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# Ning Abandons Free Service, Lays Off 40% Of Staff
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/ning-abandons-free-service-lays-off-40-of-staff/
- Published: 2010-04-16T08:44:12.000Z
- Updated: 2010-04-16T08:44:12.000Z
- Description: Ning has announced that it will phase out its free custom social networks in favor of an all paid model. Ning is popular with musicians and marketers building custom fan. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2010/04/ning-abandons-free-service-lays-off-40-of-staff.html]
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Social Media, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 10:59

Ning has announced that it will phase out its free custom social networks in favor of an all paid model. Ning is popular with musicians and marketers building custom fan communities.

[![image from www.washburn.edu](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20133ecba705f970b-320wi)](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e20133ecba705f970b-popup?ref=hypebot.com)

"Existing free networks will have the opportunity to either convert to paying for premium services, or transition off of Ning," said new CEO John McDonald. "Our Premium Ning Networks like Friends or Enemies, Linkin Park (both music sites), Shred or Die, Pickens Plan, and tens of thousands of others both drive 75% of our monthly US traffic, and those Network Creators need and will pay for many more services and features from us." As a consequence of these changes, Ning will reduce the size of their team from 167 people to 98 people.