ning For Dummies. If you have a cause to promote or a passion about a topic, here’s how to explore existing networks and interact with others who share your obsession, as well as how to start one of your own.

Begin by joining other networks and participating in groups. Then you’ll find out how to create your own social network, develop your profile, customize your network’s look and feel, set up privacy controls, oversee participation, and manage all the details.

* Investigate existing networks, see how to join private networks, and manage your profile for privacy
* Add photos, videos, and music files to existing networks
* Discover the comment wall, rate items from members, moderate comments on your blog, and respond to events
* Start a discussion, invite people to an event, or create a group
* Set up your network, decide if it should be public or private, research the competition, and find your niche
* Choose a good Web address and learn to monitor traffic with Google Analytics
* Give your main page character with custom widgets and personalized features

Ning is fun, easy, and free. Ning For Dummies shows you how to plan your network so it stands out from the crowd, manage interaction, include multimedia, and more!

Got a passion about a topic or cause to promote? Ning's the thing! Here's how to explore and join existing networks to interact with others who share your obsession, and how to start one of your own. Learn to plan your network so it stands out from the crowd, set up a profile for your members, manage interaction, include multimedia, and more!

* Explore Ning — investigate the many existing networks, see how to join private networks, and manage your profile for privacy
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All about the media — learn how to add photos, videos, and music files to existing networks
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Communicate — discover the comment wall, rate items from members, moderate comments on your blog, and respond to events
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Get something going — start a discussion, invite people to an event, or create a group
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Start networking — set up your network, decide if it should be public or private, research the competition, and find your niche
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Add the cool stuff — give your main page character with custom widgets and personalized features
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You'll manage — a lot of things, including members' profile pages; forums, notes, and chats; groups and events; and multimedia

Open the book and find:

* The author's favorite Ning networks
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How to protect your privacy
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What to decide before you start creating your network
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Tips for choosing a good Web address
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Ideas for promoting your network
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How to monitor traffic with Google Analytics
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Ways to keep members coming back
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How to use tools like the Language Editor and CSS