Elise:
.... I just feel there is many steps right now before you can see "if you like it".
....What if you did a paid "sample" importer that snips the files to only take a sample of their data?
A small import can show what it looks like without draining your resources because you manage the size?
I agree with the above. Maybe a 2 week trial for them to play around with, with an import limit of say 5 GB...not sure how much hassle that would entail, but I'd think 'free trial' networks would probably be unnecessarily complex if they were 50 or 100 GB in size anyway.
I still think a live Demo site would be a good idea- where (approved) potential JR users could join it as a regular member or a Profile Admin (without access to the backend) and be able to post videos, join groups, create sample discussions, Events, etc. You could make one to appeal to Ning 2.0 users, with those typical features set up. They could then at least see what it's like to be a member on a JR site, and as housekeeping you would make it clear that you'd delete them and their content from the Demo site after say 2 weeks.
I think there's a psychological hesitance barrier when leaping from ning to JR that can be cracked through by having someone actually posting content on a real live working JR site... You want to get them thinking "Hey this thing works ok- I could have a site like this and maybe change the colors and logo and a few other things, and then I could get off of ning!"
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Taking this thought to the next level, I'd like to suggest the following idea:
Right now, you have for the past year or more offered the Ningja skin as suited particularly for those on ning who are not advanced coders and who aren't sure of how to build their sites at first. Along with the Ningja skin you've offered the Site Builder tool, and various modules that replicate what's typically needed for receiving and duplicating ning2.0 content: modules like the Youtube, Vimeo, Groups, Events, Private Notes, Soundcloud, Seamless/combined, Gallery, Forum, Comments, Timeline, Search, etc etc. It can be daunting for the complete novice to know which modules they might need to start out with to have the features of their 2.0 ning network (even the original "Ning bundle" you offered was/is quite incomplete to recreate a typical ning site).
What if you actually create a somewhat generic model of a typical Ning 2.0 site- with all its typical features and modules in place already?...and offered that as a starting point for newbie ning-ers?
Instead of having to BUILD thier site by figuring out what they need piece by piece and building it, they could rather just begin tweaking what's there already and deleting things they don't need or want for their own site? Far easier to tweak, delete, or de-activate features you already have in place, than to figure out what you need, go find it, install, and then tweak it.
This would be a big step further to complete the intent of the original Ningja skin. Instead of merely a skin and an (incomplete) ning bundle, ...you could allow people who sign up on JR hosting to load a whole functional generic site ...with all the ning 2.0 features and modules already in place and playing nice with each other. It would be sooooo much easier and more familiar for ning folks to slide themselves into. It would make your job way easier as well since you could bypass a huge number of initial questions new ning refugees seem to always have.
Imagine it- sign up for JR hosting, and then buy the Import service where the JR Team imports your ning 2.0 content and members right into your Jamroom "Spring" site =8-D that's ALREADY BUILT for you and waiting to receive your content! Then all you need do is TWEAK it to your own liking rather having to first BUILD it. Change your site colors, your logo, your forum categories, de-activate any features you don't want (and add other cool new JR features that ning never had!)
The huge advantage would be that they could get going right away with a FUNCTIONING WORKING live site...and they could escape from paying Ning DOUBLE starting in October now. They could then make many of their custom changes to the site as they have the time and as they learn. They might decide they don't even need some of those changes- as their members start using the site right away and giving them feedback.
I'd like to see a generic functioning PRE-BUILT & HOSTED JR site that beginner non-coders and ning refugees could sliiiide right into and get their members and content imported into place and working right away...their customizations to be done later as they learn how. Yeah it would not be just right for each person's needs, but they'd be HALFWAY THERE right out of the starting gate.
This is the KEY to truly wooing the unhappy ning victims. Maybe call it the new Jamroom 'Spring' Network! Spring instead of Ning...a breath of fresh air, a new beginning....and they could spring right into it... boinnnnggg! L O L :D
Build that generic site with all the typical ning2.0 features in place already and working. Make it look fresh and spacious rather than like some dark claustrophobic heavy metal site...no skulls of bloody axes
. Build it maybe based on the Ningja skin so it's real compatible with typical ning site structure, but perhaps make a new Spring skin specifically for this pre-built site.
Keep it familiar in structure to navigate for ex-ningers. Offer the generic pre-built site ONLY with hosted plans, offer your paid import service with it. Eliminate the incomplete 'ning bundle'.
And maybe also create a live demo site people can join as regular member for a short period to test out the user experience, as I describe in the start of my post.
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...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 09/11/16 09:26:32AM
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