Advice on starting a web business

[Phescado]

Hello all,

I am brand new to this site. My friends and i had an idea for a web based business that would work much like fantasy sports but for a different subject. I am basically wondering where i would start to make this happen.

None of us have an web design experience, 2 friends work in video editing and me in marketing.

I guess im mostly looking for advice on how to proceed or links that could help me get started.

Thanks

[GoodfellaEarv]

Well, you can always use Elance if your looking to outsource the web design project. I used Elance for a project and it was well worth it. There are a bunch of professional web design companies on there looking for work.

The second thing i would recommend you do is to do a lot of market research. I'll PM you more details about that.

[GoodfellaEarv]

i apologize. the url is http://www.elance.com

[DB30]

Before you start I'd recommend learning at least a little bit of web design so that people can take your site seriously. Just read up on some tutorials online etc.

[micksss]

I think with your two friends being in video editing and you in marketing you have a great shot at this. There are a lot of scripts at there that you could customize to fit the type of website you are looking to build. Do a search for something similiar to what you are looking to create plus the keyword "script". Also if you're definitely not going to attempt to create this site yourselves giving the programmer an example of what you are looking for will help.

[altwebdesign]

you can probably buy a pre-made script, try google or hotscripts.com
elance is also another good location, remember to always check someones feedback though!

[generationy]

Hey! Sounds like a typical question that many entrepreneurs face. From a VC or angel investor standpoint, many people prefer to see a partnership with a business person and a technical person. That is preffered by some. Having said that, why not see if someone in your network or perhaps someone your friends might know has some technical skills? Give him/her some equity for the work and have a continuous partner supporting you on the project. Never be greedy. Remember, 60% or 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing so partner, collaborate. If you have the finances and are willing to work with an outsourcing company or freelancer then that might be also a good idea. However you may not have support on a continuous basis or the level of work that someone with a stake in the game might such as a partner.

Good luck!

[vidowish]

Hi Phescado,lemme introduce our company and our
online concept to you. VIDOWISH.COM would be a
website where users can make a song dedication to their loved ones and we at
out back office would add our creativity at its best to portray their
emotions through a video.This service would be delivered within 24 working
hours from their dedication request made.Purple Advertising,India produces
digital videos by digitizing user's photos, creating a new theme for each
and every dedicated wish, building a new theme, creating and editing
hundreds of pics, setting them to music, and using selected digital effects
to create a vidowish. Our operations manual is a business system designed to
produce the maximum number of vidowishes per day while maintaining a rigid
standard for quality. We would be having a toll-free no. to back our website
where people can call in 24*7 and request their vidowish.

So basically what vidowish intends to do is to portray emotions is the most
creative way ie. creating a theme,animating pictures and backing it with the
dedicated song…for all occasions…eg. missing you.get well soon grand
pa,thank you mamma,break ups.happy birthday,happy anniversary,sorry I was
late,well done to an employee by his employer,congratulations,appreciations…any emotions and we are here just a call away to portray it in the best way by making a vidowish and it would last forever.The website is almost at its completion state.I’m attaching the snapshot of the homepage along with this mail.I'm looking for like
minded business partners with sharp business acumen,who would take on
the strategic global marketing responsibilities at well.This project
is gonna go real big in the near future.That's for sure.





Regards,

Vishal Samuel

*Purple Advertising*

+91 9953800862
purplejsr at gmail dot com

[EMPeiTQ]

I'd hire a pro on elance as well. Not only could you find someone to program you a nice database driven site, but you can find an amazing designer as well who can come up with a great fresh design that follows todays internet trends.

Its worth the money to elance it.